Michael Strahan and New York City have been locked in since the day he first pulled on that Giants jersey. Back then, it was sacks and smiles, a Hall of Fame pass-rusher wrecking quarterbacks while owning every bit of the spotlight. Retirement didn’t cool it off. Strahan traded shoulder pads for TV suits, becoming as much a part of the city’s daily rhythm as bodega coffee and subway delays. But deep down, that competitive itch never really left.

Earlier this year, around February, that fire found a new lane. When word broke in February that Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch were open to selling a 10% stake in the franchise, Strahan moved quickly. Teaming up with billionaire Marc Lasry, setting his sights on something even bigger than a Lombardi. A seat at the ownership table. Well, you’d expect that from a man who’s still, in every way, New York Giants royalty.

The last few months have been heavy with whispers about the ex-NewYork Giants icon’s potential departure, and now the Giants’ most valuable player has yet another heartfelt admission to make. “Never, never, never thought about this,” he admitted. “Just thought about playing and doing the best I could and let the s— fall where they may, and they’ve all fallen into place… Believe me, there’s still a part of me that wishes I could put on a uniform and come out here and play tonight.” You can almost hear the heaviness in his voice. But he knows reality. “If I did that, I don’t know how many plays I’d make… and I definitely know I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning.”

Back in 2021, Strahan got the kind of tribute only true legends earn. And let’s be honest, he didn’t even see it coming. One morning on Good Morning America, the set suddenly turned into a Giants reunion. Jesse Armstead and Justin Tuck walked in, all three wearing his iconic blue No. 92. Strahan’s reaction was pure shock. Quickly followed by his trademark humor. “It wouldn’t be possible without these three; they were all very instrumental in my career… I carried all three of these guys throughout their careers. This works out perfectly,” he joked. