WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2023

Written by Michael Fragale

2011 (Sr.)
Fourth Team All-American (Phil Steele) … First Team All-BIG EAST (Coaches, Phil Steele), Ranked No. 4 in the BIG EAST in sacks and tied for No. 28 nationally ...Tied for No. 7 in the BIG EAST in tackles for loss and tied for No. 48 nationally...Finished season tied for No. 3 in the BIG EAST and No. 65 nationally in forced fumbles...Led WVU in sacks (8.5), forced fumbles (3) and tied for team lead in tackles for loss (15)...Finished career No. 4 on WVU’s career sack chart (22.5) ...Tied for game-highs with one sack and one forced fumble against Clemson, also had one tackle for loss and two solo tackles...Collected a career-high seven tackles, tied for a game high with one forced fumble and had two sacks versus Pitt ...Recorded team highs with one sack and one forced fumble at Cincinnati; also had four total tackles and two tackles for loss...Finished with a game-high three tackles for loss and two sacks against Louisville ...Four tackles against UConn; also tied for game highs in tackles for loss and sacks with 1.5 ...Four tackles and had a game-high 1.5 tackles for loss against LSU... Recorded three tackles and one tackle for loss at Maryland ...Recorded three tackles and one sack in first career start at defensive end against Marshall

2010 (Jr.)
Played in all 13 games...Honorable mention All-America by SI.com...Named second team all-BIG EAST by the league coaches and third team by Phil Steele...No. 2 in the nation in sacks...No. 3 on WVU’s single-season sack chart...Led the BIG EAST in sacks and tied for No. 4 in tackles for loss...BIG EAST Defensive Champion: Maryland...WVU Defensive Champion: Maryland, USF, Louisville, Rutgers...Finished with 21 total tackles, 18 unassisted, 14 sacks, one pass breakup and two forced fumbles ...Multiple sacks in five games ...Season-high four solo tackles against Maryland, including a season-high three sacks for 22 yards, a pass breakup and a forced fumble ...Three solo tackles, including two sacks for 17 yards at UConn...Three solo tackles, including two sacks at Louisville...Two sacks for 14 yards against Rutgers...Two sacks and forced a fumble against NC State in the Champs Sports Bowl

Junior College
Helped lead Mt. San Antonio to a 13-1 record, and conference, state and national championships ...First team All-American by JC Athletic Bureau (LB) and Triumphant Sports (DE) ... Player of the year honors in all-California Region III...Second-leading tackler on his team with 72 total tackles, including 45 solo stops, 16 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, five pass breakups and one fumble recovery he returned 96 yards for a touchdown ...Scout.com’s junior college No. 2 ranked player overall

High School
Played wide receiver for coach Ron Gartrell at Stephenson High School ...Helped lead Stephenson to the semifinals of the 2006 5A state championships...One of seven players on his team to earn Division I scholarships

Personal
Birthday is Nov. 1...Son of Rufus and Bessie Lee...Oldest of two boys...Majoring in sociology and anthropology

Pro Career

Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks selected Irvin in the first round (15th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.[16] He was the highest selected West Virginia Mountaineer since Adam Jones in 2005.] Irvin was also the first defensive end and fourth defensive linemen selected in 2012.

The Seahawks selection of Irvin surprised many scouts and analysts and drew major criticism as no major mock drafts, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Mike Mayock, and Mel Kiper, had Irvin being selected in the first round.] It was reported that Irvin had quietly become a top prospect and at least seven teams had him ranked as a top 15 talent.

