Michael Anthony Strahan (/ˈstreɪhæn/STRAY-han; born November 21, 1971)^[1] is an American television host, journalist, and former professionalfootball player. He played his entire 15-year professional career as adefensive end for theNew York Giants of theNational Football League (NFL). A dominant pass rusher, Strahan set the record for most NFL single-seasonquarterback sacks (which was matched byT. J. Watt in 2021) and helped the Giants winSuper Bowl XLII over theNew England Patriots in his final season in 2007.

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: 2nd round, 40th pick
Career history
New York Giants (1993–2007)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLII) NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001) 4× First-teamAll-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[a]
Career NFL statistics
Totaltackles: 854 Sacks: 141.5 Forcedfumbles: 24 Fumble recoveries: 15 Interceptions: 4 Defensivetouchdowns: 3 Stats atPro Football Reference
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Since retiring from the NFL, he has become a media personality. He appears as a football analyst onFox NFL Sunday, and served as a co-host ofABC'sGood Morning America as well asLive! with Kelly and Michael withKelly Ripa from 2012 to 2016, for which he won twoDaytime Emmy Awards. He has also made guest appearances on game shows and other programs. In 2014, he became a regular contributor onGood Morning America, and in 2016 the network announced that Strahan would be leavingLive! to joinGMA full-time. He also hosts the current incarnation of thePyramid game show for ABC.

Strahan was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2021, he flew into space onBlue Origin NS-19's suborbital space flight. Many consider the gap between his two middle-upper front teeth as his “signature” feature.^[2]

Strahan was born inHouston. 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 championKen Norton.^[3] He is the nephew of retired NFL defensive linemanArt Strahan. When Strahan was 9, his family moved to Army post BFV (Benjamin Franklin Village) inMannheim,West Germany.^[4] Strahan attended Mannheim American High School (MAHS), aUS Department of Defense Dependent High School, and played linebacker for the Mannheim Bison, the school's football team.^[5]

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 attendWestbury High School. Strahan played one season of football, which was enough for him to get a scholarship offer fromTexas Southern University.

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".^[6] By his junior season, Strahan began to turn himself into an NFL prospect.^[7] As a senior with theTexas Southern Tigers, Strahan was selected to theAll-America first-team by The Poor Man's Guide to the NFL Draft, The Sheridan Network, Edd Hayes Black College Sports Report and theAssociated 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. 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. As a junior in 1991, Strahan led the SWAC with 14.5 quarterback sacks. His 41.5 career sacks is a Texas Southern record.^[8] He was inducted into theBlack College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.^[9] He was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 2025.^[10]

Strahan was selected in the second round by theNew York Giants in 1993.^[12] 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 thePhiladelphia Eagles.^[13]

Strahan was a member of the2000 Giants and participated in their playoff run toSuper Bowl XXXV. Despite coming off a strongNFC Championship Game, where the Giants defeated theMinnesota Vikings 41–0, theBaltimore 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 backTiki Barber ripped him for being selfish and greedy. The two had a heated phone conversation that night, and Strahan said they no longer speak. It also surfaced in the spring that the Giants explored trading Strahan, after which he suggested that management had orchestrated the contract flap to make him look bad. The team denied that.^[14]

Few defensive ends in the NFL were more dominant than Strahan from 1997 to 2005. He was named the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Year (in 2001 and 2003). Throughout the greater part of the 2004 season, Strahan was injured with a torn pectoral muscle, which limited him to only four sacks. He rebounded in 2005, returning to the Pro Bowl, with his protégé,Osi Umenyiora, as the two combined for 26 sacks while anchoring the Giants' defense. Strahan was considered by many coaches, peers, and experts as the standard, and best at his position during the prime of his career (1997–2005). He was also regarded as one of if not the best defensive end ever at defending the run, which made people and peers view him as a complete defensive end.^{[according to whom?]}

In the 2001 season, Strahan set the NFL record forsacks in a single season with 22.5, the highest tally since it was made an official statistic in 1982, breaking New York JetMark Gastineau's total of 22. In the final game of the season on January 6, 2002, with Strahan coming free, Green Bay Packers quarterbackBrett Favre slid down and Strahan fell on top of Favre for an easy sack. After the play, during the ensuing celebration, many of the Giants' defensive players patted Favre on the helmet. At least one observer accused Favre of deliberately falling to ensure that Strahan would get the record.^[15] However, Packers right tackleMark Tauscher claimed it was just a bad play and "we wanted to avoid that sack."^[16]

On October 23, 2006, with a sack onDrew Bledsoe in aMonday Night Football game against theDallas Cowboys, Strahan tiedLawrence Taylor for the Giants franchise record for most career sacks with 1321⁄2 (this total does not include 91⁄2 sacks accrued by Taylor in his rookie season of 1981, the year before sacks became an official NFL statistic). It was the last sack Strahan would get that season, as two weeks later he suffered aLisfranc fracture in a game against theHouston Texans and would miss the remainder of the season and the playoffs.

