Michael Irvin

The Playmaker who helped lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles.

Michael Jerome Irvin (born March 5, 1966) is an American sports commentator and former professional football player. He played as a wide receiver for 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Quick Facts

Position: Wide receiver
Born: 5 March 1966
Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
High school: Piper (Sunrise, Florida); St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
College: Miami (FL) (1984–1987)
Draft year: 1988
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 11

Lore & Background

Irvin played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft by the Cowboys. He played for the Cowboys from 1988 to 1999 before sustaining a cervical fracture of his spine in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, in which he was carted off the field and transported to a Philadelphia hospital, forcing him to retire. Irvin was nicknamed 'the Playmaker' due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his college and pro careers. 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.

Reader's Guide

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 and was the season's ninth contestant to be eliminated. He was one of the co-hosts of the FS1 weekday debate show Speak with Paul Pierce, Keyshawn Johnson, and Joy Taylor.

Did You Know?

Irvin was born March 5, 1966, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is the 15th of 17 children.
He set Miami Hurricanes career records for receptions (143), receiving yards (2,423), and touchdown receptions (26).
Irvin led the NFC in average yards per catch (20.4) as a rookie in 1988.
He scored two touchdowns in 18 seconds in Super Bowl XXVII, the fastest pair of touchdowns by one player in Super Bowl history.
Irvin set an NFL record in 1995 with 11 games of over 100 receiving yards.