Michael Strahan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Strahan

Strahan in 2022
No. 92
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1971-11-21) November 21, 1971 (age 53) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:	Westbury (Houston, Texas)
College:	Texas Southern (1989–1992)
NFL Draft:	1993 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40
Career history
New York Giants (1993)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLII) NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001) 4× First-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003) 2× Second-team All-Pro (2002, 2005) 7× Pro Bowl (1997–1999, 2001–2003, 2005) 2× NFL sacks leader (2001, 2003) NFL forced fumbles co-leader (2001) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team New York Giants Ring of Honor New York Giants No. 92 retired NFL record Sacks in a season: 22.5
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 854 Sacks: 141.5 Forced fumbles: 24 Fumble recoveries: 15 Interceptions: 4 Defensive touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Michael Anthony Strahan (born November 21, 1971) is a famous American TV host, journalist, and former professional football player. He played his entire 15-year career as a defensive end for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL).

Strahan was amazing at rushing the passer. He set a record for the most quarterback sacks in a single NFL season. He also helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII in his last season in 2007. They beat the New England Patriots in a huge upset.

After retiring from football, Michael became a popular media personality. He works as a football expert on Fox NFL Sunday. He was also a co-host on ABC's Good Morning America. From 2012 to 2016, he co-hosted Live! with Kelly and Michael with Kelly Ripa. He even won two Daytime Emmy Awards for this show.

Michael Strahan has also appeared on game shows. In 2014, he became a regular on Good Morning America. In 2016, he joined GMA full-time. He also hosts the game show Pyramid for ABC.

In 2014, Strahan was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 2021, he even flew into space on a Blue Origin NS-19 rocket! Many people recognize him by the gap between his two front teeth.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Michael Strahan was born in Houston, Texas. He is the youngest of six children. His mom, Louise, was a basketball coach. His dad, Gene, was an Army Major and a boxer. Michael's uncle, Art Strahan, also played in the NFL as a defensive lineman.

When Michael was 9, his family moved to an Army base in Mannheim, West Germany. He went to Mannheim American High School there. He played linebacker for the school's football team, the Mannheim Bison.

The summer before his last year of high school, Michael's dad sent him to live with his uncle Art in Houston. This was so he could play football at Westbury High School. Michael played only one season there. But it was enough to earn him a scholarship to Texas Southern University. He graduated from Texas Southern in 1993. Then, he joined the National Football League.

College Football Career

Michael Strahan followed his uncle Art's path by playing defensive end at Texas Southern University. He was so good that opposing teams often needed two players to try and stop him. The coaches at TSU even called this "Strahan rules."

By his junior year, Strahan was becoming a top NFL prospect. In his senior year with the Texas Southern Tigers, he was chosen for the All-America first-team. He made 68 tackles and set a school record with 19 quarterback sacks. He also had 32 tackles that caused 142 yards in losses for the other team.

In 1992, he was named First-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He was also the SWAC's Player of the Year for the second year in a row. He was named Black College Defensive Player of the Year too. As a junior in 1991, Strahan led the SWAC with 14.5 quarterback sacks. His total of 41.5 career sacks is still a Texas Southern record. He was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He will also be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

Playing in the NFL

Starting with the Giants

The New York Giants picked Michael Strahan in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft. In his first year, he played in only six games because of injuries. He even missed the Giants' two playoff games that season.

After a few quiet seasons, Strahan had a huge year in 1997. He recorded 14 sacks. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl and was named First-team All-Pro. In 1998, Strahan kept up his great play. He got 15 sacks and was again chosen for the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team. In 1999, he even returned an interception 44 yards for a game-winning touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Super Bowl XXXV and Beyond

Strahan was part of the 2000 Giants team that made it to Super Bowl XXXV. The Giants had a strong playoff run, beating the Minnesota Vikings 41–0 in the NFC Championship Game. However, the Baltimore Ravens were too strong in the Super Bowl. The Giants lost 34–7.

From 1997 to 2005, few defensive ends in the NFL were as good as Strahan. He was named the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was also the NFC Defensive Player of the Year twice, in 2001 and 2003. In 2004, Strahan was injured with a torn muscle. This limited him to only four sacks. But he bounced back in 2005. He returned to the Pro Bowl, working with his teammate Osi Umenyiora. Together, they had 26 sacks and led the Giants' defense. Many coaches and experts thought Strahan was the best at his position during his best years. He was also known as one of the best defensive ends at stopping the run. This made him a very complete player.

Setting the Sack Record in 2001

In the 2001 season, Strahan set a new NFL record for sacks in a single season. He had 22.5 sacks, which was the most since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. He broke the old record of 22 sacks held by Mark Gastineau.