It seemed as though Strahan would retire after the 2006 season when he did not report to Giants training camp and missed the entire preseason, but the 14-year veteran opted to return for one final year. His 15th and final season proved to be the Giants' first championship since 1990. On September 30, 2007, he sackedDonovan McNabb from thePhiladelphia Eagles onSunday Night Football, increasing his career total to 133.5, setting a new franchise record. On Sunday, February 3, 2008, at theUniversity of Phoenix Stadium inGlendale, Arizona, Strahan had two tackles and one sack inSuper Bowl XLII, in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. Bolstered by a strong defense and unrelenting pass rush, the Giants went on to win the game 17–14, over the previously undefeated New England Patriots, giving Strahan a Super Bowl win. His saying was "Stomp you out!" His final act as a Giant was his acceptance of theVince Lombardi Trophy alongsideJohn Mara,Steve Tisch andTom Coughlin.

On June 9, 2008, Strahan retired from the NFL.^[17]

Strahan retired with 141.5 career sacks (fifth all-time when he retired), 854 careertackles, four careerinterceptions, 24forced fumbles, and three careertouchdowns in 200 games over a 15-year career (through the 2007 season). He was also named to the Pro Bowl roster seven times.

On February 2, 2013, Strahan failed to be voted into thePro Football Hall of Fame;^[18] 2013 was his first year of eligibility.

Super Bowl XLVIII, played inEast Rutherford, New Jersey, was dedicated to Strahan upon his induction into thePro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. Strahan performed the ceremonialcoin toss, accompanied by the other members of that year's PFHOF class. Strahan also commented on the trophy presentation for Fox, sinceTerry Bradshaw (who had commented on the trophy presentations for Fox's previous Super Bowl broadcasts) was mourning the death of his father. On November 3, 2014, he was presented his Hall of Fame ring at halftime of a New York Giants–Indianapolis Colts game by the Giants. In attendance were 100 former Giants players as well as former teammates of Strahan's.

On November 28, 2021, the Giants retired his number 92 at halftime of their game against thePhiladelphia Eagles.^[19]

Strahan flew to space on December 11, 2021, aboard theBlue Origin NS-19.^[20] At 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m), he became the tallest person to fly in space.^[21] Strahan, along with the other members of Blue Origins NS-19, were the final recipients of theFAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings,^[22] anaviator wings-like badge created by theFederal Aviation Administration to encourage and draw attention tocommercial space flight.

NFL

• Super Bowl XLII champion
• Four-time first-teamAll-Pro
• Seven-timePro Bowl selection
• AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001)
• NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
• Number 92 retired by the New York Giants (2021)

NCAA

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

Daytime Emmy Awards

• Two-time winner -Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host (2015, 2016 - withKelly Ripa)

Halls of Fame

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

Competition Media

• ABC To Tell The Truth-Doris Award (2020)

On June 24, 2008, it was announced that Strahan would be joining theFox NFL Sunday pregame show, alongside hostCurt Menefee and analystsTerry Bradshaw,Howie Long, andJimmy Johnson.^[24]

When Fox acquired the rights to broadcastThursday Night Football in 2018, it was decided to have Strahan host theFox NFL Thursday pregame show, along with Bradshaw and Long.Fox NFL Thursday is televised live from New York City instead of from theFox NFL Sunday studios in Los Angeles so it can accommodate Strahan's other live shows (see below), since a coast-to-coast commute on a Thursday night/early Friday morning would be impractical.^[25]

On October 1, 2010, Strahan co-hostedLive! with Regis and Kelly as a guest host withKelly Ripa for the first time whenRegis Philbin was absent on the show.^[26] Philbin left in November 2011, leaving an empty spot. After twenty guest appearances over two years, Strahan was selected asKelly Ripa's new co-host on September 4, 2012, markinghis first official day on the rechristened syndicated talk show,Live! with Kelly and Michael. Ratings instantly surged, impressively generating year-over-year time slot gains across all key demographics, towering over its nearest competition, the fourth hour ofNBC'sToday, by 87 percent.^[27] On April 19, 2016, ABC announced that Strahan would be leavingLive! with Kelly and Michael to begin working full-time onGood Morning America.^[28] Strahan together with co-host Ripa won aDaytime Emmy twice for "Outstanding Talk Show Host" during his tenure on the show.

In 2018, Strahan began co-hosting a daytime talk show spin-off ofGood Morning America, originally titledGMA Day, alongsideSara Haines.^[29] In January 2019, the program was retitledStrahan and Sara,^[30] then finallyStrahan, Sara and Keke in August 2019, to coincide with the addition of actressKeke Palmer.^[31] The show was put on hiatus in March 2020 due toABC News coverage of theCOVID-19 pandemic. It was officially cancelled in the fall of that year.

