Bruce Irvin Signs With the Carolina Panthers

Bruce Irvin Agrees to Deal With the Carolina Panthers

The seventh-year defensive end played for the Raiders and Falcons in 2018. Irvin found himself not receiving much playing time and was unable to produce at his usual rate with Khalil Mack out of the picture in Oakland. Jon Gruden had started a rebuild and fielded nearly a completely new team from the year prior. Irvin was cut by the Raiders on November 6th and two days later was signed by the Falcons, reuniting him with his former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Irvin played in all 16 games this season – eight with each team – and recorded 19 tackles, 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss.

2017 was one of the best seasons for Irvin. The edge rusher recorded career-highs in tackles (58) and tackles for loss (14) to go along with eight sacks, four forced fumbles and three pass deflections in his second season with the Raiders. During the off-season of 2016, Irvin decided to sign a four-year deal with Oakland. In his first season with the Raiders, he recorded 57 tackles, nine tackles for loss, seven sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles. He and Mack became one of the better pass rushing duos in the league and helped the Raiders clinch a playoff berth for the first time in 13 seasons.

Irvin spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks and primarily played as a sub-package pass rusher his first season. He recorded a career-high eight sacks and proved to his critics that he can be effective in the NFL. In 2013, Irvin earned a starting spot on Pete Carroll’s defense and recorded 45 tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss on the way to a Super Bowl Championship that postseason. The defensive end only played in 12 games that year due to a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s PED policy.

In 2014, Irvin was asked to drop back in coverage more and he recorded two pick-sixes, 43 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three pass deflections. Irvin suffered a drop-off in 2015 as he finished the season with only 38 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 15 games. The former West Virginia Mountaineer has only missed two games due to injury his entire career.

Irvin was drafted by the Seahawks with the 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft. His lack of size turned a lot of team’s away after a productive college career but Seattle was willing to take a chance.