NFL Star Michael Irvin Reveals His Inspiring Alzheimer’s Support For Wife While Apart

Michael Irvin shared how he kept his wife, Sandy Harrell, well cared for even if he was away.

The Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer recently shared at a soft opening for his new sports bar called Playmakers88 that his spouse has been battling Alzheimer's for five or six years already. He told Clarence E. Hill of the Star-Telegram that Sandy now requires 24-hour care as she has difficulty speaking and walking, and they have a live-in caretaker. However, he has no plans to put her in a care home.

"If anyone has earned the right to stay in her house, MY WIFE HAS!!!" Irvin said in an exclusive text to the Star-Telegram. "That I shall honor. No matter what it takes."

According to him in a video shared by Fort Worth Star-Telegram, they just kept it quiet, but "the people here [have] always been good to me," while pointing and mentioning some guests named Alex and Pete, whom he described as "my dog." He mentioned that his sick wife likes wings from a chef who now works at the establishment, and he would ensure that she had the food she likes all the time, even if he was away.

"My wife, when I was young, I used to always grab the phone when she wanted to order something to eat. I said, 'I would not have you talking to another dude. I will want this for you,'" Irvin shared. "So you know, you do that together at first. I spent my whole life ordering for a food like, you know, every time she picked up the phone first, I got it."

He continued, "Then when she got real sick and I'm on the road all the time working, what I had to do was go to the certain places that she likes eating and say 'Hey man, I'm going to be on the road and I may call you and I need you to get my wife that food immediately.' That Pete, that's my dog. I tell you."

When he was in LA or away from home, Irvin said he would call Pete, and even if the latter was asleep, he would get up for his wife's wings.

"So, that is why, when they came to me, I said, man, the Bible said if you suffer with me, you shall reign with me. I said, 'I'm going to step in and do what I have to do, and we will make it right.' Because those guys were with me in the hard times, so you step in and try to reciprocate that kind of relationship, you know what I mean, appreciate it," Irvin said as the guests applauded.

The previous restaurant where Pete worked folded, and investors came to Irvin, which then led to the establishment of Playmakers888, located in The Colony, a Dallas suburb.

Irvin and Sandy have been married for 34 years. They share three children -- Michael Jr., Elijah and Chelsea. Irvin is also a dad to daughter Myesha Beyonca, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Felicia Walker, ComingSoon.net reported.