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WR
“Playmaker”
"The thing that gave me an edge was my work ethic. I was one of those guys who felt, the more you worked, the better you got. It was a confidence thing. I enjoy working."
(Miami - Florida)...6'2'', 207...Michael Jerome Irvin. . .Cowboys' first round pick in 1988 draft. . .Led league with 1,523 yards on 93 catches, 1991. . .Selected to five straight Pro Bowls. . . Recorded 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year from 1991-1998 . . . Set NFL record eleven 100-yard games, 1995. . 750 career receptions for 11,904 yards, 65 TDs. . .Named to NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s . . . Born March 5, 1966 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Wide receiver Michael Irvin joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1988, following a stellar collegiate football career with the Miami Hurricanes. Selected as the 11th player overall in the first round of the 1988 National Football League Draft, Irvin quickly developed into one of the elite receivers in Cowboys and NFL history.
As a rookie, Irvin offered a glimpse of what was to follow during his 12-season career with the Cowboys. He became the first rookie wide receiver to start a season opener for Dallas in more than 20 years. He caught his first of 65 career touchdowns in that game. Irvin's 20.4 yard per catch average during his rookie year led the NFC.
Early in his career, Irvin and the Cowboys suffered through some lean years. The team finished 3-13 during Irvin's first season and then fell to 1-15 the following year. The team's misfortunes would not last long. Help came first in 1989 with the addition of quarterback Troy Aikman and then in 1990 with the drafting of running back Emmitt Smith. The two players complemented Irvin's talents and bolstered the Cowboys' offense.
Almost instantly, the team became a contender and Irvin's play, which rose to a new level, was a major factor. In 1991, he helped the Cowboys to an 11-5 record and a return to the playoffs by hauling in 93 passes for a league-leading 1,523 yards and 8 touchdowns. He received consensus All-Pro honors that year and earned the first of five straight Pro Bowl trips.
From 1991 through 1998, Irvin recorded 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year. Along the way, the Cowboys made four straight appearances in the NFC championship game (1992-1995) and captured three Super Bowl titles with back-to-back wins over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII, and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
In 1995, Irvin recorded his finest season as he caught 111 passes for 1,603 yards. He also established an NFL record with eleven 100-yard games, and scored 10 touchdowns. His outstanding play continued during that year's post-season. In the Cowboys' 38-27 win over the Green Bay Packers in the 1995 NFC Championship Game, Irvin had seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He capped off the year with five catches for 76 yards in Dallas's 27-17 victory over the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
In all, Irvin accumulated 750 receptions for 11,904 yards. A member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, he had 100 or more yards receiving in a game forty-seven times during his 159-game career.
Championship Games
1992 NFC - Dallas Cowboys 30, San Francisco 49ers 20 Irvin started the game at wide receiver. He had six receptions for 86 yards.
1993 NFC - Dallas Cowboys 38, San Francisco 49ers 21 Irvin started the game at wide receiver. He had two receptions for 23 yards.
1994 NFC - San Francisco 49ers 38, Dallas Cowboys 28 Irvin started the game at wide receiver. He had 12 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
1995 NFC - Dallas Cowboys 38, Green Bay Packers 27 Irvin started the game at wide receiver. He had seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXVII - Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17 Irvin started the game at wide receiver. He had six receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Super Bowl XXVIII - Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13 Irvin started the game at wide receiver. He had five receptions for 66 yards.
Super Bowl XXX - Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Irvin started the game at wide receiver. He had five receptions for 76 yards.
All-Pro: 1991 (AP, PFWA, SN, PW, NEA)
All-Pro Second Team: 1992 (AP, NEA), 1993 (AP)
All-NFC: 1991 (UPI, PW)
(5) - 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
At time of his retirement following 1999 season
[1st] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Season - 11 (1995) [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Season - 7 (1995) [3rd] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Career - 47 [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Receiving - 7 (1991-1995, 1997-1998)
Super Bowl Records
[Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Game - 2 (SB XXVII vs. Buffalo) [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Game - 2 (SB XXVII vs. Buffalo) [Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Career - 2
Post-Season Records
[2nd] Most Receptions, Career - 87 [2nd] Most Yards Receiving, Career - 1,315 [2nd] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Career - 6 [Tied for 2nd] Most Receptions, Game - 12 (vs. San Francisco, Jan. 15, 1995)
Cowboys' records held by Irvin at the time of his retirement following the 1999 season [1st] Most Seasons Leading Team, Receptions - 8 [1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team, Receptions - 8 [1st] Most Receptions, Career - 750 [1st] Most Receptions, Season - 111 (1995) [1st] Most Consecutive Games With Reception - 117 (1990-1998) [1st] Most Seasons, 50 or More Pass Receptions - 8 [1st] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Career - 11,904 [1st] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Season - 1,603 (1995) [1st] Most Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Receiving - 7 [1st] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Career - 47 [1st] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Season - 11 (1995) [1st] Most Consecutive Games 100 or More Yards Receiving - 7 (1995) [Tied for 1st] Most Seasons Leading Team Receiving Yards - 8 [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team Receiving Yards - 8 [2nd] Most Receptions, Season - 93 (1991) [2nd] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Season - 1,523 (1991) [2nd] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Season - 7 (1991) [2nd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Career - 65 [Tied for 2nd] Most Receptions, Game - 12 (vs. San Francisco, Oct. 17, 1993; at Miami, Oct. 27, 1996) [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games 100 or More Yards Receiving - 3 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995) [Tied for 2nd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Rookie Season - 5 (1988) [3rd] Most Receptions, Season - 88 (1993) [3rd] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Season - 1,396 (1992) [3rd] Most Yards Gained Receiving, Rookie Season - 654 (1988) [3rd] Most Yard Gained Receiving By Rookie, Game - 149 (at Washington, Dec. 11, 1988) [Tied for 3rd] Most Receptions, Rookie Season - 32 (1988) [Tied for 3rd] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Season - 6 (1992) [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games With Receiving Touchdown - 6 (1995)
[1st] Most Receptions, Career - 87 [1st] Most Receptions, Game - 12 (at San Francisco, Jan. 15, 1995) [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Career - 1,315 [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Game - 192 (at San Francisco, Jan. 15, 1995) [1st] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Career - 6 [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Career - 8 [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, Touchdowns Receiving - 3 [2nd] Most Consecutive Games With Reception - 16 (1991-1998) [Tied for 3rd] Most Receptions, Game - 9 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 16, 1994) [Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdowns, Career - 8
NFL Statistical Championships Receiving Yardage Titles: 1995
NFC Statistical Championships Pass Receiving Titles: 1991 Receiving Yardage Titles: 1995
Team Statistical Championships Pass Receiving Titles: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
1990s All-Decade Team
Full Name: Michael Jerome Irvin
Birthdate: March 5, 1966
Birthplace: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 3, 2007 Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 4, 2007
Presenter: Jerry Jones, Owner, President, and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys
Other Members of the Class of 2007: Gene Hickerson, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Roger Wehrli
Pro Career: 12 seasons, 159 games
Drafted: 1st round (11th overall) in 1988 by Dallas Cowboys
Uniform Number: #88