American Football Database
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Jarrett Irons
No. 37     
Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth:
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College: University of Michigan
Undrafted in 1997
No regular season or postseason appearances
Career history
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Jarrett Irons is a former All-American linebacker who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993-1996.[1] 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.

College[]

Irons was the fifth player to be named Michigan Wolverines football captain as a junior.[2] 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,[1] 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.[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 1993-1996.[7]

One of three times Irons was involved in a career high 16 tackles was during the Miracle at Michigan.[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 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.[12] Irons was involved in 15 tackles that day.[13]

Wolverines career record for tackles[]

Irons' 296 career tackles ranks first in school history at the University of Michigan:[14]

Name Tackles Start End
Jarrett Irons 296 1993 1996
Erick Anderson 286 1988 1991
Sam Sword 265 1995 1998
Ron Simpkins 262 1976 1979
Steve Morrison 220 1990 1994
Mike Boren 212 1980 1983
Mike Mallory 211 1982 1985
Paul Girgash 206 1979 1982
Victor Hobson 205 1999 2002
Calvin O'Neal 180 1974 1976

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,[2] but he was cut during training camp.[15] He then returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan to complete his graduate study.[2]

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]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "University of Michigan Football All-American, 1996 Team Co-Captain, 1995, 1996: Jarrett Irons". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-02-10. http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aaironsj.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Life After Sports". Scholar Baller IMAGE. 2006. http://www.scholarballer.org/SB%20Web2%20-%20Article%20by%20Jarrett%20Irons.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Irons passes Michigan tests both on and off football field". Collegian Inc.. 1996-11-15. http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1996_jan-dec/1996_nov/1996-11-15_the_daily_collegian/1996-11-15d03-008.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  4. "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page: Games & Totals by Season". Regents of the University of Michigan. http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  5. "Wolverine Football Captains". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-05-25. http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbcapt/fbcapt.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  6. "THE TOP 20". The New York Times Company. 1996-08-25. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E6D91739F936A1575BC0A960958260. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  7. "Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters: Irons". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003-08-25. http://141.211.39.65/allroster/fbsearch.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  8. "Versus Colorado September 24, 1994". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=482. 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. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFD9123AF936A1575AC0A962958260. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  10. "Versus Wisconsin October 30, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=480. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  11. "Versus Ohio State November 23, 1996". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=514. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  12. Jones, Todd (2007). "Michigan". In MacCambridge, Michael. ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Enterprises. pp. 62–63. ISBN 1-933060-49-2.
  13. "Versus Penn State October 16, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=477. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  14. "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  15. "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times Company. 1997-08-20. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4D6163EF933A1575BC0A961958260. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  16. "Irons will: Captain returns for ring". The Michigan Daily. 1996-09-12. http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1996/sep/09-12-96/kickoff/ko20.html. Retrieved 2007-11-25.[dead link]
  17. Schlabach, Mark (2006-08-25). "Irons brothers take long road to collegiate success". ESPN Internet Ventures. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview06/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2559603. Retrieved 2007-11-26.

External links[]


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