Michael Irvin says it doesn’t matter if San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York pays a woman to have sex with him … because even guys who don’t hook up with sex workers have to pay to get a little action!

The former NFL wide receiver defended the billionaire owner on N3on‘s stream recently … saying it really shouldn’t be anyone’s business if a dude doles out cash to sleep with a woman.

Mike argues people are always paying for it … whether by buying someone else’s dinner, giving someone an expensive present, or whatever else — noting all relationships have an inherently transactional component.

Plus, Michael says people need to take Jed’s recent divorce into account … it’s a tough time for the guy — so if he wants to pay to get into the end zone, then let the guy live his life.

Michael also makes the case for the trailer park rendezvous — which is where cops arrested Jed — vs. going to a high-priced madame … and why it might make more sense for the rich and famous to seek low-key pay-for-sex arrangements.

As you know … the NFL is still investigating the incident after Jed pled no contest to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possession of criminal tools — a cell phone — following his arrest in Ohio.

Prosecutors claim Jed contacted a fake ad cops set up multiple times in order to secure some company … before they say he drove to a trailer park to meet with a faux fatale and was arrested in shocking body cam footage.