Irons played for the
Texas Tech Red Raiders football team under coach
Steve Sloan during the 1975, 1976 and 1977 seasons. Irons was drafted by the
San Francisco 49ers in the 12th round (314th overall selection) of the
1978 NFL draft. He was unable to play professionally due to recurring knee problems. In 1999, he was inducted into the Texas Tech University Athletic Hall of Honor with
Curtis Jordan,
Gary Ashby and Jack Alderson. Both Jordan and Ashby attended Monterey High School with Irons. ==After football==