Michael Strahan: Former NFL Player and Co-host of GMA

Who is Michael Strahan?

Michael StrahanĀ is the son of retired army major Gene Strahan. Due to his father’s military service, he had the opportunity to travel around the world.

His father, Gene, was posted to Germany for a while, and Michael accompanied him. It was here that he met Wanda Hutchins, his first wife. They married when they were young. 

Additionally, Michael was always interested in playing football as a kid. So he followed his passion and soon became one of the renowned football players of the NFL. He is a Superbowl champion.

After retiring from NFL, Michael Strahan became a sports analyst and television host.Ā 

In this article, we will cover Michael Strahan’s life so far and his family. 

Michael Strahan Biography
Michael Strahan Biography

Quick facts

Full nameMichael Anthony Strahan Sr.
NicknameBob
BirthdayNovember 21, 1971
Age52 years old
Sun signScorpio
TraitsPositive: Brave, loyal, and honest
Negative: Secretive, jealous, and resentful
BirthplaceHouston, Harris, Texas, USA
Currently residingNew York, USA
NationalityAmerican
ParentsGene W. Strahan Sr,
Louise Traylor Strahan
GrandparentsWillie Strahan,
Gentle Mae Strahan
SiblingsDebra Strahan,
Sandra Strahan,
Gene Strahan Jr.,
Christopher Strahan,
Victor Strahan
Marital statusIn a relationship
SpouseKayla Quick (2015),
Jean Muggli (1999 ā€“ 2006),
Wanda Hutchins (1992 ā€“ 1996)
ChildrenTanita Strahan,
Michael Strahan Jr.,
Isabella Strahan,
Sophia Strahan,
EducationTexas Southern University,
Westbury High School,
Mannheim Christian School
ProfessionNFL ex-player, tv host, and businessman
Net worthUSD 65 Million
Social mediaFacebook,
Twitter,
Instagram

Childhood

Childhood photo of Michael Strahan
Childhood photo of Michael Strahan

Michael Anthony Strahan Sr was born in Houston, Texas, on November 21, 1971, to Louise (Traylor) Strahan and Gene Willie Strahan. His father was an army major who served with the 82nd Airborne Division. Gene was also a boxer, whereas Louise was a basketball coach.

Additionally, he has five siblings, Debra, Sandra, Victor, Christopher, and Gene Strahan Junior. Michael is the youngest.

Gene was in the US army and posted to different parts of the world. Then, at 9, Michael moved to West Germany with his father. He pursued his studies at Benjamin Franklin village in Mannheim, West Germany.

He spent a fair amount of years in Germany. Then, later in his senior year of high school, he returned to the US and lived with his uncle, Arthur Strahan, in Texas. Michael’s uncle is a former NFL defensive lineman, too.

Photo of Michael Strahan when he was in his high school football team
Photo of Michael Strahan when he was on his high school football team

Sports is in the DNA of Strahan’s family; moreover, Arthur significantly influenced his life.

Michael Strahan joined the Mannheim American High School, an US Department of Defense Dependent High School. In 1985, he started playing football as a linebacker for the Mannheim Bison from MAHS.

For his senior year, Michael went to Houston, Texas, to attend Westbury High School. There he played a season of football. Then he immediately got a scholarship from Texas Southern University.

After that, he returned to Germany and graduated from Mannheim Christian School.

Parents

Parents of Michael Strahan
Parents of Michael Strahan

Michael Strahan’s father, Gene Strahan, Sr, was born to Willie and Gentle Mae on April 20, 1987, in TX. He completed his high school at Wiergate High School in 1955 when he was eighteen.

Also, in June of the same year, Gene joined the army. Michael’s father was an intelligent person who loved to read. He completed his M.Ed in Industrial Arts.

After retiring from the army, he taught Industrial Arts. Additionally, Gene was a boxer in the military.

Gene married Louise Traylor on May 31, 1957, and had six children.

Michael’s mother, Louise Traylor Strahan, was a basketball coach. Both of his parents were athletic. Michael Strahan had athletism in his DNA.

Relationships

Michael Strahan sure had a booming professional career. But, his love life has not been ‘that’ successful.

He had connections with several women in his life. Michael married and divorced twice.

Wanda Hutchins

Wanda Hutchins first wife
Wanda Hutchins first wife of Michael Strahan

Wanda Hutchins is Michael Strahan’s first wife and, perhaps, his first love. Hutchins is an interior designer by profession.