In the very last game of that season, on January 6, 2002, Strahan got his record-breaking sack. It happened when Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre slid down, and Strahan fell on him for an easy sack. Some people thought Favre might have let Strahan get the sack on purpose. But the Packers' right tackle, Mark Tauscher, said it was just a bad play.

Winning the Super Bowl

On October 23, 2006, Strahan tied Lawrence Taylor for the Giants' team record for most career sacks. He got a sack on Drew Bledsoe in a game against the Dallas Cowboys. This brought his total to 132.5 sacks. However, two weeks later, Strahan got a foot injury. He missed the rest of the season and the playoffs.

It looked like Strahan might retire after the 2006 season. He didn't show up for Giants training camp and missed all the preseason games. But the 14-year veteran decided to play one more year. His 15th and final season turned out to be the Giants' first championship since 1990.

On September 30, 2007, he sacked Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles. This increased his career total to 133.5 sacks, setting a new team record. On February 3, 2008, Strahan played in Super Bowl XLII. He had two tackles and one sack in the game. This Super Bowl is known as one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. The Giants' strong defense and constant pass rush helped them win the game 17–14. They beat the previously undefeated New England Patriots. This gave Strahan a Super Bowl win. His famous saying was "Stomp you out!" His last action as a Giant was accepting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

On June 9, 2008, Michael Strahan officially retired from the NFL.

Strahan's Amazing Career Numbers

When he retired, Strahan had 141.5 career sacks. This was the fifth-highest total of all time when he stopped playing. He also had 854 career tackles, four career interceptions, 24 forced fumbles, and three career touchdowns. He played in 200 games over his 15-year career. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl seven times.

On February 2, 2013, Strahan was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of being eligible. But he was inducted in 2014.

Super Bowl XLVIII, played in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was dedicated to Strahan when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. Strahan performed the special coin toss before the game. On November 3, 2014, he received his Hall of Fame ring during a New York Giants game. Many former Giants players and his old teammates were there.

On November 28, 2021, the Giants honored Michael Strahan by retiring his number 92. This means no other Giants player will wear that number again.

Journey to Space

Michael Strahan flew into space on December 11, 2021. He was on the Blue Origin NS-19 suborbital space flight. At 6 feet 5 inches tall, he became the tallest person to ever fly in space.

Strahan and the other people on Blue Origin NS-19 were the last to receive the FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings. This is a special badge given by the Federal Aviation Administration. It was created to encourage and bring attention to commercial space flight.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Game Stats

Awards and Honors

Michael Strahan has received many awards and honors throughout his career:

NFL Achievements

• Super Bowl XLII champion
• Four-time first-team All-Pro (one of the best players at his position)
• Seven-time Pro Bowl selection (chosen to play in the All-Star game)
• AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001)
• NFL 2000s All-Decade Team (chosen as one of the best players of the 2000s)
• Number 92 retired by the New York Giants (2021)

College Football Awards

• Associated Press first-team college-division All-American (1992)
• Edd Hayes' Black College Sports All-American (1992)

Television Awards

• Two-time winner - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host (2015, 2016 - with Kelly Ripa)

Halls of Fame and Other Honors

• New York Giants Ring of Honor (2010)
• Pro Football Hall of Fame (2014)
• Black College Football Hall of Fame (2014)
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2023)
• College Football Hall of Fame (2025)

Collection by Michael Strahan

On September 8, 2015, Michael Strahan launched his own line of men's clothing. It is sold only at JCPenney stores. The collection includes suits, blazers, sports shirts, belts, ties, and other accessories.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Michael Strahan's uncle, Art Strahan, also played as a defensive lineman in the NFL. He played for the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons. In a TV show called Finding Your Roots, Michael learned that he has very old family roots. His family tree goes all the way back to Charlemagne, a famous king from a long time ago.

Michael Strahan has four children. He has a daughter, Tanita, and a son, Michael Jr., from his first marriage. He also has twin daughters, Isabella and Sophia.

Giving Back to the Community

Michael Strahan is also known for his charity work. In 2002, he allowed a group called the Junior League of Montclair-Newark to use his large home for a charity fundraiser. They decorated the mansion and held tours to raise money for programs that help children and low-income families.

In February 2008, Strahan and his Giants teammate Justin Tuck worked with Nike. They designed their own special sneakers. All the money from selling these sneakers went to Nike's Let Me Play campaign, which helps kids play sports.

In December 2018, Strahan volunteered at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This hospital helps children with serious illnesses. He was part of their holiday promotions to raise awareness.

See also

• New Yorkers in journalism