[1] He is the son of Ed Irons, who played football and basketball at Texas Tech from 1938 to 1942 and was superintendent of Lubbock Independent School District.
[2][3] The family later moved to Lubbock, Texas and Dan graduated from Monterey High School in 1973.
[4] Irons played for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team under coach Steve Sloan during the 1975, 1976 and 1977 seasons.
[3] In 1975, as a starter on the offensive line, he helped the Red Raiders lead the Southwest Conference in total yards.
[2][3] In 1999, he was inducted into the Texas Tech University Athletic Hall of Honor with Curtis Jordan, Gary Ashby and Jack Alderson.