Michael met Wanda in Mannheim, Germany, where both their fathers served in the US military. Strahan and Hutchins were high school sweethearts.

As stated in his book, Michael felt surprised that a woman as beautiful as Hutchins would want to date him.

Their relationship went long-distance for a while when he returned to the US for high school. He returned to Germany for a short time.

Then, Michael returned to the US again to attend Texas Southern University. Strahan revisited Germany in his senior year. Then, Hutchins gives him the news that he will be a father.

And just like that, Strahan’s oldest child, a daughter named Tanita Strahan, was born in 1992 in Germany. Strahan married Hutchins soon after and relocated Hutchins and their daughter to Houston.

In 1993, their second child, a son named Michael Strahan Jr., was born. But, the marriage did not last, and the couple divorced in 1996.

Hutchins stated that the two were too young and mutually decided they would not work out. Since the divorce, the couple is still on good terms. They have successfully co-parented their children.

Hutchins has always supported Strahan in the face of bad press too.

Jean Muggli

Jean Muggli
Jean Muggli second wife of Michael Strahan

Michael met Jean Muggli at a Manhattan saloon in 1999. They married the same year and had twin daughters, Sophia and Isabella, in 2004.

Things started going downhill for the couple. And Michael filed for divorce after two years of marriage.

Muggli accused Strahan of physical assault and also said that Strahan was gay. The court dismissed her complaint after she confessed that he had not touched her.

During these times, his first wife, Hutchins, took her ex-husband’s side. Wanda Hutchins stated that Muggli had told her that she wished her children would die.

Strahan’s father also had some allegations to make. He said that Jean was a sick lady and needed help.

Currently, Strahan and Muggli have gotten divorced. The two of them are still fighting for the custody of their daughters.

Strahan has claimed that Muggli abuses their daughters. She also neglected to take their daughters to court-ordered therapy sessions.

Muggli has also been keeping them from attending volleyball matches and equestrian events. The court still needs to decide on the custody of the children.

Nicole Murphy

Michael dated Nicole Mitchell Murphy for five years. They were briefly engaged too.

They were on-and-off time and again, so they decided to part ways permanently. Rumors say that Michael Strahan had cheated on her.

Nicole got kicked out of Beverly Wilshire Hotel for banging on a door to Strahan’s room. She firmly believed that he was in there with another woman.

Despite the drama, Nicole and Michael are still on good terms with each other.

Kayla Quick

Michael Strahan with his two daughters and girlfriend Kayla Quick
Michael Strahan with his two daughters and girlfriend Kayla Quick

Since 2016, the media has been seeing Michael with Kayla Quick. The media infrequently photograph them together.

Kayla is 20 years younger than Michael Strahan and is a convicted criminal.

Quick got arrested twice as a minor. It was for disorderly conduct and grand theft when she stole jewelry from her grandmother. After returning from Juvenile court, Quick has not been in any legal trouble.

Michael has been keeping a low profile of his relationship. Maybe, it is because he has had bad experiences with a series of publicized relationships.

Children

Michael Strahan has four children from his marriage. He has two children from his marriage to Wanda Hutchings, Tanita Strahan, and Michael Strahan Jr. They both were born in Germany and came to the US for further studies.

After his divorce from Wanda, Michael married Jean Muggli. He has twins, Isabella and Sofia Strahan. After the divorce, both daughters are staying with Michael in New York.

Career

Football

Michael took the first step in his football career after joining Texas Southern University. He started playing for the Texas Southern Tigers as a defensive end.

He proved himself as an NFL prospect with his double-teaming skills. Strahan got selected as ‘All America’, first-team to the NFL Draft. The Poor Man’s Guide, Black College Sports Report, and The Sheridan Network chose him.

(All-American is an American Sports Team composed of outstanding amateur players)

Strahan got awarded the ‘Defensive Player of The Year,’ and Southwestern Athletic Conference’s ‘Player of The Year.’ He also received the Black College’ Defensive Player of The Year in his university years.

In 1991, while still a junior, Michael Strahan led the SWAC with 14.5 quarterback sacks. He also made a Texas Southern Record with 41.5 career sacks.

Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan

New York Giants

Strahan’s professional career began after the New York Giants drafted him in 1993. Sadly, he only played in six games and missed the New York Giants’ two playoff games due to injuries. After recovery, he had a few promising seasons.

In 1997, Michael Strahan came to the limelight for recording 14 sacks.

