Jarrett Irons

Last updated
Jarrett Irons
No. 37
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College: Michigan
Undrafted: 1997
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Jarrett Irons is a former American football player. A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Irons played college football as a linebacker at the University of Michigan from 1993 to 1996. He was a team co-captain of the 1995 and 1996 teams and was selected to the All-Big Ten Conference team both years. As a senior, he was selected as a consensus first-team linebacker on the 1996 College Football All-America Team. At the end of his collegiate career, Irons held Michigan's career tackles record.

Contents

University of Michigan

Irons was the fifth player to be named Michigan Wolverines football captain as a junior. [1] 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, [2] at that time second most in Michigan history. Irons led the team in tackles as a freshman (the second Wolverine to do so) and as a junior. [3] As a senior, he finished second in tackles to Sam Sword and as a sophomore he finished second to Steve Morrison. [4] In 1995, he was co-captain with Joe Marinaro. In 1996, he was co-captain with Rod Payne. [5] The 1995 defense was third in the nation in defense against the run. [6] Irons wore #37 for the Wolverines while redshirting in 1992 and as a varsity letterman from 1993 to 1996. [7]

One of three times Irons had a career-high 16 tackles was during the Miracle at Michigan, against Colorado in 1994. [8] One of those tackles was a forced fumble by Kordell Stewart that led to a touchback on a key goal line stand. [9] 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. [10] [11]

Irons was also involved in what is described as the best goal-line stand in Michigan Football history. In 1993, the Penn State Nittany Lions played its first season in the Big Ten Conference. 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 resulted 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. [12] Irons was involved in 15 tackles that day. [13]

Irons's 296 career tackles ranks first in school history at the University of Michigan. [14] He was named the 1995 and 1996 winner of The Roger Zatkoff Award as the team's best linebacker.

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. [3] After going undrafted, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals, [1] but he was cut during training camp. [15] He then returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan to complete his graduate study. [1]

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. [16] 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. [17]

Related Research Articles

Sam Lee-Arthur Sword is a former American football player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn State Nittany Lions football</span> American football team

The Penn State Nittany Lions team represents the Pennsylvania State University in college football. The Nittany Lions compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference, which they joined in 1993 after playing as an Independent from 1892 to 1992.

The 2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Erick Scott Anderson is a former American football player.

Mel Tyrae Owens is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft. He compiled 26.5 quarterback sacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Lee</span> American football player (born 1986)

Sean Patrick Lee is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He made two Pro Bowls and the 2016 All-Pro Team.

Mercury Wayne Hayes is a former professional American football and Canadian football wide receiver, kickoff returner, and punt returner. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, and he has played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes. Prior to his professional football experience he was a University of Michigan Wolverines football star. He was drafted with the 136th overall pick in the 5th round of the 1996 National Football League draft.

Ronald Bernard Simpkins is a former American football player. He played college football at the University of Michigan as a linebacker from 1976 to 1979. He became Michigan's all-time career tackle leader in 1979 and was a consensus first-team selection for the 1979 College Football All-America Team. He later played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Green Bay Packers (1988).

Christopher L. Howard is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Howard had been drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. His professional football career was haunted by fumble troubles, which caused the Broncos to release him before he played a regular season game for them. Howard began to have fumble problems again when the Jaguars acquired and promoted him to a role as a regular player.

Garland A. Rivers is a former professional American football defensive back who was drafted in the 1987 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played briefly for the Chicago Bears in the 1987 NFL season after having starred as an All-American for the Michigan Wolverines football team for whom he set the single-game tackles record as a sophomore. This record still stands. After returning to the University of Michigan to complete his bachelor's degree, he returned to professional football for several seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). However, before returning to professional football he became embroiled in a scandal involving sports agents engaging amateur athletes.

Steven Craig Morrison is a retired professional American football linebacker who played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 1998. He is currently the associate head coach/linebackers coach at Bowling Green Falcons football. He previously served as the linebackers coach for the Eastern Michigan Eagles football team, on the coaching staff at Western Michigan, and as the linebackers coach at Syracuse Orange football. Prior to these professional experiences, he had excelled in college football as an All-Big Ten Conference inside linebacker from 1990 to 1994 for the Michigan Wolverines, whom he served as captain. In high school, he had been a Detroit Free Press first-team All-State (Michigan) and second-team All-Midwest selection in football and an All-American in lacrosse.

The 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Mike Mallory is an American football coach and a former player. He is currently a special teams analyst for the University of Michigan. Previously he was the Special Teams Coordinator for the Denver Broncos NFL football team in 2022. Before that, he most recently worked as assistant special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a linebacker for the University of Michigan from 1982 to 1985. He was the Most Valuable Player for the 1984 Michigan team and was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 1985. Since 1986, he has been a college football coach, including stints as the defensive coordinator for the Rhode Island Rams (1993–1995), Northern Illinois Huskies (1996–1999), Illinois Fighting Illini (2004–2005). He was also the assistant special teams coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2008 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1996 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. That year Michigan Wolverines football competed in the Big Ten Conference in almost all intercollegiate sports including men's college football. The 1996 Wolverines finished the season with an 8–4 record and lost 17–14 to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1997 Outback Bowl. The team was ranked #20 in both the final coaches and AP polls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1995 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. That year Michigan Wolverines football competed in the Big Ten Conference in almost all intercollegiate sports including men's college football. The team featured three All-Americans: Tyrone Wheatley, Buster Stanley, and Ty Law. Stanley, who was the team MVP, served as co-captain with Ricky Powers. The team posted an 8–4 overall record and won the 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obi Ezeh</span> American football player (1988–2024)

Obi Pius Ezeh was an American college football player who was a linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines. He was included on both the 2009 mid-season and the 2009 preseason watchlist for the Butkus Award. He ended his career as the Wolverines' active career leader in tackles.

Marcus Kenyon Ray is an American football coach and former player. In college, he played for the Michigan Wolverines football team and was a member of the 1997 squad that won a national championship. Ray played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders and for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe. He has since coached football at the high school and college levels.

Michael D. Mauti is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Penn State, and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Life After Sports". Scholar Baller IMAGE. 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  2. ↑ "University of Michigan Football All-American, 1996 Team Co-Captain, 1995, 1996: Jarrett Irons". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  3. 1 2 "Irons passes Michigan tests both on and off football field". Collegian Inc. 1996-11-15. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  4. ↑ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page: Games & Totals by Season". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  5. ↑ "Wolverine Football Captains". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  6. ↑ "THE TOP 20". The New York Times Company. 1996-08-25. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  7. ↑ "Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters: Irons". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003-08-25. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  8. ↑ "Versus Colorado September 24, 1994". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  9. ↑ Moran, Malcolm (1994-09-25). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; On the Wing of a Prayer, Colorado Shocks Michigan". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  10. ↑ "Versus Wisconsin October 30, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  11. ↑ "Versus Ohio State November 23, 1996". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  12. ↑ Jones, Todd (2007). "Michigan". In MacCambridge, Michael (ed.). ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Enterprises. pp. 62–63. ISBN   978-1-933060-49-1.
  13. ↑ "Versus Penn State October 16, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  14. ↑ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  15. ↑ "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times Company. 1997-08-20. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  16. ↑ "Irons will: Captain returns for ring". The Michigan Daily. 1996-09-12. Archived from the original on October 15, 2004. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  17. ↑ Schlabach, Mark (2006-08-25). "Irons brothers take long road to collegiate success". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.