60 Heroes: Instrumental Leadership During Strikes and Work Stoppages

During the 1980’s player strikes, the NFLPA needed strong leadership from its player reps. Minnesota Vikings player rep Tim Irwin was just that. Fighting for their right of free agency, the players and the union decided a strike was the answer, but replacement players made this strike more difficult for players to stay united. Tim Irwin’s team did not have this issue. During the 24-day work stoppage, not a single Minnesota Viking crossed the picket line—they all stood together, unified for one cause.

Irwin’s passion for players’ rights helped band players together during these tumultuous times, but also helped forge his career path after football. The former University of Tennessee offensive lineman went back to his alma mater to earn his law degree during his final years in the NFL. After his retirement following a 14-year NFL career in which he acted as player rep and a member of the NFLPA’s executive committee, Irwin quickly opened his own law office in Tennessee. Just a few years after that he was appointed juvenile court judge for Knox County, where he continues his work today.

Although the strike in 1987 didn’t win the battle, it helped gain momentum in the fight for free agency. Leaders like Tim Irwin helped send a strong message to owners and encourage change for future generations of players. The sacrifices made by the players who led and participated in work stoppages like Tim Irwin did much more to benefit the players who came after them than it did for themselves.