Prior to the big game in February, D Magazine released a Super Bowl special edition featuring a wonderful article titled "Super Bowl Memories." Several former Dallas Cowboys, as well a couple of Texas-born stars from other teams, recounted to Mickey Spagnola how the Super Bowl changed their lives.  

In part 3 of the 12-part series are the reflections of the man known as "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his career.

Michael Irvin
Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, XXX

The third Super Bowl [XXX] was great, but it was tough. We had also lost Coach [Jimmy] Johnson, and inside the locker room we wanted to prove that we could still go out there. We enjoyed playing together, and we were a family. We wanted to go out and prove we could still win a Super Bowl.  We loved Coach Johnson but now Coach [Barry] Switzer was the coach, and you know whenever you make a change like that, difficult times come with it.

But we weathered the storm, and we did win a Super Bowl [27-17 over Pittsburgh]. But I think those tough times are what made our teams so fun to play on. 

I can remember before we won Super Bowl XXVII we would have team meetings trying to understand why we are getting our heads kicked in the way we are getting our heads kicked in. Then after the team meeting we go ahead and get our heads kicked in. There was nothing we could do about it. But having those tough times, and then sitting in that locker room after Super Bowl XXX, winning three Super Bowls in four years, and looking around, that was the first time I really reminisced on the history we were creating. I thought, wow, can you believe that? We have won three Super Bowls in four years, and you go back to, wow, after getting our heads kicked in like that … So it was a beautiful thing to accomplish, and it’s going to be a beautiful thing to share with the people in Texas. And I’ll say it again: I can’t wait for the Super Bowl to be here next year.

Source: D Magazine Special Edition Super Bowl 

Part 1 of 12  Super Bowl Memories of Troy Aikman
Part 2 of 12  Roger Staubach's Super Bowl Memories
Part 4 of 12  Tony Dorsett’s Super Bowl Memories
Part 5 of 12  Super Bowl Memories of Daryl Johnston
Part 6 of 12  Ed “Too Tall” Jones’ Super Bowl Memories