Michael Irvin facts for kids
Irvin in 2023
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | March 5, 1966 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) | ||||||||
| College: | Miami (FL) (1984–1987) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Michael Jerome Irvin (born March 5, 1966) is an American sports commentator and former professional football player. He played his entire 12-year career as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). In 2007, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Irvin played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He spent his entire 12-year NFL career from 1988 to 1999 with the Cowboys before it ended abruptly from a cervical spine injury sustained in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium on October 10, 1999 in which Irvin was carted off the field and transported to a Philadelphia hospital.
Irvin was nicknamed "Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his college and pro careers, and he relished the nickname, even acquiring "PLY MKR" as his Texas vanity license plate. Along with Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, Irvin was one of three key Cowboys offensive players, known as "The Triplets", who led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl wins in 1992, 1993, and 1995.
Irvin is widely considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.
Irvin is a former broadcaster for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. In 2009, he competed in Season 9 of Dancing with the Stars in which he was the season's ninth contestant to be eliminated.
He is one of the co-hosts of the FS1 weekday morning debate show Undisputed with Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Skip Bayless.
Contents
Early life and education
Irvin was born March 5, 1966 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is the 15th of 17 children in his family. Irvin first attended Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida and then went on to become a football star at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.
While at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Irvin was heavily recruited by the University of Miami to play for the Miami Hurricanes, one of the top collegiate football programs in the nation.
College career
At the University of Miami under coach Jimmy Johnson, Irvin set school records for the Miami Hurricanes for career receptions (143), receiving yards (2,423 and later broken by Santana Moss), and touchdown receptions (26). He was a member of the University of Miami's 1987 national championship team and made one of the most legendary plays in school history that year, scoring on a 73-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Steve Walsh that provided the margin of victory in Miami's victory over archrival Florida State, which propelled them into the national championship game, the 1988 Orange Bowl, against the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
In 1988, following his junior year at the University of Miami, Irvin announced he was skipping his final year of college eligibility and declaring his eligibility for the 1988 NFL Draft.
College statistics
- 1985: 46 catches for 840 yards and 9 TD.
- 1986: 53 catches for 868 yards and 11 TD.
- 1987: 44 catches for 715 yards and 6 TD. 2 carries for 4 yards.
Professional career
1988 draft selection
Irvin was selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the 11th selection in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He was the last first-round draft pick made by the Cowboys under the leadership of long-time general manager Tex Schramm, player personnel director Gil Brandt, and coach Tom Landry (Schramm predicted that Irvin would accelerate the Cowboys' "return to the living"). Irvin became the first rookie receiver in Cowboys' history to start a season opener in 20 years, in which he caught his first career touchdown. He also caught 3 touchdown passes in the Cowboys' win over the Washington Redskins, one of only three wins that season and the final one of Landry's career. He finished the season leading the NFC with a 20.4 yards per catch average.
1989 and 1990 seasons
While reunited with his college coach Jimmy Johnson, the Cowboys' misfortunes continued the following year as they finished with a 1–15 record, the worst in franchise history, while injuries limited Irvin to only six games, after he was on a pace to gain more than 1,000 receiving yards, until tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against the San Francisco 49ers and being placed on the injured reserve list. The injury prevented him from playing until the fourth game of the 1990 season, but he did not register his first catch until the seventh game and finished the season with just 20 receptions for 413 yards, but also averaged 20.7-yards per catch.
Before the injury, Irvin was nearly traded to the Los Angeles Raiders to help bring talent to the Cowboys and potentially pair Irvin up with Tim Brown, but Raiders owner Al Davis essentially talked Johnson out of the trade by saying, "You sure you want to do that? Who is going to catch passes for you?". This led to Johnson trading the only other option he felt the team had as trade bait, Herschel Walker, in what would become the Herschel Walker trade.
In 1990, under the strength of players such as Jay Novacek, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith, the team began to improve, finishing the season with a 7–9 record, and posting an 11–5 record in 1991.
1991 season
Irvin was a major reason for their playoff season of 1991, finishing with 93 receptions (second on the league), 1,523 receiving yards (led the league), 8 receiving touchdowns and set a franchise record with seven 100-yard games. He made the All-Pro team that year and was selected to the first of five consecutive Pro Bowls.
