Jarrett Irons
Encyclopedia
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.
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 an 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.
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.
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.
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team from 1993
1993 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Florida State crowned national champions, but not without controversy.Under the Bowl Coalition, undefeated Big 8 champ and #2 ranked Nebraska hosted ACC champ and #1 ranked Florida State in the Orange Bowl...
-1996
1996 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Florida Gators crowned National Champions, but not as unanimously as the Bowl Alliance would have hoped....
. A native of The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is a master-planned community and a Census-designated place in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The population of the CDP was 55,649 at the 2000 census—a 90 percent increase over its 1990 population. According to the 2010 census, The Woodlands' population rose...
, Irons was twice selected to the All Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
team and was a team co-captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
in 1995
1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance and was a relatively calm year compared to the early 1990s.Tom Osborne led Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over Florida in the Fiesta Bowl....
and 1996. He was also named All-American.
College
Irons was the fifth player to be named Michigan Wolverines footballMichigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
captain as a junior. He was named an All-American by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
in 1996. He finished his career at Michigan with 453 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, 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
Sam Sword
Sam Lee-Arthur Sword is a former American football linebacker who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. He played college football at the University of Michigan...
and as a sophomore he finished second to Steve Morrison
Steve Morrison (American football)
Steven Craig Morrison is a retired professional American football linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League from 1995 to 1998. He is currently the linebackers coach at Eastern Michigan University. He last served as the defensive coordinator for the Western...
. In 1995, he was co-captain with Joe Marinaro. In 1996, he was co-captain with Rod Payne
Rod Payne
Rod Payne is a former professional American football center who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He is also a former All-American center who played for the University of Michigan Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993-1996. He won a Super Bowl with the...
. The 1995 defense was third in the nation in defense against the run. Irons wore #37 for the Wolverines while redshirting in 1992
1992 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Coalition, and ended with Alabama's first national championship in thirteen years—their first since the departure of Bear Bryant...
and as a varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
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 an forced fumble by Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" , is a former American NFL quarterback. Stewart attended the University of Colorado and was drafted 60th in the 1995 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers...
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
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
and as a fifth year senior in his final regular season game against the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
.
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
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
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
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
and a third down dive attempt by Ki-Jana Carter
Ki-Jana Carter
Kenneth Leonard "Ki-Jana" Carter is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and later the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. His nickname, "Ki-Jana", is from a character in the movie Shaft in Africa and Carter has...
failed, Jarrett Irons fought off fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
, 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.
Michigan school Career tackles record
Irons' 296 career tackles ranks first in school history at the University of Michigan:| Name | Tackles | Start | End |
| Jarrett Irons | 296 | 1993 | 1996 |
| Erick Anderson Erick Anderson Erick Scott Anderson is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Michigan. He won the Butkus Award in 1991.-College career:... |
286 | 1988 | 1991 |
| Sam Sword Sam Sword Sam Lee-Arthur Sword is a former American football linebacker who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. He played college football at the University of Michigan... |
265 | 1995 | 1998 |
| Ron Simpkins Ron Simpkins Ronald Bernard Simpkins is a former linebacker who played seven seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals. Simpkins played college football at the University of Michigan, where he was an All-American.... |
262 | 1976 | 1979 |
| Steve Morrison Steve Morrison (American football) Steven Craig Morrison is a retired professional American football linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League from 1995 to 1998. He is currently the linebackers coach at Eastern Michigan University. He last served as the defensive coordinator for the Western... |
220 | 1990 | 1994 |
| Mike Boren Mike Boren Mike Boren is a former American football linebacker who played for the Michigan Wolverines from 1980 to 1983.-University of Michigan:Boren grew up in Columbus, Ohio where he attended Independence High School... |
212 | 1980 | 1983 |
| Mike Mallory Mike Mallory Mike Mallory is a former American football linebacker who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1982 to 1985. He was the Most Valuable Player for the 1984 Wolverines team and was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 1985... |
211 | 1982 | 1985 |
| Paul Girgash Paul Girgash Paul Girgash is a retired American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1982. He started 36 consecutive games at inside linebacker for Michigan from 1980 to 1982, played in the 1981 and 1983 Rose Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by... |
206 | 1979 | 1982 |
| Victor Hobson Victor Hobson Victor Brian Hobson is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft... |
205 | 1999 | 2002 |
| Calvin O'Neal Calvin O'Neal Calvin O'Neal is a former professional American football linebacker who played for the Baltimore Colts in 1978 and was an All-American and team co-captain for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1976.-Amateur career:... |
180 | 1974 | 1976 |
Professional career
Irons earned his bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
during his redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
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
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but he was cut during training camp. He then returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
to complete his graduate study.
Family
He is the older brother of Grant IronsGrant Irons
Grant Michael Irons is an American football player who is a free agent, formerly playing for the Oakland Raiders. He played in 43 career games for the University of Notre Dame, making 26 starts at numerous positions on defense. He started playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2002. His father Gerald...
and son of Gerald Irons
Gerald Irons
Gerald Irons is a former American professional football player who played ten seasons in the National Football League. His youngest son Grant Irons plays for the Oakland Raiders. Eldest son Gerald, Jr. played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and middle son Jarrett was the fifth junior elected captain...
both of whom are National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
veterans. His older brother Gerald, Jr. played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
. His younger cousins once removed David Irons
David Irons
David Irons is a former American football cornerback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.Irons has also played for the Florida Tuskers...
(Pop Warner
Pop Warner Little Scholars
Pop Warner Little Scholars is a non-profit organization that provides youth football, cheerleading, and dance programs for participants in 43 U.S. states and several countries around the world. It is headquartered in Langhorne, Pennsylvania...
teammate of Adam Taliaferro
Adam Taliaferro
Adam Taliaferro , is a former American football player whose recovery from a paralyzing spinal cord injury sustained while playing cornerback for the Penn State Nittany Lions gained national media attention....
) and Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
are also professional football players in the NFL. From another line of younger cousins Paul Irons
Paul Irons
Paul Irons is an American football tight end for Team Michigan of the All American Football League. Irons previously played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and in college for Florida State University....
played in the NFL.