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) Second-team All-American (1987) Second-team All-American (1985)
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 a famous American sports commentator and 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 was known as "the Playmaker" because he often made amazing plays in important games. He was a key part of the Dallas Cowboys team, along with Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith. These three players were called "The Triplets." They led the Cowboys to win three Super Bowl championships in 1992, 1993, and 1995. Many people think Irvin is one of the best wide receivers ever.

After his playing career, Irvin became a sports analyst. He has worked for ESPN and is currently an analyst for NFL Network. He also appeared on Dancing with the Stars in 2009. Today, he is 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 was one of 17 children in his family. He first went to Piper High School and then became a football star at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.

While in high school, many top college football programs wanted Irvin to play for them. He chose to play for the Miami Hurricanes at the University of Miami.

College Football Career

At the University of Miami, Michael Irvin played for coach Jimmy Johnson. He set new school records for the Miami Hurricanes. He had 143 career catches, 2,423 receiving yards, and 26 touchdown catches.

He was part of the University of Miami's 1987 national championship team. In a big game against Florida State that year, he scored a 73-yard touchdown. This play helped his team win and reach the national championship game, the 1988 Orange Bowl. They played against the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners and won.

After his junior year in 1988, Irvin decided to leave college early. He entered the 1988 NFL Draft to start his professional career.

College Statistics

• 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 and coach Tom Landry. Irvin was the first rookie receiver in Cowboys history in 20 years to start a season's first game. He caught his first touchdown in that game. He also caught three touchdown passes in a win against the Washington Redskins. This was one of only three wins that season and the last win of coach Landry's career. Irvin finished his first season leading the NFC with an average of 20.4 yards per catch.

Early Seasons (1989-1990)

In 1989, Irvin was reunited with his college coach, Jimmy Johnson, who became the Cowboys' new coach. That year, injuries limited Irvin to only six games. He tore a ligament in his right knee and was placed on the injured list. This injury kept him from playing until the fourth game of the 1990 season. He finished 1990 with 20 catches for 413 yards.

The Cowboys team started to get better in 1990 with players like Jay Novacek, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith. They finished the season with a 7–9 record. In 1991, they improved even more, with an 11–5 record.

Breakout Year: 1991 Season

Irvin was a big reason for the Cowboys reaching the playoffs in 1991. He had 93 catches, which was second in the league. He also led the league with 1,523 receiving yards and scored 8 touchdowns. He set a team record with seven games where he gained over 100 receiving yards. He was named to the All-Pro team and was chosen for the first of five straight Pro Bowls.

Super Bowl Victories (1994-1996)

Michael Irvin was a key player in the Cowboys' wins in Super Bowl XXVIII in 1993 and Super Bowl XXX in 1995. In the 1993 Super Bowl against the Buffalo Bills, he had five catches for 66 yards. In the 1995 Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had five catches for 76 yards.

His best season with the Cowboys was 1995. He set new 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 had over 100 receiving yards. In the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers, Irvin had seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns. This win sent the Cowboys to Super Bowl XXX, where they won their third Super Bowl 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-Ending Injury

Irvin had strong seasons in 1997 and 1998 after recovering from an injury.

During the fifth game of the 1999 season, Irvin was tackled during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He suffered a neck injury and was taken off the field. Doctors later found he had a condition called cervical spinal stenosis. This meant he was at a higher risk for serious injury if he got another hit to his neck or head. Because of this, Irvin announced his retirement in May 2000.

Michael 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.

NFL Achievements

Irvin finished his career with 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. He had 47 games where he gained over 100 receiving yards, which is one of the most in NFL history. He was chosen for five Pro Bowls and was named the MVP of the 1992 Pro Bowl. Irvin was a key player for the Dallas Cowboys, helping them win 6 division titles and three Super Bowls.

He was also excellent in playoff games. His six career 100-yard receiving games in the playoffs are almost as many as the NFL record held by Jerry Rice. Irvin's 87 playoff catches and 1,315 playoff receiving yards both rank second in NFL playoff history, again behind Jerry Rice.

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

Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor

On September 19, 2005, Michael Irvin was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. He joined his former teammates Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith in this special honor.

Texas Sports Hall of Fame

In 2007, Irvin was chosen for induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted at a ceremony 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 100-year history of high school football.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

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 Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 4, 2007, in Canton, Ohio.

During his acceptance speech, Irvin spoke about his life as a football player. 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 to learn about football history.

Legacy

Michael Irvin was a strong and physical receiver. He was known for making tough catches even when defenders were close. Because of his style, the NFL even changed some rules to adjust to how wide receivers played.

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

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Personal Life

Family and Faith

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

Irvin is a Christian. He has shared that he became a Christian in 2001 with help from Pastor T.D. Jakes and his friend Deion Sanders. He believes that God has guided his life.

Entertainment Career

Irvin (right) with the NFL Network in 2010

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

He was one of the "Pros" on an episode of Pros vs. Joes, a show where former professional athletes competed against regular people. Irvin also hosted 4th and Long, a football reality TV show. The winner of the show, Jesse Holley, earned a chance to try out for the Dallas Cowboys. In 2017, Irvin had a supporting role in the basketball movie Slamma Jamma.

In 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 famous supporters included former coach Mike Ditka and players Ron Jaworski and Brandon Chillar. In 2023, he also became an investor and adviser for Asset Entities.

See also

In Spanish: Michael Irvin para niños