NFL HOF Spotlight: Michael Strahan

This NFL Hall of Fame spotlight focuses on Michael Strahan, one of the best defensive ends in the league’s history. When it comes to pass rushing, few players were better than Strahan. His ability to take down quarterbacks was beyond incredible. In run defense, he was an immovable force.

Strahan spent all his 15 professional football years playing for the New York Giants. In this article, you’ll learn why we consider it fifteen years well spent.

The Road to Greatness

At only 13 years old, Strahan was already pretty huge. While people made fun of him, he conditioned his mind to use that size to his advantage. Following in the footsteps of his uncle, Art Strahan, he started playing football in high school.

He got into Texas Southern University on a scholarship. There, he made himself a terror to quarterbacks. His tally of 41.5 sacks remains a Texas Southern record to date. He was such a great problem to offensive lines that he often drew double teams—a scenario his coaches dubbed the “Strahan rules.” He earned an All-American first-team selection in 1992.

In the 1993 NFL Draft, the Giants selected him in the second round with the 40th overall pick.

Professional Football Career

Strahan had a slow start to life as a pro. A foot injury limited him to just nine games in his rookie season. In the next season, he broke into the starting right defensive end position. An injury in the Giants’ defensive line forced Strahan into the left defensive end position later on. He started to register his dominance little by little. With each passing season, he was becoming better and stronger. In the 1997 season, he took the league by storm. He recorded 14 sacks that season and received his first Pro Bowl selection. He was also named to the First-team All-Pro. Things had started to click for Strahan, and there was no stopping him afterward.

Defensive Player of the Year

Strahan entered his prime in 1997, and he continued in that fine form till the very end of his career. Even when the injuries came knocking, he was quick to bounce back. But despite having good form through those 11 seasons, 2001 was when he earned some of his most significant honors as a defensive lineman. That season, he broke the record set by former New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau, becoming the new record holder with 22.5 sacks—the most in a single season. Amazingly, his final sack came in the final game of the season against the Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. His show-stopping performances earned him the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2001.

A Complete Sackman

Strahan established a legacy as a well-rounded defensive end. His pass rushing was insane, but he was also brilliant against the run. However, it was his ability to sack quarterbacks that earned him an untouchable reputation.

Even against fearful tackles like Jon Runyan, Strahan was still able to find his way out—a testament to Strahan’s raw strength. In fact, Runyan happened to be one of Strahan’s favorite victims. The battle between the two was always tense but Strahan mostly came out the stronger of the two.

In 15 meetings with the former Philadelphia Eagles right tackle, Strahan recorded 14.5 sacks, with 8 of them coming in their first five matchups. When you can ruggedly work your way past a mountain of a man like that, you know you’re on another level.

Strahan went into every game with the Lawrence Taylor philosophy of “let’s go out there and play like a wild pack of wolves.” In an interview post-retirement, he shared one of the things he enjoyed most about the game. He said, “My favorite thing to do was hit a quarterback and then land on them. You’d hear them go ehhhhhh. I literally felt like the life just left their body.’

Super Bowl Champion

Edging closer to what was already a successful career, Strahan felt he had one more in him. His confidence, leadership, and ability to deliver on the gridiron helped the Giants to the Super Bowl XLII. Defeating the perfect-record New England Patriots seemed like “Mission Impossible.”

But the Giants’ strong and relentless Strahan-led defense was not about to take no for an answer. The Giants came out as the Super Bowl champions winning by a tight 17-14 scoreline. During the game, Strahan kept believing. After Randy Moss scored from a Tom Brady pass in 2:42, Strahan said to his teammates, “17-14 is the final, OK? One touchdown, we are world champions. Believe it and it will happen.” His high spirits rubbed off on the entire team and like a prophecy fulfilled, the game ended exactly as Strahan predicted. It was an incredible moment for Strahan. It was his last professional game, and he was winning the most important trophy as a football player—nothing beats that. In celebration, he jumped high, pulling his knees up to his shoulders in a move he called “Stomp You Out.”

Strahan announced his retirement in 2008 after an enviable career. He had superb numbers, including 141.5 sacks and 854 total tackles.

Career Achievements

Strahan’s 15 years in the NFL came with several honors. While his first four seasons were relatively quiet, he more than made up for it in the later years of his career. He won two sack titles, the first coming in 2001—a year in which he also tied for most forced fumbles. He remains the Giants’ all-time leader in sacks.

Strahan claimed the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2001. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler. Named to the AP First-team All-Pro four times, he also got two Second-team All-Pro selections. 

Strahan is a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. He was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2010. In 2021, the Giants retired his number 92. 

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

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