NFL legend Michael Irvin reveals wife Sandy, 58, battling early-onset Alzheimer’s but refuses to put her in nursing home

Irvin says his wife has earned the right to stay at home

DALLAS Cowboys legend Michael Irvin has revealed his wife is in the early stages of a battle with Alzheimer’s.

Former NFL superstar Irvin, 58, has been married to Sandy, 58, for 34 years.

Irvin has revealed Sandy is battling early-onset Alzheimer’sCredit: Instagram/michaelirvin88

Irvin pictured at NFL Honors in Las Vegas earlier this yearCredit: Getty
He said his wife has already been struggling with the disease for five or six years.

Irvin says he is refusing to put Sandy in a nursing home, and has instead hired a live-in caretaker for her.

“If anyone has earned the right to stay in her house, MY WIFE HAS!!!” Michael told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“That I shall honor. No matter what it takes.”

The couple have been together since the 1980s after meeting together at the University of Miami.

They were married in 1990 and have been in a happy union in the decades since.

Best wishes for Irvin came in from throughout the NFL world.

A number of fans sent messages on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

Irvin’s decade with Dallas was the stuff of folklore.

The wide receiver played his entire NFL career with the Cowboys.

He was their first-round draft pick in 1988 and retired in 1999.

He helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl triumphs.

Dallas saw off the Buffalo Bills to claim the NFL’s ultimate prize in 1993.

They repeated the trick against the Bills in 1994 to make it a double.

And the Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1996 Super Bowl for more glory.

Irvin finished his career with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Since his playing days, Irvin has worked in broadcasting.

Irvin opened his new restaurant in Texas this week, called Playmakers88.

The opening was tied in with Dallas Mavericks playing in the NBA Finals.