
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan is an American television host and former professional football defensive end known for setting the NFL single-season sack record with the New York Giants and winning Super Bowl XLII. After a 15-season Hall of Fame football career, he transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a co-anchor on Good Morning America, an analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and the host of The $100,000 Pyramid.
Personal life and family
Strahan was married to Wanda Hutchins from 1992 to 1996, and the couple had two children. In 1999, he married Jean Muggli, with whom he had twin daughters, including Isabella Strahan. Following a divorce finalized in 2006, Strahan became engaged to Nicole Mitchell in 2009 before the engagement ended in 2014. He has been in a relationship with Kayla Quick since 2015.
Strahan is the nephew of retired NFL defensive lineman Art Strahan, who played for the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons. During his youth, his family relocated to Benjamin Franklin Village in Mannheim, West Germany, where his father Gene served as a major in the United States Army. On an episode of the genealogy program Finding Your Roots, Strahan discovered ancestral lineage tracing back to Charlemagne.
Collegiate career at Texas Southern
Before his senior year of high school, Strahan moved from West Germany to Houston to live with his uncle Art and play football for Westbury High School. His single season of high school football earned him an athletic scholarship to Texas Southern University, following his uncle's collegiate path as a defensive end.
At Texas Southern, Strahan developed into a dominant pass rusher, prompting opposing teams to employ double-team blocking schemes that coaches dubbed "Strahan rules." He established a school record with 41.5 career sacks, including 19 quarterback sacks during his senior season in 1992. His college achievements earned him Division I-AA Defensive Player of the Year honors, two Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year awards, and induction into both the Black College Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
New York Giants and sack record
The New York Giants selected Strahan in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft with the 40th overall pick. After early seasons limited by injuries, he enjoyed a breakout year in 1997 by posting 14 sacks, earning his first Pro Bowl invitation and First-team All-Pro honors. He served as a defensive anchor during the 2000 season as the Giants advanced to Super Bowl XXXV.
During the 2001 campaign, Strahan set the NFL single-season record with 22.5 sacks, surpassing Mark Gastineau's previous mark of 22. The record-setting play occurred in the regular-season finale against Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Strahan received the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and led the league in sacks again in 2003 with 18.5. Known for his complete game against both the pass and the run, he formed a prolific pass-rushing tandem with defensive end Osi Umenyiora in subsequent seasons.
Super Bowl XLII victory and Hall of Fame
After contemplating retirement and missing the 2007 preseason, Strahan returned to the Giants for a 15th season. On September 30, 2007, he sacked Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to establish a new franchise record for career sacks, ultimately finishing his career with 141.5.
Strahan played his final NFL game on February 3, 2008, in Super Bowl XLII against the undefeated New England Patriots. Behind an unrelenting defensive line pressure, Strahan recorded two tackles and a sack as the Giants pulled off a 17-14 upset victory. He announced his retirement from football in June 2008. Strahan was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014, and the Giants retired his No. 92 jersey in November 2021.
Television career and broadcasting
Following his retirement from the NFL, Strahan joined Fox Sports in 2008 as a studio analyst on Fox NFL Sunday alongside Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Jimmy Johnson. He expanded into scripted television by starring in the 2009 Fox sitcom Brothers and hosted the DIY Network series Backyard Stadiums.
In September 2012, Strahan succeeded Regis Philbin as Kelly Ripa's co-host on the syndicated talk show Live! with Kelly and Michael. The pairing earned two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, Strahan departed the show to join ABC's Good Morning America as a full-time co-anchor alongside George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts. That same year, he began hosting ABC's primetime game show The $100,000 Pyramid.
Production ventures and suborbital spaceflight
Strahan co-founded SMAC Entertainment, a management and production company responsible for television projects and documentary features such as Coach Prime and the primetime special Life Interrupted: Isabella Strahan's Fight Against Cancer. In 2015, he authored the motivational book Wake Up Happy: The Dream Big, Win Big Guide to Transforming Your Life and launched a signature clothing brand with JCPenney.
On December 11, 2021, Strahan participated in a suborbital spaceflight aboard Blue Origin NS-19. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, he became the tallest person to travel into space and received commercial astronaut wings from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Quick facts
- Strahan set the NFL single-season sack record with 22.5 sacks during the 2001 regular season.
- He played his entire 15-season professional football career with the New York Giants.
- Strahan set a Texas Southern University school record by recording 41.5 career sacks.
- In his final NFL game, Strahan helped lead the Giants to an upset victory over the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
- Strahan and co-host Kelly Ripa won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host on Live! with Kelly and Michael.
- On December 11, 2021, Strahan flew aboard Blue Origin flight NS-19, becoming the tallest person to fly in space at 6 feet 5 inches.
- He spent much of his childhood living at the Benjamin Franklin Village military installation in Mannheim, West Germany.
- The New York Giants retired his No. 92 jersey during a ceremony in November 2021.
- Strahan co-founded the talent management and production banner SMAC Entertainment.
- An appearance on Finding Your Roots revealed Strahan's direct ancestral lineage to Charlemagne.
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