2012
On May 7, 2012, the Seattle Seahawks signed Irvin to a fully guaranteed four-year, $9.34 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $4.92 million.[20]

Irvin entered training camp getting first team reps at the Seahawks' hybrid Leo (defensive end/outside linebacker) position while Chris Clemons was in a contract hold out.[21] Once Clemons returned in July, Irvin reverted to the second team defense.[22] Head coach Pete Carroll named him the backup defensive end behind Clemons to start the regular season, with Red Bryant occupying the other side.[23]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Seattle Seahawks' season-opening 20-16 loss at the Arizona Cardinals. On September 16, 2012, Irvin made his first career tackles and was credited with a half a sack during the Seahawks' 27-7 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. In the fourth quarter, Irvin and Jason Jones sacked quarterback Tony Romo together, marking the first sack of his career. On September 24, 2012, Irvin recorded two combined tackles and sacked Aaron Rodgers twice during a 14-12 victory over the Green Bay Packers. This marked his first career multi-sack game, solo tackle, and solo sack.[24] In Week 5, Irvin recorded two solo tackles, had two sacks, and forced the first fumble of his career during a 16-12 win at the Carolina Panthers. On November 11, 2012, Irvin made two solo tackles and sacked New York Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez twice in Seattle's 28-7 victory. He finished his rookie season with ten combined tackles (eight solo), eight sacks, and a forced fumble in 16 games and zero starts.[25]

Irvin played his first career playoff game in the Wild Card game against the Washington Redskins, where he sacked Washington QB Robert Griffin III for a 12-yard loss late in the fourth quarter and also recorded a defended pass en route to the team's 24-14 victory. He went on to start a playoff game for the first time in his career in the Divisional Round game against the Atlanta Falcons, which the Seahawks lost 28-30.

2013
On May 17, 2013, Irvin was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 NFL season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.[26]

During the offseason, the Seahawks signed free agent defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. Head coach Pete Carroll stated that the Seahawks intended to move Irvin to outside linebacker for the 2013 season. He was slated to be the Seahawks' strongside linebacker and defensive end in Seattle's Wide 9 nickel scheme under new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.[16]

He returned in Week 5 and made his first career start in the Seattle Seahawks' 34-28 loss at the Indianapolis Colts. He finished with four combined tackles and made his first sack of the season on Andrew Luck. On October 28, 2013, Irvin recorded a season-high nine combined tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and made the first interception of his career during a 14-9 victory at the St. Louis Rams. He finished the 2013 season with 43 combined tackles (31 solo), two sacks, two pass deflections, and an interception in 12 games and 12 starts.[27]

The Seattle Seahawks finished atop The NFC West with a 13-3 record and also received a first-round bye, as well as home field advantage. On January 11, 2014, he recorded two combined tackles during a 23-15 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional round. The next week, the Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. On February 2, 2014, Irvin played in Super Bowl XLVIII and made two solo tackles as the Seahawks routed the Denver Broncos 43-8.

2014
Irvin returned as the strongside linebacker in 2014 with Bobby Wagner at middle linebacker and K. J. Wright at weakside linebacker. Irvin missed the Seahawks' Week 3 victory over the Denver Broncos because of a rib injury.[28] On October 26, 2014, Irvin recorded three combined tackles and made two consecutive sacks in the fourth quarter to help preserve a 13-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers. The following week, he made three combined tackles, deflected a pass, and returned an interception for a 35-yard touchdown during a 30-24 victory against the Oakland Raiders. On December 28, 2014, Irvin recorded five combined tackles, a pass deflection, a sack, and returned an interception off a pass attempt by Sam Bradford for a 49-yard touchdown in the Seahawks' 20-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams.[29] He finished the 2014 with 37 combined tackles (24 solo), 6.5 sacks, three pass deflections, two interceptions, and two touchdowns in 15 games and 13 starts. The Seattle Seahawks allowed the fewest points during the season and began to distinguish itself as one of the top defenses of all time.[30]

The Seattle Seahawks finished first in the NFC West with a 12-4 record and received a first-round bye. They reached the Super Bowl for the second season in a row after defeating the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship. On February 2, 2015, Irvin started his second consecutive Super Bowl and recorded two solo tackles and a sack on Tom Brady during the Seahawks' 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. In the final 20 seconds of Super Bowl XLIX, Irvin was ejected from the game after committing an unnecessary roughness penalty by throwing a closed-hand punch at New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski that incited a brawl on the penultimate play.[31] He was the first player in NFL history to ever be ejected from a Super Bowl and was fined $10,000 by the NFL.[32] At the time of the penalty, the Patriots had the game in hand after a fourth-quarter comeback victory over the Seahawks.[33]

