Michael Irvin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Irvin

Irvin in 2023
No. 88
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1966-03-05) March 5, 1966 (age 59) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
College:	Miami (FL) (1984–1987)
NFL Draft:	1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11
Career history
Dallas Cowboys (1988⁠–1999)
Career highlights and awards
3× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) First-team All-Pro (1991) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1992, 1993) 5× Pro Bowl (1991–1995) NFL receiving yards leader (1991) NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor National champion (1987) First-team All-American (1986) 2× Second-team All-American (1985, 1987)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 750 Receiving yards: 11,904 Receiving touchdowns: 65
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Michael Jerome Irvin (born March 5, 1966) is an American sports commentator and a former professional football player. He played his entire 12-year career as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). In 2007, he was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Irvin played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He was chosen in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played for the Cowboys from 1988 to 1999. His career ended suddenly because of a neck injury he got during a game in 1999.

Irvin was known as "the Playmaker" because he often made important plays in big games. He loved this nickname. Along with Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, Irvin was one of three key offensive players for the Cowboys. They were called "The Triplets." This trio helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995.

Many people think Irvin is one of the best wide receivers of all time.

After his playing career, Irvin became a sports commentator. He worked for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and is currently an analyst for NFL Network. In 2009, he competed in Season 9 of Dancing with the Stars. He is also a co-host on the FS1 show Speak.

Early Life and High School Football

Michael Irvin was born on March 5, 1966, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He grew up in a large family, being the 15th of 17 children. He first attended Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida. Later, he became a football star at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.

While in high school, Irvin was a top football player. Many colleges wanted him to play for their teams. The University of Miami was especially interested in him. Their football team, the Miami Hurricanes, was one of the best college programs in the country.

College Football Career

At the University of Miami, Irvin played for coach Jimmy Johnson. He set new records for the Miami Hurricanes. These records included the most career catches (143), receiving yards (2,423), and touchdown catches (26). He was a key player on the University of Miami's 1987 national championship team.

One of his most famous plays happened that year. He scored a 73-yard touchdown from a pass by Steve Walsh. This play helped Miami win against their rival, Florida State. That win led them to the national championship game, the 1988 Orange Bowl, where they played against the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

Irvin was recognized as an All-American three times. He earned second-team honors as a freshman, first-team as a sophomore, and second-team again as a junior. After his junior year in 1988, Irvin decided to enter the 1988 NFL draft early.

College Statistics Overview

• 1985: 46 catches for 840 yards and 9 touchdowns.
• 1986: 53 catches for 868 yards and 11 touchdowns.
• 1987: 44 catches for 715 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

Joining the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys chose Michael Irvin as the 11th pick in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft. He was the last first-round pick made by the Cowboys under their long-time general manager Tex Schramm, player personnel director Gil Brandt, and head coach Tom Landry.

In his first year, the 1988 season, Irvin made history. He was the first rookie receiver for the Cowboys in 20 years to start the first game of the season. In his very first NFL game, he caught his first touchdown. He also caught three touchdown passes in a win against the Washington Redskins. For that season, Irvin led the NFC in average yards per catch.

Early Seasons and Growth (1989-1990)

In 1989, Jimmy Johnson, Irvin's college coach, became the new head coach for the Cowboys. The team had a tough year, finishing with a 1–15 record. Irvin's season was cut short by a knee injury, limiting him to only six games. He missed the rest of 1989 and the first three games of the 1990 season.

In 1990, Irvin slowly returned to form. He finished the season with 20 catches for 413 yards. Even with limited play, he still averaged over 20 yards per catch.

Becoming a Star (1991-1993)

The 1991 was a breakout year for Irvin. He played a huge part in helping the Cowboys reach the playoffs. He had 93 catches and led the NFL with 1,523 receiving yards. He also scored eight touchdowns. Irvin set a Cowboys record with seven games where he gained over 100 receiving yards. He was chosen for the 1991 Pro Bowl, which was the first of five straight Pro Bowl selections for him.

The trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Irvin nicknamed "The Triplets" won three Super Bowls and is considered one of the greatest in NFL history.

In 1992 and 1993, Irvin was a key player for the Cowboys' Super Bowl winning teams. In 1994, he had another great season and was selected for his fourth straight Pro Bowl. That year, the Cowboys lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. However, Irvin had an amazing game, catching 12 passes for a record 192 yards and two touchdowns.

One of his best performances was in Super Bowl XXVII (1993). He caught six passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. His two touchdowns in the second quarter happened just 18 seconds apart. This was the fastest pair of touchdowns ever scored by one player in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl Success (1994-1996)

Irvin was a major contributor to the Cowboys' victories in Super Bowl XXVIII in 1993 against the Buffalo Bills. He also helped them win Super Bowl XXX in 1995 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the 1993 Super Bowl, he had five catches for 66 yards. In the 1995 Super Bowl, he caught five passes for 76 yards.

