• Loading stock data...
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Join us May 14 at 1 p.m. ET for Future of Sports: Leagues of Their Own Register Now
Law

Michael Irvin’s Civil Case, NFL Network Suspension Continue

  • Irvin’s latest lawsuit against Marriott, employees of Phoenix hotel remains ongoing.
  • Irvin has remained suspended as NFL Network analyst since February incident.
Michael Irvin
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Irvin’s lawsuit against Marriott and several employees of one of the hotel chain’s locations remains ongoing — and the same goes for his NFL Network suspension. 

Irvin’s suspension as an analyst has spanned five months as a source with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports that the Hall of Fame receiver’s status at the NFL-owned outlet remains unchanged. 

Irvin was suspended days before February’s Super Bowl after an encounter with an employee of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel where Irvin was accused of harassment. 

The employee — referred to as “Ms. Doe” and “Jane Doe” in the civil case filed in Maricopa County — hasn’t backed off her allegations, according to court documents obtained by FOS. 

“[Jane Doe] admits she reported to security and management personnel of the hotel that Irvin made inappropriate sexual comments to her, exhibited aggressive body language toward her, and said that he would come back to find her again in the next few evenings,”  lawyers working on behalf of Marriott and the woman wrote. 

Marriott’s lawyers refuted basically all of the allegations laid out in Irvin’s amended complaint on the woman’s behalf, including: 

  • Irvin’s contention that “no harassment, assault or inappropriate conduct occurred during this brief interaction between Mr. Irvin and Ms. Doe.”
  • That video surveillance that Irvin’s lawyers went to great lengths to obtain showed “Ms. Doe returned to work without incident or observable distress after her unremarkable interaction with Mr. Irvin.”
  • Irvin’s legal team’s claims that she “made this false report with actual malice and knowledge as to the falsity of her statements.”
  • Allegations from Irvin’s lawyers that the “Renaissance and Marriott made this false report to the NFL with, at minimum, a reckless disregard of its truth or falsity.”

Irvin’s Dallas-based lawyer, Levi McCathern, and his attorney based in Phoenix, Daniel Dowd, did not respond to FOS. His agent, Steve Mandell, also did not respond to a request for comment. 

This lawsuit is the third filed against Marriott since Irvin was evicted from the Marriott, suspended by NFL Network and had his scheduled appearance the Friday before Super Bowl LVII canceled.

Irvin sought $100 million of damages in the first lawsuit filed in a Texas county court. But his legal team was more interested in the surveillance footage, which was obtained and made public after a federal judge approved an expedited discovery request in March. 

The first lawsuit, along with a federal lawsuit, was dismissed before the current case in Phoenix was filed on March 14. 

Since surveillance footage in public areas by law can’t include audio, the video didn’t exonerate even if Irvin spoke as if it did when it was released. 

“I am so thankful for this video because without it, I just don’t know where this would have gone,” Irvin said in March.

Beyond being sidelined by both NFL Network and ESPN, Irvin claimed in a court filing he’s had “multiple planned public appearances, including appearances with sponsors such as Cigna and PepsiCo and at a fundraiser for the Wounded Warriors Project.”

According to court documents, Irvin has “been forced to cancel important charitable fundraising and other engagements, including his annual Michael Irvin Charity Football Game.”

“He also has not been contacted for any future public appearances or engagements since defendants published their false statements surrounding what allegedly occurred at the hotel,” his lawyers wrote in the amended complaint

With no hearing set in the case, it’s not clear when the case will be resolved as the NFL season inches closer. Meanwhile, what would be his 15th season as an NFL Network analyst remains in limbo. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Curry

Brady, Curry, Ohtani Get Most Claims Dropped in FTX Endorser Suit

The judge did call the endorsers “uninformed, negligent, or even reckless.”

NFL Nears Deal for YouTube Game That Could Break Streaming Records

YouTube closing in on a deal to show a game from Brazil.
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for the tush push play on the goal line against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome.

Saquon Barkley Defends Tush Push, Tells Opponents to ‘Get Better’

Saquon Barkley makes a passionate defense for the hotly debated play.
Adam Silver

NFL Attempts to Aid NBA in Video Privacy Lawsuit

The NBA is being accused of unlawfully sharing user data with Facebook. 

Featured Today

Apr 18, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal vs Grand Canyon University Antelopes during the MPSF Men's Volleyball Championship at Galen Center.

‘What Just Happened’: Inside the Abrupt End of Grand Canyon Men’s Volleyball

Inside Grand Canyon’s shocking decision to cut men’s volleyball.
Mar 26, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Actor and filmmaker Spike Lee (l) greets former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the game between the LA Clippers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
May 9, 2025

‘Friends of the Garden’: Inside the NBA’s Most Exclusive Celebrity Suite

“Among the titans of industry, deals are done at Suite 200.”
exclusive
May 9, 2025

Shams Charania on Draft, Breaking Dončić Trade, ‘Whirlwind’ ESPN Tenure

Charania will work on his first NBA draft lottery for ESPN on Monday.
Fat Perez reacts after hitting his shot on the 16th tee during the WHOOP Shot at Glory on the 16th hole at TPC in Scottsdale on Feb. 5, 2025.
May 7, 2025

Golf Influencers Are the New Currency for PGA Tour and LIV

YouTube golf is big business. The rival tours are staging formal events.
Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon Could Have to Turn Over Hush Money Documents in Court

Suing shareholders want to know his “state of mind” during UFC merger.
Dec 17, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the 1st quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup championship game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks at T-Mobile Arena.
May 2, 2025

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hits Business Insider With $100M Defamation Suit

The suit seeks at least $100 million and a public retraction of the reporting.
May 8, 2025

Judge Bans ATP Tour From Retaliating Against Players in Major Lawsuit

Plaintiffs had sought to ban the ATP from discussing the case with players.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Portfolio Players is our bi-weekly spotlight on the athletes and investors reshaping the business of sports. This week, venture capitalist Kai Cunningham unpacks why athletes land top deals and how the usual investing rules don’t always apply.
UC Davis Baseball
May 2, 2025

NCAA Baseball Coaches Get Preliminary Approval in ‘Wage Fix’ Case

The baseball coaches are expected to be paid an average of roughly $33,000.
Apr 6, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; A general overall view of the opening tipoff between UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (left) and South Carolina Gamecocks forward Chloe Kitts at midcourt on the Final Four logo during the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena.
April 30, 2025

House v. NCAA Settlement Has a Little-Known Federal Lobbying Provision

It would effectively muzzle plaintiff lawyers in Congressional debates.
Asinga
April 29, 2025

Teen Sprinter’s Suit Against Gatorade Dismissed In Ruling Judge Admits Is ‘Unsatisfying’ 

Issam Asinga blames Gatorade gummies for a positive drug test.
April 28, 2025

Fox Sports Fires FS1 Exec Charlie Dixon

Dixon was named in two separate lawsuits in January.