Michael Irvin

IRVING – A few months ago, Michael Irvin watched tears stream down his wife's face as she watched him play with their children. At that moment, said Irvin, he knew his illustrious, 12-year career with the Cowboys had ended.

On Tuesday afternoon at Texas Stadium, 275 days after he lay motionless on the artificial surface at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, Irvin walked away from the game – and the life – he loves.

"I knew there would never be peace with Sandi or with my family if I played again," said Irvin, who signed an agreement Tuesday to be an analyst for an NFL pregame show on Fox Sports Net with Chris Myers. "Not playing the game is hard, but walking away from the game is a blessing.

"I have to take that blessing. I've accomplished a great deal of things and there was just no need to risk it."

Irvin, who's tied for 10th in NFL history in career receptions and ninth in career yardage, officially announced his retirement at Texas Stadium's Stadium Club before a throng of media, friends, fans, members of the organization and teammates.

Irvin sustained a season-ending neck injury on Oct. 10 against Philadelphia, when his head was jammed into the artificial surface after catching a pass.

Irvin sustained swelling of the spinal cord on the play, and doctors later discovered he had a congenital condition – a narrow spinal column – that could lead to a catastrophic neck injury.

He figured the decision would be difficult, which is one reason he put off the announcement so long. And it was.

Wearing a plaid, mustard-colored sports coat, mustard slacks and a tone-on-tone shirt and tie, Irvin showed he's still the flashy playmaker who bedeviled NFL cornerbacks for more than a decade.

But it was clear that Irvin, who adored the spotlight as a player, was caught up in the emotion of the day.

As coach Dave Campo and owner Jerry Jones praised his ability and contribution to the organization as a player and a leader, Irvin fidgeted in his chair. His lips quivered. His eyes moistened.

"Whether it's playing dominoes. Or basketball. Or practicing," said Campo, "Michael has that little something extra that makes it important for him to be the best."

When it came time for Irvin to talk, he thanked his high school coaches at St. Thomas Aquinas and Jimmy Johnson, who coached him at Miami and with the Cowboys. He also thanked his teammates and the fans, who made him one of the most popular players in franchise history.

"It's hard to say goodbye to America's Team and America's fans," he said. "I'd like to thank the fans for the support. Thanks for the moments, and thanks for the good times. I hope I gave them a few moments of happiness."

Irvin's career in Dallas wasn't always filled with good times. There were contract hassles, trade requests, coaching changes and off-the-field issues that tarnished his reputation. He pleaded no-contest to felony cocaine possession in 1996 and missed the first five games of the season.

Still, Irvin said he never wanted to wear anything but a silver helmet with a blue star.

"There was not one time I ever thought about playing for any man other than Jerry Jones or any other organization other than the Dallas Cowboys," he said. "I didn't want to give my heart to any other fans other than the Dallas fans because that's what they gave me."

There is little doubt that Irvin is one of the finest receivers to ever play the game. His big body (6-2, 207 pounds) allowed him to compensate for his lack of speed.

And he used his hands to push off and separate from cornerbacks so effectively that the NFL instituted rules to force him to change his style. Only great players, said Jones, force rule changes.

Players of that ilk are normally rewarded with busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Irvin, tied for third in NFL history with 47 100-yard games and seven 1,000-yard seasons, has the numbers and the Super Bowl rings (three) that should allow him to gain admittance.

While Irvin said he wasn't sure whether he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he had no doubts about his admittance into the Ring of Honor.

Only nine players and former coach Tom Landry have been admitted. During Jones' tenure, only Landry, Randy White and Tony Dorsett have been honored. Each is in the Hall of Fame.

Jones, who has said he prefers to keep the honor exclusive, said he could change his mind about having only Hall of Fame players in the Ring of Honor.

"The Hall of Fame would be a great accomplishment, but my sights are on that Ring of Honor," Irvin said with a laugh. "Once I get that Ring of Honor thing down, we can talk about the Hall of Fame."