NFL All-Time WR Rank No. 14: Michael Irvin

Ranking the top 25 wide receivers in NFL history…

14. Michael Irvin

Drafted 11th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1988 out of the University of Miami, Irvin overcame a slow rookie year to become a dominant force, leading the NFC in yards per catch (20.4) as a newcomer.

Over 12 seasons solely with Dallas, Irvin set franchise records with 111 receptions and 1,603 yards in 1995, including an NFL-record 11 games over 100 yards, fueling a Super Bowl XXX win.

His 1991 breakout featured 93 catches for 1,523 yards (NFL-leading) and eight scores. As part of “The Triplets” with Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, he powered three Super Bowl victories: XXVII (1992), XXVIII (1993) and XXX (1995), with six 100-yard playoff games and 1,315 postseason yards (second all-time).

Irvin earned five straight Pro Bowls (1991-1995), including 1992 MVP honors. A cervical spine injury in 1999 ended his career prematurely.

Irvin’s career totals: 750 receptions, 11,904 yards (15.9 average) and 65 touchdowns over 159 games, with 47 100-yard games.

Irvin’s standout attributes were his 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame for physical dominance and relentless work ethic, often overpowering defenders in press coverage. Irvin’s playing style was that of a fiery competitor: nicknamed “The Playmaker” for clutch performances, he used precise routes, strong hands and push-off techniques (influencing rule changes) to create separation and make acrobatic catches.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2005.

But who ranks ahead of Irvin at No. 13 all-time?