DANIEL WHYTE III, PRESIDENT OF GOSPEL LIGHT SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL, SAYS PRAY FOR CHRISTIAN BROTHER, MICHAEL IRVIN’S BEAUTIFUL WIFE, SANDY, AS MICHAEL IRVIN HAS ANNOUNCED HIS WIFE IS BATTLING ALZHEIMER’S. THIS IS SERIOUS, SO EVANGELICALS AND CHRISTIANS, DON’T PLAY — PRAY! WHYTE SAYS FURTHER, PRAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU PRAY, AND PRAY IN FAITH BELIEVING OR DON’T PRAY AT ALL!

*Dallas Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin has recently revealed a deeply personal struggle that has profoundly affected his family. Irvin, 58, disclosed that his wife of 34 years, Sandy, also 58, has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, a condition they’ve been grappling with for the past five to six years. This disclosure came during what was supposed to be a celebratory occasion—the soft opening of his new sports bar, Playmakers88, during Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Irvin, who intended for the evening to be a dual celebration for both Father’s Day and a hopeful victory for the Dallas Mavericks against the Boston Celtics, ultimately used the event’s halftime to speak candidly to his patrons about Sandy’s health crisis. The Mavericks’ loss to the Celtics, who clinched their 18th world title with a 106-88 victory, was overshadowed by this deeply moving announcement.

In his conversation with the Star-Telegram, Irvin shared the extent of Sandy’s condition. The disease has progressed to the point where she now requires round-the-clock care and a live-in caretaker. Despite these challenges, Irvin is determined to keep Sandy in the family home, emphasizing her right to remain in a place filled with cherished memories.

“If anyone has earned the right to stay in her house, MY WIFE HAS!!!” he texted to the publication. “That I shall honor. No matter what it takes.”

Irvin’s spontaneous revelation was inspired by his connection to their new venture, Playmakers88, located at 5005 Texas 121 in The Colony. The restaurant’s chef had previously worked at another establishment where Sandy had developed a particular fondness for his chicken wings. Irvin fondly recalled the numerous times he would ensure Sandy received her favorite wings, even coordinating deliveries while on the road for his work with Fox Sports 1’s “Undisputed” and his previous role at the NFL Network.

“When I’m working and she is a very finicky eater, and I’m on the road, she would always call me and say, ‘Baby, I’m hungry,’” Irvin recounted. “I’m literally on the show. In the breaks, I would call and say, ‘My wife just called, get her some chicken to the house.’ She would only eat the wings from here. No other wings.” This personal connection to the food led to the inception of Playmakers88 after the previous restaurant closed.

For Irvin, the restaurant is more than just a business—it is a tribute to Sandy and their enduring bond. “The Bible says, if you suffer with me you shall reign with me,” Irvin noted. “Those guys were with me in the hard times. Let me step up and try to reciprocate that kind of relationship.”

Early-onset Alzheimer’s, sometimes referred to as younger-onset Alzheimer’s, impacts individuals younger than 65 and can manifest as early as age 30, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The Irvins have been together since Michael’s college football days at the University of Miami, and they will mark their 34th wedding anniversary later this month.

Reflecting on their journey, Irvin shared on Instagram during a previous anniversary, “Thank God for 33 years of marriage and 38 years total with the greatest BLESSING and GIFT he has ever BESTOWED on me.”