The indictment was returned by a Denton County grand jury.
Irvin was arrested Aug. 9 at a North Dallas apartment where law officers said they found marijuana and other drugs.
The ex-Cowboys star had completed probation on a no-contest plea to felony cocaine possession less than two months earlier.
Ex-Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin will stand trial for cocaine possession.(AP Photo)
Irvin's attorney, Howard Shapiro, said his client planned to plead not guilty and ask for a jury trial.
"The fight is on," he told Dallas-Fort Worth radio station WBAP.
FBI spokeswoman Lori Bailey said the case evolved after officers with the Collin-Denton County Drug Task Force, of which the FBI is a part, attempted to arrest Rhonda Adaham on a federal warrant at her apartment.
Adaham was not there, but her sister, Nelly Adaham, and Irvin were found and arrested.
Authorities said they found less than 2 ounces of marijuana along with ecstasy pills.
Irvin was not charged after the arrest.
"Our intent that day was not to initiate a drug investigation," Bailey said. "But based on evidentiary materials that were found that day, an investigation had to begin.
"It just takes time to conduct an investigation."
Irvin, who retired in July and was hired for Fox Sports Net's Sunday pre-game show, insisted he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the drugs were not his.
A few weeks later, Fox announced that Irvin would not be an analyst for the network.
In 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years of deferred probation, a $10,000 fine and dismissal of misdemeanour marijuana possession charges.
The NFL suspended Irvin for five games.
He finished his deferred probation on the charge just before he announced his retirement.
Irvin won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys.
By Angela K. Brown
