Former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin is doing his greatest to handle expectations as he cares for his spouse, Sandy Harrell, amid her battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
“She’s nonetheless on the home and all the things’s nonetheless going the identical,” Irvin, 60, solely instructed Us Weekly at his media availability previous to Netflix’ protection of the 2026 Dwelling Run Derby. “You realize what I imply? A great day is to have the identical day. You realize, we all know we’re not going to get higher. We simply obtained to verify we keep and proceed to attempt to restrict how [much] worse we get, however she’s doing good.”
Irvin and Harrell, 60, met on the College of Miami and have been married since 1990, two years after the Cowboys drafted him. They share daughters Myesha, 36, and Chelsea, 30, in addition to sons Michael Jr., 29, and Elijah, 27.
The Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer added that Harrell has been battling the illness since she was “49, possibly 48.”
“We thought it was menopause,” he defined. “No one knew about it. I saved it quiet till one thing occurred with one among my relations. Then it obtained out.”
Irvin first disclosed publicly that Harrell had Alzheimer’s in June 2024 and has supplied periodic updates since. Although he tried to maintain her analysis quiet at first, he famous the outpouring of help he has seen.
“I’ve had so many individuals which have come as much as me, you realize, and say, ‘Michael, [I’m] going by means of it, [I’m] going by means of it,’” he mentioned. “The extra we speak about what we’re going by means of and our points, the higher it’s for everyone.”
Irvin and his household have enlisted the assistance of nurses to supply around-the-clock look after Harrell — one thing that he admits he can not do on his personal and helps assure she is going to keep within the consolation of her house, somewhat than a medical facility.
Between his “The White Home With Michael Irvin” podcast and different media alternatives, Irvin has discovered an escape in sports activities.
“I simply love the truth that Netflix provides me a chance to maneuver round,” he mentioned. “I don’t wish to simply keep in a single sport. I like soccer. You realize I adore it. However I like UFC, love baseball, love basketball. So getting the chance to be round and do all the things and seeing the ins and outs of it’s nice.”
He additionally shared that Jose Canseco is his dream Dwelling Run Derby batter that he would like to see take his cuts. Pondering again to an episode of Professionals vs. Joes that he did with Canseco, now 62, Irvin remembers being in awe of the controversial slugger’s swing.
“I by no means heard a ball hit off the bat like he did,” Irvin mentioned. “It was completely different. That’s after I knew this s*** [was] completely different. You realize what I’m saying?”
