Michael Irvin recently shared that his phone was blowing up with messages during the national championship game, suggesting that some viewers thought he was under the influence of cocaine.
The former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver, who proudly supports the Hurricanes, faced backlash for his excited “belt-to-hip” celebration and enthusiastic behavior while serving as an unofficial spokesperson for Miami during the College Football Playoff title game, which Indiana won 27-21.
In a new episode of Netflix’s podcast, The White House, Irvin emphasized that he hasn’t used drugs in 20 years and firmly denied any current substance use.
“I haven’t participated in 20 years, but if you have five hours of content, please let me know. Stop saying things like this,” he expressed during the podcast, clearly a bit frustrated.
“I’m in front of the camera for five hours,” he said, recalling fans sending him messages after the game, implying that his energetic antics were misconstrued. “So after the fight, when I do little things involving the belt, people send it to me—’Hey, Mike, now he’s coked out!'”
He continued, “Wait a minute, guys. First of all, I know cocaine doesn’t last five hours. I haven’t touched it in 20 years, but if you have a drink that lasts that long, let me know.”
Irvin remarked that his sideline excitement wasn’t a new thing, though the national championship’s 30.1 million viewers might have been witnessing his antics for the first time.
Known for his passionate displays during games, he was recently parodied by comedian Cam Patterson on “Saturday Night Live,” a segment that aired before the CFP National Championship Game.
Irvin, who played for Miami before being drafted by the Cowboys in 1988, has addressed his past struggles with cocaine in various forums. He highlighted a significant incident from March 1996, when he faced felony cocaine possession charges, which could have led to 20 years in prison if convicted.
In that case, police found him and others in a hotel room with cocaine and marijuana. He ultimately pleaded no contest, resulting in four years of probation, a $10,000 fine, and the dismissal of a lesser marijuana charge. He also faced suspension during the 1996 season.
