NFL Network will not have commentator Michael Irvin on for the remainder of Super Bowl LVII week after a woman complained about an interaction the two had on Sunday night.
The woman has not spoken publicly about the interaction, and NFL Media has not provided any detail about what happened. Irvin told The Dallas Morning News that there “absolutely was no sexual wrongdoing.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver said the incident occurred in his hotel lobby on Sunday night after he had dinner with former Cowboy Michael Brooks. Irvin said the only physical part of the encounter was a handshake, but otherwise, the public conversation was short and under a minute long.
“Honestly, I’m a bit baffled with it all,” Irvin said. “This all happened in a 45-second conversation in the lobby. When I got back after going out … I came into the lobby, and I talked to somebody. I talked to this girl. I don’t know her, and I talked to her for about 45 seconds. We shook hands. Then, I left. … That’s all I know.”
Irvin doesn’t remember the exact details of what the two talked about, and he doesn’t know the woman’s name.
“I don’t really recall that conversation, to tell you the truth,” Irvin said. “We were out drinking. It was just a friendly conversation. ‘What’s up?’ I don’t even know. … I am totally perplexed.”
Irvin still appeared in NFL Network’s Super Bowl LVII coverage on Monday in Arizona, but shortly after the broadcast, NFL Media discussed with him what happened the night before. Irvin said he relayed information similar to what he told the Morning News.
As of the publication of this story, Irvin was still set to appear on ESPN’s First Take on Friday with Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim. ESPN subsequently told The Dallas Morning News that Irvin will not appear on Friday’s episode of First Take.