Early in his career, he got voted into his first Pro Bowl. The Associated Press also named him the ‘First-Team All-Pro.’

Strahan only continued to succeed by racking up 15 sacks. He again got voted into his second Pro Bowl and All-Pro Team.

Michael Strahan continued playing for the New York Giants and became a member of the 2000 season. He participated in their playoff run to Super Bowl XXXV.

Although New York Giants won a game against the Minnesota Vikings, they lost the Baltimore Ravens game. Strahan had negotiated a new contract. And he accused the front office and the team of not being competitive.

In 2002, Michael had a heated phone conversation with his teammate, Tiki Barber. They did not come to speaking terms after that.

The news even circulated that the Giants were looking towards trading Strahan. Michael said that the management had tried to orchestrate all these things to make him look bad. The New York Giants denied his accusations.

Later career

Amidst all that drama, Strahan kept playing for the New York Giants. Few defensive ends were more dominant than him in the NFL from 1997 to 2005.

The year 2004 was another unlucky year for him as he got injured again, limiting him to making only four shacks. He returned to the Pro Bowl again in 2015. Along with Osi Umenyiora, another defensive end, they combined 26 sacks.

From then on, Michael Strahan was sought out by many coaches and experts as the best at his position.

In the 2001 season, Michael set the highest sacks record in a single season with 22.5. In 2006, Michael and Lawrence teamed up for the Giant’s franchise record for the most career sacks with 132 and a half.

It was Strahan’s last sack before he suffered a Lisfranc fracture. It happened while he was playing against the Houston Texans.

In 2007, Michael Strahan played his 15th and final season, which ended with his team winning their first championship since 1990. He sacked Donovan Mcnabb from Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. It led his career sacks to a total of 133.5, setting a new record for the Giants.

In 2008, the University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, hosted Super Bowl XLII. Michael Strahan played his last game of the Super Bowl and made two tackles and one sack.

They won against New England Patriots giving Michael his first Super Bowl win as an NFL starter.

Retirement

Michael Strahan retired from the NFL on June 9th, 2008. He retired with 141.5 career sacks and 854 career tackles. He also had 24 forced fumbles, three career touchdowns, and four career interceptions in 15 years.

On January 27th, 2020, Michael Strahan announced on ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.’ He revealed that the New York Giants were planning to retire his No. 92 jerseys.

TV

Fox NFL Sunday Pregame show

After his NFL Career, Michael Strahan joined the media world.

On June 24th, 2008, ‘Fox NFL Sunday’ announced that Strahan would be joining them. He joined as an analyst alongside host Curt Menefee, analyst Terry Bradshaw, etc.

Fox acquired the rights to broadcast ‘Thursday Night Football’ in 2018. It decided to have Strahan, Bradshaw, and Long host the Fox NFL Thursday Pregame Show live from New York.

The show went live from New York City to match the other live shows that Strahan co-hosted.

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Michael co-hosted ‘Live! Regis and Kelly’ with Kelly Ripa for the first time on October 1st, 2010, due to Regis Philbin’s absence.

After Philbin left that show in 2011, the show made twenty guest appearances. In 2012, the show announced that Strahan would co-host the show alongside Kelly Ripa. It got renamed as ‘Live! With Kelly and Michael’.

Michael Strahan’s presence on the show caused a growth in ratings. It also had year-over-year time slot gains across all key demographics.

Michael Strahan with Kelly Ripa
Michael Strahan with Kelly Ripa

In 2016 Strahan announced to leave ‘Live! With Kelly and Michael’ to start working full-time on ‘Good Morning America’ (GMA).

Good Morning America

In 2016, Michael Strahan began working as a co-host for ‘Good Morning America.’ He won a Daytime Emmy twice for ‘Outstanding Talk Show Host.’ In 2018, Michael began co-hosting the show along with Sara Haines, titled GMA Day. The show retitled itself as ‘Strahan and Sara’ in 2019.

The $ 100,000 Pyramid

‘The USD 100,000 Pyramid’ was Michael Strahan’s favorite game show while growing up. He hosted the summer revival of ‘The $ 100,000 Pyramid Summer Revival’ as a part of the ‘Sunday Fun and Games’ lineup.

Michael Strahan’s other shows

  • Michael Strahan was the host of ‘Backyard Stadiums’ on DIY Network.
  • He starred in Subway’s ‘$ 5 Foot-long’ commercials with his teammate, Justin Tuck.
  • He also did a commercial for CA Technologies for ‘Total Defense r12.’
  • He was also a guest on the ‘Lip Sync Battle’ in 2015 and on the ‘Wild ā€˜n Out’ in 2014.

