He was both a high school football and college footballAll-American and a star offensive lineman on a record-setting Colorado offensive unit. In the NFL, his team made the playoffs in five of his first six seasons. He is both the son of a former Colorado football player and the nephew of another (Hale Irwin) who is a World Golf Hall of Fame member.
Irwin was drafted 101st overall with the sixth pick in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.[5][6] In 1999, he won a training camp battle with Max Lane and Todd Rucci for an opening day starting guard spot.[7] He played 87 NFL regular season games, starting 29. He was a member of the Patriots from 1996 to 1999, the Dolphins in 2000 and 2001 and the 2002 St. Louis Rams.[8] Irwin had signed a four-year $7 million ($12.4 million in 2023) contract with the Dolphins in February 2000 with a $2 million ($3.5 million in 2023) signing bonus. There, he was reunited with offensive line coach Paul Boudreau.[9] Rams general managerCharley Armey had drafted Irwin for the Patriots, which led to his signing with the team.[1] He also played in a total of 6 National Football League playoff games, starting 1, while being inactive for an additional three (including Super Bowl XXXI).[3] While in the NFL, Irwin pursued his college degree through the NFL's continued education program.[10] He was signed to play for the 2003 Denver Broncos,[2] but he was waived at the end of training camp.[11] His team went to the playoffs in five of his first six seasons,[3] and the only losing team he played for was the 7–9 2002 Rams.[12]
Personal
His father Phil Irwin played football for Colorado from 1968 to 1970.[3] He started at linebacker on the 1968 through 1970 teams.[13] He had 4 interceptions for the 1969 Colorado Buffaloes football team.[14] His uncle Hale Irwin played a variety of positions at Colorado ranging from quarterback to defensive back and punt returner on the 1964 through 1966 Colorado teams.[15] He had 100 career rushing yards, 24 pass attempts and 9 interceptions (on defense).[16] Hale Irwin has been described as an average quarterback who became an outstanding defensive back and earned first-team All-Big 8 Conference recognition in both 1965 and 1966 as a safety before becoming a Hall of Fame golfer.[17] Heath's wife is named Molly, and they have both a daughter (Bailee) and a son (Houston).[3] Bailee was born in 1998 and Houston in 2000.[1] Irwin had contributed financially to the allegedly "cult-like" Resurrection Church, which had to remove a promotional YouTube video content that depicted the campus and images of the Colorado University brand because it violated the University policy.[18] He served as a pallbearer at Rashaan Salaam's 2016 funeral.[19]