Irvin's best season with the Cowboys was in 1995. He set team records with 111 catches and 1,603 receiving yards. He also scored 10 touchdowns and set an NFL record with 11 games where he gained over 100 receiving yards. Irvin's strong play helped the Cowboys reach Super Bowl XXX, their third Super Bowl win in four seasons.

Irvin is the only player to play for the first four Cowboys coaches under owner Jerry Jones. He officially announced his retirement after Dave Campo became the fifth Cowboys coach.

Later Seasons and Career End (1997-1999)

After recovering from an injury, Irvin had solid seasons in 1997 and 1998.

During the fifth game of the 1999 season, Irvin suffered a serious neck injury. He was tackled and landed head-first on the field. He was taken off the field and transported to a hospital. Doctors later found that he had a condition that made him more likely to get hurt. They advised him to stop playing football to avoid further injury. Irvin announced his retirement in May 2000.

Irvin was the last player coached by Tom Landry to retire from the NFL.

Records and Honors

Irvin's Dallas Cowboys number 88 displayed outside at the team's facilities

University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame

In 2000, Michael Irvin was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his outstanding college career.

NFL Achievements

Irvin finished his NFL career with 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. His 47 games with over 100 receiving yards are among the most in NFL history. He was chosen for five Pro Bowls, more than any other wide receiver in Cowboys history. He was also named the MVP of the 1992 Pro Bowl. Irvin was a key player for the Dallas Cowboys, helping them win six division titles and three Super Bowls.

Irvin was a consistent force during the regular season and shined in the playoffs. His six career 100-yard receiving games in the playoffs are close to the NFL record. His 87 postseason catches rank second in NFL playoff history. His 1,315 post-season receiving yards also rank second.

From 1991 through 1998, Irvin had over 1,000 receiving yards in all but one year. During this time, the Cowboys made four straight appearances in the NFC Championship Game and won three Super Bowl championships.

Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor

On September 19, 2005, Irvin was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. He was honored alongside his former teammates Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith.

Texas Sports Hall of Fame

In 2007, Irvin was chosen for induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted in February 2008.

Florida All-Century Team

In 2007, Irvin was named to the Florida High School Athletic Association's All-Century Team. This team listed the Top 33 football players in Florida's high school football history.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Irvin's Hall of Fame bust

Michael Irvin became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005. He was selected in his third year of eligibility on February 3, 2007. He was formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on August 4, 2007, in Canton, Ohio.

During his induction speech, Irvin spoke about his life as a football player. He also talked about the lessons he learned. Many NFL commentators praised his speech as heartfelt and inspiring.

On October 14, 2007, Irvin received his Hall of Fame ring at Texas Stadium. He suggested that all new NFL rookies should visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This would help them understand the history of football.

Legacy in Football

Michael Irvin was a strong and physical wide receiver. He was known for being able to make tough catches even when defenders were close. Because of his powerful playing style, the NFL later changed some rules to adapt to how receivers played.

Irvin was a vocal and emotional leader for the Cowboys. He set many team records for catches and receiving yards. When he retired, he held or shared 20 team receiving records. His former teammate, Daryl Johnston, said in 2008 that Michael was the hardest working player on their team.

Irvin has high respect for players from "The U," which is what he calls the University of Miami.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Personal Life

Family

Michael Irvin has been married to Sandy Harrell since 1990. They have three children together: a daughter and two sons. Irvin also has another daughter from a previous relationship.

Faith

Irvin is a Christian. He has shared that he committed his life to Christ in 2001. He credits his faith with helping him live his life.

Entertainment Career

Irvin (right) with the NFL Network in 2010

Michael Irvin has also had a career in entertainment. He was a co-star in the 2005 movie The Longest Yard, which starred Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Irvin also made a guest appearance in Sandler's 2011 film Jack & Jill.

He was one of the "Pros" on an episode of Pros vs. Joes, a show where former professional athletes competed against everyday people. Irvin hosted 4th and Long, a football reality series on Spike TV. The winner of the show, Jesse Holley, earned a spot at the Dallas Cowboys' training camp. Irvin also had a supporting role in the 2017 basketball movie Slamma Jamma.

In 2011, Irvin spoke about his older brother, who passed away in 2006. He shared how his brother's life helped him understand and accept people from all walks of life.

In August 2011, officials from the Elite Football League of India announced that Irvin would be one of the main investors and advisers for the league. Other well-known supporters included former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski. In July 2023, Asset Entities announced Irvin as a primary investor and adviser for their company.

Images for kids

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  Irvin in 2013

See also

In Spanish: Michael Irvin para niños