Filmography

Michael Strahan has also starred in and produced several films. They are:

NameCategoryRoleYear
VIP Like MeSeries 2008
Chuck versus the BreakupSeriesMitt- the bully2008
Brothers SitcomMichael Trainor2009
Vaseline MenAward-winning series 
Black-ishSeriesJane Bug, Dre’s Cousin in the Halloween episode
Charlie’s AngelsFilmCameo appearance as Bosley from The Townsend Agency’s New York Branch2019
Magic Mike XXLFilmStripper2015
Ice Age: Collision CourseFilmTeddy2016

His new documentary movie, ‘The Cost of Winning,’ is now streaming on HBO.

Strahan also published a motivational book titled “Wake Up Happy: The Dream Big, Win Big Guide to Transforming Your Life” in 2015.

Awards

Division I-AAA Defensive Player of The Year.’

  • Edd Hayes and Black College Sports’ All-American’ in 1992.
  • ‘First-Team College-division All-American’ by The Associated Press in 1992.
  • Named ‘First Team All-SWAC’ and SWAC’s ‘Player of the Year’ in 1992 and 1993.
  • Named Black College’ Defensive Player of The Year’.’First-Team All-Pro’ by The Associated Press in 1997.
  • NFL 2000s’ All-Decade Team’.
  • NFL’ Defensive Player of The Year’ in 2001 and NFL’ Single-Season Sack Record’ with 22.5 sacks in 2001.NFC’ Defensive Player of The Year’ in 2001 and 2003.
  • Inducted into the ‘Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
  • Two-time Daytime Emmy winner for ‘Outstanding Talk Show Host.’
  • To Tell the truth ‘Doris’ Winner-perfect game in 2020.
  • Broadcaster of the Year by the New York State Broadcasters Association, 2022

net worth

As of 2024, Michael Strahan has a net worth of USD 65 million. The money comes from his career as a TV presenter, actor, film producer, and former NFL Champion.

Controversies

Being a celebrity and not having controversies is an unusual blend. Strahan’s first controversy was when he got flak about breaking the single-season sack record.

The New York Giants even tried to trade Strahan. After that, Michael Strahan suggested that the management had planned the contract flap. He accused them of doing it to make him look bad.

The second controversy he got into was when he left the ‘Live! With Kelly and Michael’s show. Strahan described that he felt like a sidekick with Kelly. He said he got treated as if he was the guy who walked in and said, “I’m leaving.”

Despite the controversy, Michael says he does not hate Kelly but respects her for what she can do.

The last and ongoing controversy that Michael is still a part of is the divorce between him and Jean Muggli. The divorce was one hell of a drama itself.

A few days before Strahan filed for divorce, Muggli had accused him of domestic violence. The good thing is she later confessed to the judge that he never laid hands on her. Currently, they are battling over who gets custody of their twin daughters.

Michael Strahan charity

Michael Strahan is a well-known philanthropist and has dedicated himself to many charitable works.

  • In 2002, Michael renovated and restored several areas at Georgian Heights. It was a house built in 1906 at Lloyd Avenue in Montclair and New Jersey. He allowed the Junior League of Montclair- Newark to use his house as a model house for its fundraiser event. It hosted a 4-days event and held $25 tours to fund the Junior League programs, Children at Risk, and Home Corp. Children at Risk helps children and families. Home Corp helps low-income families to achieve homeownership
  • In February 2008, Strahan, with his teammate, Justin Tuck, designed their own exclusive Nike sneakers for ID Studio. All the sneakers’ proceeds were donated to Nike’s ‘Let Me Play’ global campaign.
  • In 2018, he volunteered at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Recently, on September 30th, he asked the public to help cure childhood cancer. He asked people to donate and learn about the organization on this site on his social media.
  • He has also given a hand to other organizations like The USO and HELP.

social media

Michael Strahan is active on all social media platforms being a significant influencer. He updates his followers on his whereabouts and shares motivational videos too.

You can find Michael Strahan on Instagram as @michaelstrahan, with over 1.5 million followers, which keeps growing. Michael Strahan’s Twitter account, @michaelstrahan, is equally active too.

He has a Facebook page in his name; it is@michaelstrahan92. In Addition, he also has a website.

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