2015
On May 2, 2015, it was reported that the Seattle Seahawks opted to decline the fifth-year, $7.75 million option on Irvin's rookie contract.[34]

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn departed after receiving the head coaching role for the Atlanta Falcons and was replaced by Kris Richard. Richard opted to retain Wagner, Wright, and Irvin as the starting linebacker trio heading into the regular season. On October 18, 2015, Irvin recorded five combined tackles and sacked Carolina Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton twice during a 27-23 loss. He was inactive for the Seahawks' Week 11 win against the San Francisco 49ers after suffering an MCL sprain.[35] Irvin finished the 2015 season with 38 combined tackles (22 solo), 5.5 sacks, and two pass deflections in 15 games and 12 starts.[36] All three of Seattle's linebacker were ranked in the top 30 linebacker by Pro Football Focus in 2015. Weakside linebacker K. J. Wright ranked sixth among all linebackers, Irvin played strongside linebacker and ranked 15th, and Bobby Wagner finished ranked at 30th in overall grades at middle linebacker.[37]

The Seahawks finished second in their division with a 10-6 record and went on to make it to the NFC divisional round before being defeated by the Carolina Panthers 31-24.

Oakland Raiders
On March 10, 2016, the Oakland Raiders signed Irvin to a four-year, $37 million contract that includes $19 million guaranteed.[38] This reunited him with Ken Norton Jr., who had accepted the Raiders' job as defensive coordinator after being the Seattle Seahawks' linebackers' coach from 2010-2014.

2016
Head coach Jack Del Rio named Irvin the starting strongside linebacker to begin the regular season, with Ben Heeney starting at middle linebacker, and former Seahawks' teammate Malcolm Smith at weakside linebacker.[39]

He started the Oakland Raiders' season-opener at the New Orleans Saints and recorded two combined tackles and a sack on Drew Brees in the Raiders' 35-34 victory. On November 21, 2016, Irvin recorded a season-high ten combined tackles and sacked Brock Osweiler during a 27-20 victory over the Houston Texans in Mexico City, Mexico.[40] In Week 15, he collected six combined tackles and two sacks on Philip Rivers during a 19–16 win over the San Diego Chargers. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 15 performance.[41] He finished the 2016 season with 57 combined tackles (47 solo), seven sacks, and a pass deflection in 16 games and 16 starts.[42]

The Oakland Raiders finished second in the AFC West with a 12-4 record and received a playoff berth. On January 7, 2017, Irvin started his first career playoff game as a member of the Raiders and recorded five combined tackles in a 27-14 loss to the Houston Texans.

2017
On November 26, 2017, Irvin recorded three solo tackles and two sacks during a 21-14 victory against the Denver Broncos. The next week, he made a season-high eight combined tackles and a sack on Geno Smith in the Raiders' 24-17 win against the New York Giants. In Week 14, Irvin recorded four solo tackles and two sacks on Alex Smith in a 26-15 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. Irvin finished the 2017 season with a career-high 58 combined tackles (38 solo), a career-high eight sacks, and three pass deflections in 16 games and 16 starts.[43] He was ranked 85th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[44]

2018
On September 11, 2018, Irvin recorded a strip-sack in the season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams.[45] On September 30, he would record his second sack against the Cleveland Browns and would get his third the next week against the Los Angeles Chargers, his 40th career sack.[46][47] On November 3, 2018, Irvin was released by the Raiders after eight games.[48]

Atlanta Falcons
On November 7, 2018, Irvin signed a one-year contract with his hometown team, the Atlanta Falcons.[49] Irvin recorded 3.5 sacks and 13 combined tackles in his 8 games with the Falcons.

Carolina Panthers
On March 19, 2019, Irvin signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.[50] In Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, Irvin sacked Jacoby Brissett twice during the 38–6 loss.[51]
Seattle Seahawks (second stint)[edit]

Irvin re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks on April 23, 2020. He suffered a torn ACL in week 2 and was placed on injured reserve on September 23, 2020.

2021
Pro Career still ongoing in Seattle