Bruce Irvin’s Unique NFL Journey

RENTON, rinse well. – Bruce IrvinThe NFL’s turbulent career took him to five teams in 11 seasons. A selection of first round drafts by Seattle Seahawks football team in 2012, he is currently on his third stint with the team in addition to his time with Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.

The 35-year-old midfielder outside is well-traveled in many ways.

Irvin has played in Toronto and twice in London and Mexico City. He’s set to add another stamp to his NFL passport with the Seahawks heading to Munich to play Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL’s first game in Germany. That would make Irvin the first player from the league to play a match in five different countries, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau.

The feat didn’t happen to Irvin until a pair of fans pointed it out on Twitter on Tuesday

After Sunday, I can say that I have played in 5 different countries!

– Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) November 9, 2022

“That means I’m old,” beaming Irvin said Wednesday, as the Seahawks prepared to practice one last time at the team’s headquarters before making the 10-hour flight to Munich. “It means I’ve been around the block.”

Irvin was a rookie with the Seahawks in 2012 when they smashed Buffalo Bills in Toronto. Both of his trips to Mexico City were with the Raiders, who defeated Houston Texas there in 2016 then lost New England Patriots next year. Irvin and the Raiders lost to the Seahawks in London in 2018. He returned to the UK in 2019 with the Panthers, who beat the Bucs.

Toronto’s proximity to Buffalo means that the majority of the nearly 41,000 fans at the Rogers Center are pro-Bills. But Irvin recalls the more neutral crowds at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium (which drew more than 76,000 fans for both games) and at two London venues: Wembley Stadium (nearly 85,000) and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (nearly 61,000).

Irvin said: “I just remember them cheering for everyone. “They were wearing everyone’s jerseys and they were just cheering for the touches and playing big.”

The NFL moved a Monday night 2018 game that was set to be played at Azteca Stadium because of turf concerns, but Irvin remembers that the pitch was in better shape there than at Wembley Stadium. However, trips to Mexico City have their own set of concerns.

“We had to watch out for cartels and other things,” Irvin said. “We couldn’t even leave our hotel in Mexico City. We had to bring our water and everything.”

Before returning to the Seahawks in October, Irvin was training in his hometown of Atlanta and considered it a career. He told his wife that he would wait three more weeks for another chance to play before retiring. The Seahawks then received a call from the Seahawks, who brought him in for practice, signed him to their practice team and have since promoted him full-time to the active roster. their movements.

Irvin has played 24, 47 and 37 snaps in three games, starting with the last two, with three tackles lost in that span. He scored a sack in Seattle’s win first The Arizona Cardinals last week, his first since the end of the 2019 season.

Coach Pete Carroll said: “It’s really surprising that he’s right for me. “He’s fit for football wise, his sport and attitude is great. He’s really grateful to have another chance here. It feels like home for him. It’s really fun. seeing him come back to it and he did a great job.”

Since the book opened, Irvin credits his newfound sobriety that has helped him play and produce at his age, saying his body is recovering better from games than it has been in the past. after giving up alcohol about 4 months ago.

That means no post-match drinks on the flight home from Munich to celebrate his win and/or travel milestone.

Irvin tweeted about Tuesday’s only appearance – and poked fun at the scuffle that sent him off the field in the closing seconds of the Seahawks’ loss to New England in Super Bowl XLIX.

The only player in nfl history who can play in 5 different countries and get kicked out of a super match 😂🤷🏾‍♂️

– Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) November 9, 2022

Irvin’s gentle nature stems in part from an appreciation of how much he has turned his life around from his rough upbringing.

“It was a big question if I got to the NFL,” Irvin said.