The Dallas Cowboys are by far the most talked about team in the NFL and Jerry Jones has turned his Texas-based football team into a global brand.
It’s almost impossible to tune into any major sports network without hearing a debate or commentary about the Cowboys — and with the team’s roller coaster ride over the last decade or so — it’s been pretty low hanging fruit.
Still, Dallas moves the sticks and brings fans — and haters — to interact with any program where the Cowboys are the focal point.
It’s no surprise some of the biggest names in sports media in recent history are former Dallas Cowboys stars. Troy Aikman has solidified himself as the top color analyst in the NFL over the last two decades and heads up Monday football duties for ESPN alongside color analyst Joe Buck.
After 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Daryl “Moose” Johnson transitioned into media and has had multiple stops along the way, most recently as a color analyst as part of the FOX crew. Tony Romo is another former Cowboys QB who has found a niche as a color analyst and leads the CBS team calling games alongside Jim Nance.
Marcellus Wiley only spent one year in Dallas but like so many others, used his time there to help bring unique insight into various roles as a network analyst over the years. Two Cowboys former head coaches, Jimmy Johnson — who has been part of the FOX studio crew since he stopped coaching — and now Jason Garrett, have found work in media.
Michael Irvin is one of the biggest names in Dallas Cowboys history and his blunt, outspoken approach has made him one of the most sought after media personalities since his playing career came to an end.
Irvin has reached more Pro Bowls (5) than any Dallas receiver in franchise history, set the NFL receiving record in 1991 and played a major factor in helping the Cowboys secure three Super Bowl victories during his time with the franchise.
From 1991 through 1998, Irvin recorded 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year, racking up an impressive 10,265 yards over an eight-year span. He’s one of the rare players that was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Fame alongside Emmitt Smith and Aikman.
NFL Network Parting Ways With Dallas Cowboys Legend Michael Irvin
The Cowboys Hall of Fame WR began his media career as a broadcaster for ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and has worked for an analyst for the NFL Network since 2009.
He has also had regular appearances as a host on the the FS1 weekday morning debate show Undsiputed with Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Skip Bayless
According to a report from the Athletic on Friday, Michael Irvin is out at NFL Network, while one of the network’s original signature shows — “NFL Total Access” — is done after more than two decades on the air.
This is all part of the continuing layoffs and cutbacks at NFL Network, which have been ongoing for months.
Irvin, 58, has been on rocky ground with the network for a while. In 2023, he was sent home from the Super Bowl in Arizona after an alleged lewd incident at a Marriott Hotel. After being suspended until September of that year, he returned to the network at the beginning of the regular season. Irvin still appears regularly on FS1’s “Undisputed.”
NFL Network vice president of communications, Alex Riethmiller, confirmed the decision to part ways with the Dallas Cowboys legend and referred The Athletic to the network’s statement last month when The Athletic reported that Andrew Siciliano, Melissa Stark, James Palmer and Will Selva were let go.
“As is normal course of business this time of year, we are evaluating our talent roster for the upcoming 2024 season and beyond,” Riethmiller said. “That process results in renewals, non-renewals and additions to our talent lineup depending on programming needs. To those departing talent, we give our sincere thanks and appreciation for their hard work and contributions to NFL Media.”
The New York Post first reported the Irvin and “Total Access” decisions.
“NFL Total Access” has been on the air for more than two decades, beginning as the marquee show, hosted by Rich Eisen, in 2003. Its final program is expected to be on May 17. It will be replaced, at least in the interim by “Insiders,” an afternoon program featuring reporters Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero.
NFL Network is in the midst of totally remaking its programming, which includes shifting “Good Morning Football” from New York to Los Angeles. The show has taken a summer hiatus until late August and only Jamie Erdahl has committed to staying with the show as the three other hosts, Peter Schrager, Jason McCourty and Kyle Brandt, have yet to signal if they will go west.
The moves are part of a series of cuts made over the last months as it prunes the networks with layoffs and cost-saving methods.
As of now, it seems like Irvin will still bring his inside Dallas Cowboys information to FS1, but the NFL Network deciding to move on from him after more than 15 years is certainly a shocking move.