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).
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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.
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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?
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