A former Dallas Cowboy said he was nearly carjacked Monday night -- until the would-be robbers recognized him.

Michael Irvin said he was driving to the gym when robbers pulled alongside him and flashed a gun at him along Marsh Lane near the Bush turnpike at about 9 p.m.

"Absolutely I was afraid," he said. "I was very afraid."

Irvin, who was driving a new, white Range Rover, said a truck followed him to a stoplight.

"I was looking in my rearview, and I saw this black truck flying up behind me," he said.

The passenger rolled down his window and pointed a gun at him. Irvin said his work on the field may have saved his life -- because the would-be carjacker recognized him.

"He put it away, because he recognized me. He said, 'Hey, Mike Irvin, what's up? Mike Irving, man, we are big Cowboy fans,'" Irvin said.

Irvin, who was known as "The Playmaker," said he knew his next play may be his most important one yet. He followed the man's lead and started talking about the Cowboys.

"And I was like, 'Yeah man, you know, I miss playing, and boy, I'm sorry we couldn't win a Super Bowl this year,' because I'm just trying to get his mind on something else so he doesn't pull that gun back up again," Irvin said.

He said his pistol-packing fans sped off after several minutes.

"I was like, 'Wow, you were a coward there, Michael,'" he said. "Even when he pulled off, I still did not get that license plate."

Irvin said he is thanking God for his life -- and his legacy with the Dallas Cowboys.

"'I'm a huge Cowboy fan' -- it never sounded so sweet before like it did last night, even coming from him," he said.

Irvin, a husband and father of four, said he went home and hugged his wife and children, saying it never felt so good.

Police said they do not have any suspects in the case.

Ummmmm.....no.

What? Do you think he made it up?

SCNDLS said:

Yeah. I just can't see cats that are so stoked to jack a car that they would point guns at people giving a flip whether or not the target is a former Cowboy.

And also, Irvin says they pulled up next to him at a light and rolled down their window. WTF? I thought carjackers had to get out of their car in order to get yours.

It really depends on the person. Certain celebrities have street cred and garner respect. I know that may be hard to believe but the old timers, sports figures, some ministers, some civic leaders are hands off. However, if Mike would have been acting crazy and not went on with the "cowboys" conversation things would have been different fo sho. The guys that killed Michael Jordan's father are pariah's in the community and in jail. There is a code.

You don't understand the power of loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys.

When I was much younger, I was about to get into a fight with another guy. We took off our hats and jackets... then realized we were both wearing Cowboys jerseys. We laughed and squashed it (well, not totally because we still had problems later) and went to separate areas.

So it DOES happen.

RodeoSchro said:

No, I've heard of people getting jacked by two people and the passenger gets out to take your car. Just like Mike described. I'm the first person to look at him sideways but I think this is totally plausible. Besides, it's not good bidness to do a criminal activity against a high profile person cuz the police is prolly going to investigate harder.

Mi is lucky.....he could be dead right about now.