On February 19, 2025,NewsNation announced that Strahan would leaveGood Morning America at the end of his contract, according to sources at ABC News. His contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025.^[32]

In 2016, ABC announced that Strahan would be hosting a summer revival ofThe $100,000 Pyramid, which would air on Sunday nights along with theSteve Harvey-hostedCelebrity Family Feud and theAlec Baldwin-hostedMatch Game as part of a "Sunday Fun & Games" lineup. Strahan said thatPyramid was one of his favorite game shows growing up.^[33] The series has since been renewed for six seasons.^[34] Pyramid did not air in the summer of 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[35]

• Strahan was the host of thehome improvement programBackyard Stadiums onDIY Network, where he and a team of contractors and gardeners lay out sports courses and goals inbackyards.^[36]
• In September 2008, Strahan starred inVIP Like Me, a web series for Snickers.^[37]
• In 2008, Strahan guest-starred on an episode ofChuck, "Chuck Versus the Break-Up". He played Mitt, a bully and leader of the Mighty Jocks.
• Strahan starred as Michael Trainor in the television sitcomBrothers, which ran on Fox from September 25 to December 27, 2009.
• Strahan starred in an award-winning commercial series for Vaseline Men^[38][39]
• Strahan, along with formerNew York Giantsdefensive end and teammateJustin Tuck, appeared inSubway's "$5 Foot-long" commercials.^[40]
• Strahan did a commercial forCA Technologies for their new product Total Defense r12.^[41]
• In 2015, Strahan wrote and published a motivational book,Wake Up Happy: The Dream Big, Win Big Guide to Transforming Your Life.^[42]
• In the episode ofLip Sync Battle that originally aired on April 30, 2015, Strahan competed againstToday co-hostHoda Kotb with performances ofFergie's "London Bridge" andBell Biv DeVoe'sPoison". He lost.^[43]
• Strahan was a guest on the showWild 'n Out during its sixth season, which aired in 2014.^[44]
• Strahan played Augustus in the 2015 filmMagic Mike XXL.
• Strahan guest-starred in the Halloween episode ofBlack-ish as June Bug, Dre's cousin.^[45]
• In 2019, Strahan made acameo appearance in the movieCharlie's Angels as Bosley from the Townsend Agency's New York branch.^[46]
• In 2023, Strahan was a guest judge onSeason 32 ofDancing with the Stars.

On September 8, 2015, Strahan launched a men's clothing line exclusively throughJCPenney. It Includes suits, blazers, sports shirts, belts, ties, cufflinks, suspenders, and other accessories.^[47]

His uncle, Art Strahan, played as a defensive lineman for theHouston Oilers (1965) andAtlanta Falcons (1968).^[48] In an episode ofFinding Your Roots, Strahan learned that he has Anglo-Saxon ancestry that traces directly toCharlemagne, who is his 39-great-grandfather.^[49]

Strahan was married to his first wife, Wanda Hutchins, from 1992 to 1996.^[1] Hutchins is an American businesswoman, interior designer, and home decorator.^[50] They have a daughter, Tanita Strahan, and a son, Michael Anthony Strahan Jr.^[51] Strahan moved them to the U.S. and purchased a $163,000 house in the same Houston neighborhood where his parents live.^[52]

In 1999, Strahan married Jean Muggli after meeting her at a spa.^[53] They have twin daughters, Isabella and Sophia,^[51] born December 2004.^[54] As of 2004^[update], Strahan lives in Manhattan'sUpper West Side.^[55] Strahan and Muggli finalized their divorce on July 20, 2006.^[54] In January 2007, Judge James B. Convery awarded Muggli $15 million in a divorce settlement^[56] in addition to $18,000 monthly child support.^[57] Strahan appealed. In March 2007, the court ordered theMontclair, New Jersey mansion to be auctioned and the sales money split evenly;^[58] the house was valued at $3.6 million.^[59]

In August 2009, Strahan became engaged to Nicole Mitchell,Eddie Murphy's ex-wife,^[60] but the two ended their engagement in 2014.^[61] In June 2011, Strahan filmed a commercial supporting legalizingsame-sex marriage in New York.^[62][63]

Since around 2015, he has been dating Kayla Quick.^[64]

In 2002, Strahan had a multimillion-dollar restoration and renovation done^[65] on Georgian Heights. The turn-of-the-19th-century mansion is located on 2.3 acres of mountainside property and boasts sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. The home was built in 1906 at 99 Lloyd Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey. It is a red brick house with a carriage house and a greenhouse that he bought in 2000 for $1.3 million.^[66] Before moving in, he allowed the Junior League of Montclair-Newark to use his house as a model home for its charity fundraiser.^[67] From May 28 to 31, the League decorated the mansion, had a "bare bones" party and a black-tie affair, and held $25 tours^[68] to fund the Junior League programs Children At Risk and HomeCorp.^[69] Children At Risk aids children and families^[67] and HomeCorp helps low-income people achieve home ownership.

In February 2008, Strahan and Giants teammateJustin Tuck teamed up withNike to design their own exclusive sneakers for ID studio inNew York City. All proceeds from the sneakers were donated to Nike'sLet Me Play global campaign.^[70]

In December 2018, Strahan volunteered at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and was featured in a series of holiday promotions.^[71]

• New Yorkers in journalism

• Career statistics fromNFL.com · ESPN · Pro Football Reference
• Michael Strahan atIMDb
• NFL combine results