Yet an unusually narrow spinal cord forced the controversial Dallas Cowboys' receiver into premature retirement. Indeed, Irvin was carried off on a stretcher after bouncing the back of his head off the unforgiving turf of Veterans Stadium in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 10, 1999. The slender receiver suffered a herniated disc and temporarily paralysis. Doctors also told Irvin that he was born with such a fragile spinal cord that he was susceptible to more serious injury and should contemplate retirement. Irvin grappled with the decision for months until finally persuaded by his wife and mother that the risk was simply too great.
Mother knows best, after all.
But I've accomplished a great deal of things that I wanted to accomplish, and at this juncture, there's no need to risk it and go on. The decision to retire ended one of the most successful, yet scandalous careers in Cowboys history. No Cowboy was a better pass-catcher than Irvin. His 750 catches rank ninth on the NFL's all-time list, as do his 11,904 yards gained. He also obliterated virtually every single and career club receiving record and won three Super Bowls during his dozen years in Dallas.