Michael Strahan

Michael Anthony Strahan (born November 21, 1971) is an American television personality, journalist, and former professional football player.

He played his entire 15-year professional career as a defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).

Although Strahan did not begin to play high school football at Westbury High School until his senior year, he did play organized football at Mannheim American High School (MAHS), a US Department of Defense Dependent High School, in Käfertal (Mannheim), playing linebacker for the Mannheim Bison in 1985.

The summer before Strahan's senior year of high school, his father sent him to live with his uncle Art in Houston so he could attend Westbury High School.

Strahan played one season of football, which was enough for him to get a scholarship offer from Texas Southern University.

As a junior in 1991, Strahan led the SWAC with 14.5 quarterback sacks.

His 41.5 career sacks is a Texas Southern record.

In 1992, he was named First-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the SWAC's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

He was also named Black College Defensive Player of the Year.

Strahan graduated from Texas Southern University in 1993 and entered the National Football League.

Strahan followed in the footsteps of his uncle Art, who also played defensive end at Texas Southern University.

Strahan was so dominant he drew double teams, and TSU coaches dubbed Strahan double teaming "Strahan rules".

By his junior season, Strahan began to turn himself into an NFL prospect.

As a senior with the Texas Southern Tigers, Strahan was selected to the All-America first-team by The Poor Man's Guide to the NFL Draft, The Sheridan Network, Edd Hayes Black College Sports Report and the Associated Press.

He recorded 68 tackles with a school-record 19 quarterback sacks and 32 tackles totaling 142 yards in losses.

He was also selected Division I-AA Defensive Player of the Year by The Poor Man's Guide and Edd Hayes Black College Sports Report.

Strahan was drafted in the second round by the New York Giants in 1993.

He played in only six games due to injuries, and missed the Giants' two playoff games that season.

After a few unremarkable seasons, Strahan had a breakout season in 1997, recording 14 sacks.

He was voted into his first Pro Bowl and was also named First-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.

In 1998, Strahan continued his success, racking up 15 sacks and being voted into his second Pro-Bowl and All-Pro team.

In Week 8 of the 1999 season, Strahan returned an interception 44 yards for a game-winning overtime touchdown in a 23–17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Strahan was a member of the 2000 Giants and participated in their playoff run to Super Bowl XXXV.

Despite coming off a strong NFC Championship Game, where the Giants defeated the Minnesota Vikings 41–0, the Baltimore Ravens proved too strong for the Giants and they were handily defeated by a score of 34–7.

In 2002, Strahan and the Giants negotiated on a new contract.

He said the team failed to negotiate after he turned down its first contract proposal.

He accused the front office of not trying to be competitive in 2002.

Four days later, running back Tiki Barber ripped him for being selfish and greedy.

A dominant pass rusher, Strahan is currently tied with T. J. Watt for the most NFL single-season quarterback sacks, and helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII over the New England Patriots in his final season in 2007.

Since retiring from the NFL, he has become a media personality, appearing as a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and later serving as a co-host of ABC's Good Morning America as well as Live! with Kelly and Michael with Kelly Ripa from 2012 to 2016, for which he won two Daytime Emmy Awards, plus guest appearances on game shows and other programs.

In 2014, he became a regular contributor on Good Morning America, and in 2016 the network announced that Strahan would be leaving Live! to join GMA full-time.

He also hosts the current incarnation of the Pyramid game show for ABC.

Strahan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

In 2021, he flew into space on Blue Origin NS-19's suborbital space flight.

He also does charity work that benefits youth and community development, among other causes.

Strahan was born in Houston.

The youngest of six children, he is the son of Louise (Traylor) Strahan, a basketball coach, and Gene Willie Strahan, a retired Army Major and a boxer with a 1–1 record against future heavyweight Ken Norton.

He is the nephew of retired NFL defensive lineman Art Strahan.

When Strahan was 9, his family moved to Army post BFV (Benjamin Franklin Village) in Mannheim, West Germany.

He was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.