Michael Strahan courtesy Fox Sports
Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has signed on to join Fox Sports' Sunday NFL pre-game show. The outspoken Strahan, 36, retired earlier this month following a 15-year career with the Giants, culminating with a Super Bowl title in February. He received offers from several networks but ultimately chose Fox because of his past relationship with the network (Fox covers the NFC, which features the Giants) and because the show, based in Los Angeles, is located near his beach house in nearby Hermosa Beach, Calif.
"Likeability is an important factor and Michael is more than liked by a lot of people around the country," says Fox Sports president Ed Goren. "He's loved by a lot of football fans. He's the perfect fit for our show."
Strahan says getting ready for TV will be an easy transition. "It's a lot like preparing for a football game,” he says. “I'll still have to put in film study, read a lot and know the players and teams and what's going on around the league."
On the prospect of having to criticize former teammates and coaches and other players, Strahan cast aside any worries. "Half the people [in the NFL] don't like me anyway, so it really doesn't matter," he says. "Besides, all the things you say about a team [on TV] aren't always bad."
Strahan joins Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and host Curt Menefee on Fox NFL Sunday, which makes its season premiere on Sept 7. —J.R. Whalen
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