October 10, 1999: One of the darkest days in the NFL’s history. The Dallas Cowboys came in a 3-0 record to face the Philadelphia Eagles. On the 1st-and-10 snap, Michael Irvin took a couple of quick steps and went across the middle of the field. Troy Aikman fired and Irvin had to haul in the pass. But as landed, he got caught by Philadelphia cornerback Bobby Taylor. While Taylor slowed the WR down, safety Tim Hauck ran towards Irvin, while the latter ducked and dropped down on the field. His upper body didn’t move at all. As Taylor untangled himself, Irvin’s leg dropped like dead weight.

Recalling the entire episode later, Irvin once stated, “I remember I took the hit, and I rolled over, and they said something like ‘Move your legs, uncross your legs’ or something. They said, ‘Uncross your legs.’ My legs were crossed. And I said, ‘I did.’” However, his lower body hadn’t moved an inch.

He stayed that way for 20 minutes…

Players from both teams got down to their knees, praying for the athlete. But the worst part? Many Eagles’ fans cheered loudly when they saw that Irvin got injured. Wait, it gets worse. Another loud cheering was heard when his stretcher was lifted off the turf. But as we know, there are several players over the years who have had similar injuries. We don’t have to look too far because just days after Irvin’s injury, it was Deion Sanders’ turn.

It was the Cowboys versus Washington Redskins: October 24, 1999. The crowd went silent for a while when Sanders was crushed between Dan Turk and Mike Sellers on his second punt return. He had to go to the locker room with a mild concussion and didn’t return until the third quarter. Irvin, who was present on the sidelines wearing a neck brace, watched the whole thing go down. Was he concerned about his dear friend Deion Sanders?

Umm, no.

Footage shows he was hysterically laughing at what happened. In a new update by the former NFL player (25 years after the incident took place), he wrote: “My brother forever. I was laughing so hard because I told him, on the sidelines, if he does that again he’s going to have a broken neck just like me.”

“Lololololololol,” wrote Deion Sanders under the post.

Interesting Fact: Nelson Mandela had attended this game and later, he even went to the Cowboys’ locker room to meet the players.

Despite that, Sanders came back and later in that game, he caught a pass from Troy Aikman and found his crease for the touchdown. That play helped the Cowboys to win over the Washington 38-20. No doubt Sanders was lucky enough to get the second opportunity. But it wasn’t the same case with Michael Irvin.

Unlike Deion Sanders, it was over for Michael Irvin!

When Michael Irvin, the heart and soul of Dallas football, hit the Veterans Stadium turf in Philadelphia, it looked like an ordinary tackle—something the NFL players are familiar with. Unfortunately, it turned into something far worse.

“And all I could think about at that time? Man, I remember that [previous] morning, [my son] little Michael, we were throwing the football, and he kept wanting to throw it. And I said I had to go, I had to go. I had to get on a plane the day before that. ‘I gotta go.’ And I said, ‘We’ll do it when I get back. We’ll do it when I get back.’ And I thought about that out there, that I won’t be able to do it when I get back,” Irvin recalled.

Later, the tests revealed that he was suffering from spinal cord swelling. It was a condition that made continuing his career too dangerous. And just like that, “The Playmaker” was done.

Two decades have passed, and the Cowboys fans still call it one of the darkest days in team history. Although stars such as Deion Sanders and Troy Aikman’s presence saved Dallas, the dynasty of the ’90s began crumbling after that game.

Nevertheless, Irvin’s 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns are still the highest in the franchise’s record to date. His accomplishments make him a legend!