If anyone knows how to build a post-NFL career, it’s Michael Irvin. After his retirement, the former Dallas Cowboys star built an empire based on his success on the gridiron and, above all, his Super Bowl rings. That’s the future Irvin wants for Micah Parsons, but the player isn’t helping himself.
Irvin-along with running back Emmitt Smith and quarterback Troy Aikman-was instrumental in the Cowboys’ three championships in the 1990s. The former receiver spent his 12-year career in Dallas and, after retiring in 1999, dedicated himself to building his empire and increasing his net worth.
The same can be said of Smith and, above all, Aikman. The former Cowboys signal-caller’s net worth is $65 million, derived from his work as an analyst for ESPN, a NASCAR team, and an extensive real estate portfolio. In this regard, Irvin offered Parsons and the rest of the team some simple advice: “Win now, profit later.”
We’re still living off that, says Irvin
In recent statements, the former Cowboys wide receiver expressed his frustration with the constant conflicts within the team. He asserted that if Parsons & Co. want to cement their legacy beyond their days on the gridiron, they must start by winning championships.
“Win Super Bowls. Win some championships,” Irvin urged. “There’ll be so much to go around that you’ll have enough. But y’all aren’t winning sh*t. And so there’s only a small light. Win championships. There’ll be enough for everybody to go around.”
The player-turned-analyst cited as an example the lucrative careers that ’90s stars built on their success. “Trust me. Emmitt and Troy and I, we’re still living off it. It’s been plenty for us. It’s been plenty for all of us. We still make millions. Y’all should try.”
Lead like a champion
After learning of the online feud between Parsons and former CowboyDaMarcus Lawrence, who said Dallas was a dead end for championship dreams, Irvin backed up Parsons’ harsh response but recommended he start by leading by example.
“Lead like a champion, not a Twitter troll,” advised the former receiver. “You gotta share the responsibility on the field. So you can’t just say, ‘Oh, screw them dudes. I don’t care what they say.’ You’re gonna need those guys, so you gotta toe that line like a leader,” Irvin said.
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