1994 to 1996
Irvin was a key contributor in the Cowboys' victories in Super Bowl XXVIII in 1993 over the Buffalo Bills and Super Bowl XXX in 1995 over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the 1993 Super Bowl against the Bills, Irvin recorded five receptions for 66 yards. In the 1995 Super Bowl against the Steelers, he had five receptions for 76 yards.
Irvin's best season with the Cowboys was 1995 during which he set franchise records for receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,603) while scoring 10 touchdowns and setting an NFL record with 11 games with over 100 receiving yards. Irvin had seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, which led the Cowboys to Super Bowl XXX, the team's third Super Bowl win in a span of four seasons.
Irvin is the only player to play for each of the first four Cowboys coaches since the team has been owned by Jerry Jones (Landry, Johnson, Barry Switzer, and Chan Gailey). Irvin officially announced his retirement after Dave Campo became the fifth Cowboys coach, but never played on the field for Campo.
1997 and 1998 seasons
Recovered from his collar bone injury, Irvin returned to have solid years in 1997 and 1998.
Career-ending injury
During the fifth game of the 1999 season, Irvin was tackled by Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Tim Hauck and was driven head-first into the turf at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. He sustained a non-life-threatening cervical spine injury, but was carted off the field and transported to the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Irvin did not play again that season. He was subsequently diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis. After being advised that he was at higher risk for injury if he suffered another blow to the neck or head, Irvin announced his retirement in May 2000.
Irvin was the last Tom Landry-coached player to retire from the NFL. Landry died on February 12, 2000, several months after Irvin's injury in Philadelphia but before Irvin had announced that he was retiring due to the severity of that injury.
Records and honors
University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame
In 2000, Irvin was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
NFL records
Irvin finished his career with 750 receptions (tied with Charlie Joiner for 30th all-time in the NFL) for 11,904 yards (21st all-time in the NFL) and 65 touchdowns. His 47 100-yard receiving games is eighth-most in NFL history, tied with Torry Holt. Irvin was selected to five Pro Bowls (two more than any other wide receiver in franchise history) and was named the MVP of the 1992 Pro Bowl (following the 1991 season) after catching eight passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in the NFC's 21–15 triumph. Irvin was a key playmaker for the Dallas Cowboys that won 6 division titles and three Super Bowls.
As part of Dallas' starting lineup on offense, Irvin was a consistent force to be reckoned with in the regular season but also excelled in the playoffs, where his six career 100-yard receiving games are just two shy of the NFL record held by Jerry Rice, who had eight such games. Irvin's 87 postseason receptions place him second in NFL playoff history behind Rice, who had 151, and Irvin's 1,315 post-season receiving yards ranks second to Rice, who recorded 2,245 post-season yards.
From 1991 through 1998, Irvin recorded 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year, racking up an impressive 10,265 yards over an eight-year span. Along the way, the Cowboys made four straight appearances in the NFC Championship Game (1992–1995) and captured three Super Bowl championships with back-to-back wins over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII, and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Along with his former Cowboy teammates Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, Irvin was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor on September 19, 2005.
Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Irvin was one of three former NFL players with Cowboys ties selected for induction into the 2007 class of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, all of whom were inducted at a February 2008 ceremony in Waco, Texas. The other two were Jim Ray Smith of the Cleveland Browns, who finished his career with the Cowboys (1963–64), and Ray Childress, a five-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the Houston Oilers who wrapped up his NFL career with the Cowboys in 1996.
Florida All-Century Team
In 2007, Irvin was named to the Florida High School Athletic Association's All-Century Team that listed the Top 33 football players in the state of Florida's 100-year history of high school football.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Irvin became eligible for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005. He was selected in his third year of eligibility, on February 3, 2007, alongside Gene Hickerson, Bruce Matthews, Thurman Thomas, Charlie Sanders, and Roger Wehrli. He was formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the Hall of Fame's August 4, 2007 induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
On August 4, 2007, Irvin was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, delivering a tearful acceptance speech in which he referenced both his life as a football player and the many mistakes he has made in his life. His speech has been praised by many NFL commentators as heartfelt, including those who had been inclined to dislike him.
On October 14, 2007, Irvin accepted his Hall of Fame ring at Texas Stadium during halftime of the Cowboys–New England Patriots game. In his speech, he proposed to Commissioner Roger Goodell that all drafted rookies will have a tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to better understand their football history.
Legacy
At 6'2" and 207 pounds, Irvin was a big, physical receiver who manhandled cornerbacks and often was able to make tough catches in defensive traffic. In part because of Irvin's ability to push off the defender with such ease, the NFL eventually changed its rules to adjust to wide receivers who emulated Irvin's physical style.
