Player Profile: Michael Irvin (1988-90)
From the Cowboys*96 Media Guide
(July, 1996)
1990: Irvin battled back from a torn anterior cruciate
ligament in his right knee which forced him to miss 14 games
(the last 10 of 1989 and the first four games in 1990), to lead
Dallas in yards per catch and record the team's longest reception.
His 20.7 yard average was the highest by a Cowboy player since
1981 when Butch Johnson gained 22.1. Irvin, who scored on every
fourth catch in 1990 (five touchdowns on 20 receptions), made
some key plays after returning to the active roster on Oct. 9.
He caught his first two passes of the season, including a 28-yard
touchdown with 23 seconds left, in the Cowboys' game-winning
drive against Tampa Bay (10/21).
Irvin made his first start of the year against San Francisco
(11/11), and against the Rams (11/18), he caught touchdown passes
of 61 and 10 yards, the Cowboys' first multiple touchdown catch
game since he snared a career high three scoring passes at Washington
as a rookie. Against Phoenix (12/16), he grabbed a 41-yard pass
to set up Dallas' first touchdown and a 39-yarder to set up his
eight-yard touchdown catch.
1989: Irvin was on a pace to collect 69 catches for 1,008
yards, and he was leading the team in receiving yards and touchdown
catches before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the sixth
game of the year against San Francisco (10/15).
Irvin suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right
knee - requiring major surgery and a thorough off-season rehabilitation
program that extended into the 1990 season.
1988: As a rookie, Irvin's 20.4 yard-per-catch average
led the NFC. He became the first Cowboys' rookie to start a season-opener
at wide receiver (at Pittsburgh, 9/4) since Bob Hayes in 1965,
and he caught his first career touchdown pass in that game -
a 35 yarder from Steve Pelluer.
After missing two games with a sprained ankle, Irvin caught six
passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns at Washington (12/11).
That game, a 24-17 win, marked Irvin's first career 100-yard
receiving day and his first multiple touchdown reception game
Irvin was the 11th player and third wide receiver chosen, after
Sterling Sharpe (Green Bay) and Tim Brown (Raiders), in the 1988
draft.
Irvin's Seasons: 1995, 1994,
1992-93, 1991
Irvin's College/Game Starts
Irvin's Personal Data
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