Michael Irvin
NFL star Michael Irvin is showing off his fancy footwork on this season’s “Dancing with the Stars.” He is partnered with Anna Demidova, who was the winner of the professional’s competition on Season 8.
Michael was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the 15th of 17 children. He played football at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and was recruited by the University of Miami. While there, Michael set many records including career receptions. In 1987, the team won the National Championship. Michael skipped his final year in college to declare eligibility for the 1988 NFL Draft as a wide receiver.
Michael was chosen 11th in the draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He became the first rookie in 20 years to start a game for the Cowboys and it paid off – he caught a touchdown pass. The Cowboys were in a slump, winning only three games in 1988 and posting a franchise losing record of 1-15 in 1989. The Cowboys finished 7-9 in 1990 and 11-5 in 1991, thanks in part to Michael’s NFL-best 1,523 yards. He was named to the All-Pro team that year.
The Cowboys appeared in the NFC Championship four times in the 1990’s, winning the Super Bowl in 1992, 1993, and 1995. In Super Bowl XXII, Michael became only the second player in NFL history to score two touchdowns in one quarter of a Super Bowl. Along with teammates Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, Michael was a part of The Triplets, a name given to the three during the Cowboys’ winning years.
Michael saw his best NFL season in 1995 when he set a Cowboy record for 111 receptions and 1,603 receiving yards. He also set an NFL record by gaining over 100 yards in receiving in 11 games. That same season, he scored 10 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Michael’s career ended early. During a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, Michael was tackled and taken off the field on a stretcher after landing head first into the turf. He had a cervical spinal cord injury. While not life-threatening, it ended his football career.
During his career, Michael was named as a Pro Bowl selection five times (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995), a second team All-Pro twice (1992, 1993), and a Pro Bowl MVP (1992). He was named to the NFL’s 1990’s All-Decade Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2005 with teammates Aikman and Smith.
Michael has seen his share of legal troubles. He was arrested for cocaine possession in 1996 and ordered to do community service, pay a $10,000 fine, and was put on 4 years probation. He was also suspended from five games by the NFL. In 1998, he allegedly pulled a knife on teammate Everett McIver, but no charges were ever filed. Michael was arrested again on drug charges in 2000, but charges were later dropped. He was pulled over in November 2005 for speeding and police found marijuana and a pipe in his car. He said he had taken the drugs and paraphernalia away from a friend. ESPN suspended him for two days from his hosting duties on “Sunday NFL Countdown” but he later returned to the show.
Since retiring from the NFL, Michael worked as an announcer on ESPN, but was released in February 2007. The network picked him up again 11 months later and he is now the host of “The Michael Irvin Show” on ESPN Radio in Dallas.
Michael also ventured into television, co-starring with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock in The Longest Yard in 2005. He appeared in an episode of “Pros vs. Joes” and hosted the sports reality show “4th and Long.”
Michael married Sandy Harrell in 1990. The couple has four children.
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