Irvin was a vocal, emotional leader who set every significant career receiving mark in Cowboys history, including catches and receiving yards. At the time of his retirement, he owned or was tied for 20 team receiving records. In November 2008, his Cowboys teammate Daryl Johnston said, "Michael was the hardest working guy on our team. He was a guy who made some wrong decisions, but he never took anything public, and he never spoke out against anyone on our team. He wasn't a problem. He was more of an inspiration."
Irvin has high regard for players from "The U," as he likes to call the University of Miami, including Frank Gore, Edgerrin James, and others.
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| NFL career statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | |||||||||
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1988 | DAL | 14 | 10 | 32 | 654 | 20.4 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | DAL | 6 | 6 | 26 | 378 | 14.5 | 65 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | DAL | 12 | 7 | 20 | 413 | 20.7 | 61 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 93 | 1,523 | 16.4 | 66 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | DAL | 16 | 14 | 78 | 1,396 | 17.9 | 87 | 7 | 1 | -9 | -9.0 | -9 | 0 |
| 1993 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 88 | 1,330 | 15.1 | 61 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 9 | 0 |
| 1994 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 79 | 1,241 | 15.7 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 111 | 1,603 | 14.4 | 50 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | DAL | 11 | 11 | 64 | 962 | 15.0 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 75 | 1,180 | 15.7 | 55 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | DAL | 16 | 15 | 74 | 1,057 | 14.3 | 51 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | DAL | 4 | 4 | 10 | 167 | 16.7 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 159 | 147 | 750 | 11,904 | 15.9 | 87 | 65 | 6 | 6 | 1.0 | 9 | 0 | |
Personal life
Family
Irvin has been married to Sandy Harrell since 1990. They have one daughter and two sons together. Irvin also has another daughter from a previous relationship.
Religion
Irvin is a Christian. He has said, “I turned my life over to Christ in early 2001 with help from Pastor T.D. Jakes and my friend and fellow believer, Deion Sanders. It took me forty years to really realize the hand that God had on me. I did almost every bad thing you could do, but it’s through the power of God I can live this life. Sometimes we will have problems and they can get overwhelming. But when God saves us, we think about all He has brought us through and it’s just amazing. You might say I should hide my problems, avoid talking about my past, but I just want to spread the word about how good Jesus is to me. It’s His hand that brought me through all this. As Christians, I think we have a heavy responsibility to be witness to God’s power. I know what God can do because of what He did for me. I don’t want people to forget my story and rob God of all His glory.”
Statements
On February 17, 2007, during the late edition of SportsCenter, ESPN announced that Irvin was no longer with the network. ESPN Communications Vice President Josh Krulewitz said, "We thank Michael for his contributions to ESPN and wish him well." However, eleven months later, in January 2008, Irvin rejoined ESPN as a host on ESPN Radio owned and operation station KESN (103.3 FM) in Dallas, hosting The Michael Irvin Show. This locally-aired program ended on February 5, 2010, and Irvin was let go after his contract expired. An ESPN spokesman cited declining ratings and that news of a lawsuit filed against Irvin for a 2007 incident "simply expedited the situation".
On a February 2017 episode of The Rich Eisen Show, Irvin admitted to having snuck out of the locker room during the halftime of Super Bowl XXVII to watch Michael Jackson perform.
Entertainment career
Irvin was a co-star in the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard, starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Irvin also guest starred in Sandler's film Jack & Jill, which was released on November 11, 2011. He was one of the "Pros" on an episode of Pros vs. Joes, which pitted former professional athletes against average people. He was the host of 4th and Long, a football-themed reality series which aired on Spike TV. The winner, Jesse Holley, earned a spot at the Dallas Cowboys' training camp. Irvin had a supporting role in the 2017 basketball drama Slamma Jamma as a sleazy sports agent.
In 2011, Irvin spoke to Out magazine about his homosexual older brother, who died of stomach cancer in 2006.
In August 2011, officials from the Elite Football League of India announced that Irvin would be among the primary investors and advisers for the league. Other prominent backers included former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski, and NFL linebacker Brandon Chillar.
In July 2023, management from Asset Entities announced that Irvin would be among the primary investors and advisers for the company. Other prominent backers included TRITON FUNDS.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Irvin para niños
