Aurora Starchild
If you don’t know about Michael Strahan, you need to. The Good Morning America host isn’t just a handsome face — he’s a former NFL football player for the New York Giants. His remarkable talent seems to follow him no matter what he chooses to do. Here’s what you need to know about the professional football player-turned Emmy recipient.
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Michael Strahan’s Early Life Including Watching A Lot of Football — Not Playing It
Michael Strahan was born on November 21, 1971, in Houston, Texas. His mother is Louise (Traylor) Strahan and was a basketball coach. His father, Gene Willie Strahan, was a talented boxer (he once beat future heavyweight champion Ken Norton when he was in the Marines) and retired Army Major. Michael has five older siblings. When he was just 9 years old, his father was transferred in the Army from Houston to Mannheim, West Germany.
Michael Strahan’s passion for football likely began as a child when his father used to wake him before dawn to watch Monday Night Football. He started playing football at Mannheim American High School, which is an independent high school listed with the Department of Defense.
He Was Drafted by the Giants After Just One Year of Playing U.S. High School Football
After playing as a linebacker at MAHS for a year, he moved back to Houston and lived with his uncle Art so he could play proper football in the states. After just one year of playing at Westbury High School as a senior, he got a scholarship for football from Texas Southern University.
Despite being such a rookie in the sport in general, Strahan proved that he had what it took to be in the NFL. At 6’5” and 255 lb, he broke numerous records while at TSU including the still-held 41.5 career sacks. He was named Division I-AA Defensive Player of the Year and Black Defensive Player of the Year. In 2014, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After graduating college in 1993, Strahan was drafted onto the New York Giants. He stayed with them as a defensive end through the end of his professional football career in 2007. Strahan helped the Giants win the XLII Super Bowl. He made it onto the Pro Bowl roster 7 times by the time he retired with 854 tackles and 141.5 sacks. In 2001 he was named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Michael Strahan Won Two Emmys Before Hosting GMA
Just like football, Strahan jumped into the Hollywood spotlight and immediately found glory. Starting with the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show in 2008, his first-hand experience on the field was just one quality that made him a successful TV personality. He also hosted the Fox NFL Thursday pregame show and then filled in for Regis Philbin on Live! with Regis and Kelly in 2010. Philbin left and Strahan replaced him, hence causing the show’s name change to Live! with Kelly and Michael. He and Kelly Ripa won two Emmy Daytime Awards for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
He Became a Good Morning America Host in 2016 and Has Been There Ever Since
In 2014, Strahan began part-time contributing to Good Morning America. He moved to GMA full-time in 2016. He’s been a part of the show ever since, co-hosting with several other personalities including Sara Haines and Keke Palmer. Fans were worried after Strahan was absent from GMA for a period of time, but it turns out he was on an assignment to interview Prince Harry. He’s back now, so don’t worry! The GMA host actually signed a 4-year contract extension in 2021, so we’re going to be seeing a lot more of him.
Michael Strahan also hosted The $100,000 Pyramid game show revival for several seasons beginning in 2016.
On December 11, 2011, Michael Strahan broke a world record by becoming the tallest man to ever fly to space. He hopped on board the Blue Origin NS-19 along with a crew of five other people.
Personal Life: Two Marriages and Four Children, Plus A Lot of Charity Work
Strahan has been married and divorced twice. His first marriage was to businesswoman and interior designer Wanda Hutchins from 1992 to 1996. They have one daughter, Tanita, and a son, Michael. His second wife was cosmetic store manager Jean Muggli, who he met in 1999. Michael and Jean share two children, twin daughters Isabella and Sophia, born December 2004. They divorced in 2006 after a long and ugly battle.
Apart from working on TV and being a dad to four (and flying into outer space), Michael Strahan stays busy by giving back. He’s constantly advocating for causes he believes in, including same-sex marriage. He’s worked with St. Jude and Nike’s Let Me Play global campaign. Strahan has also let charities Children at Risk and HomeCorp use his mansion for fundraisers!
