Cowboys legend Michael Irvin reveals his wife Sandy has been battling Alzheimer’s since six years

Michael Irvin, a former Dallas Cowboys great, has been married to Sandy Harrell for 34 years. Although they had been dating since 1985, Irvin and Sandy didn't get married until 1990.

The former NFL wide receiver said that his wife has been fighting early-onset Alzheimer's for the past five or six years now. Irvin spoke about it during halftime of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics, a game Boston won to claim its record 18th NBA Championship.

The Alzheimer's Association asserts that the disease is more than just an age-related illness. Instead, it is a brain illness that also affects those under the age of 65. It is typified by alterations in the brain that impair an individual's capacity for function. It results in the eventual death of brain cells and shrinkage of the brain.

The most prevalent cause of dementia, which is characterized by a progressive loss of memory, thinking, behavior, and social skills, is Alzheimer's disease.

Irvin added that his wife Sandy, 58, needs assistance from a caregiver around-the-clock due to difficulty walking and speaking. He stated that no matter the cost, he doesn't plan to place her in a home.

Irvin said, as reported by the Star-Telegram:

“If anyone has earned the right to stay in her house, MY WIFE HAS!!! That I shall honor. No matter what it takes.”

Do Michael Irvin and Sandy Harrell have children together?

Michael Irvin had a great collegiate career at the University of Miami before spending 12 years as an NFL player. He played in the league until his injury-related retirement in 2000.

He married Sandy Harrell in 1990, and they welcomed three kids, Michael Jr., Elijah, and Chelsea.

Irvin is also the father of another child, Myesha Beyonca, whom he had with his ex-girlfriend Felicia Walker.

Only Michael Jr. pursued a career in football out of Irvin's children. He attended the University of Miami to play collegiate football before moving on to Florida Atlantic University. Irvin's other children, on the other hand, are seldom seen in the public eye.