Jarrett Irons Jarrett Irons is a former All - America n linebacker who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993 - 1996 . A native of The Woodlands , Texas , Irons was twice selected to the All Big Ten Conference team and was a team co - captain in 1995 and 1996 . He was also named All - American . College . Irons was the fifth player to be named Michigan Wolverines football captain as a junior . He was named an All - American by the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association in 1996 . He finished his career at Michigan with 453 tackles , at that time second most in Michigan history . Irons led the team in tackles as a Freshman ( 2nd Wolverine to do so ) and as a Junior . As a senior , he finished second in tackles to Sam Sword and as a sophomore he finished second to Steve Morrison . In 1995 , he was co - captain with Joe Marinaro . In 1996 , he was co - captain with Rod Payne . The 1995 defense was third in the nation in defense against the run . Irons wore # 37 for the Wolverines while redshirting in 1992 and as a varsity letter man from 1993 - 1996 . One of three times Irons was involved in a career high 16 tackles was during the Miracle at Michigan . One of those tackles was a forced fumble by Kordell Stewart that led to a touchback on a key goal line stand . The other occasions that Irons accumulated 16 tackles were as a redshirt Freshman against the Wisconsin Badgers and as a fifth year senior in his final regular season game against the Ohio State Buckeyes . Irons was also involved in what is described as the best goal - line stand in Michigan Football history . In 1993 , the Penn State University Nittany Lions played its first season in the Big Ten . On October 16 , 1993 , the Nittany Lions entered the game 5 - 0 ( 2 - 0 Big Ten ) and ranked number seven , while Michigan was struggling at 3 - 2 ( 1 - 1 ) . In the third quarter , Michigan led 14 - 10 , but Penn State had driven to 79 yards for a first and goal from the one yard line . After consecutive quarterback sneak attempts by Kerry Collins and a third down dive attempt by Ki - Jana Carter failed , Jarrett Irons fought off fullback , Brian O ' Neal and stopped Carter again on fourth down . The subsequent drive for Penn State would result in a field goal from the eight yard line . Michigan shut down the Lions for the rest of the game for a 21 - 13 victory . Irons was involved in 15 tackles that day . Wolverines career record for tackles . Irons ' 296 career tackles ranks first in school history at the University of Michigan : < br > Professional career . Irons earned his bachelor ' s degree during his redshirt junior year in sports management and communication and began graduate study during his redshirt senior year in facility planning . After going undrafted , he signed with the Arizona Cardinals , but he was cut during training camp . He then returned to Ann Arbor , Michigan to complete his graduate study . Family . He is the older brother of Grant Irons and son of Gerald Irons both of whom are National Football League veterans . His older brother Gerald , Jr . played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers . His younger cousins once removed David Irons ( Pop Warner teammate of Adam Taliaferro ) and Kenny Irons are also professional football players in the NFL . From another line of younger cousins Paul Irons played in the NFL .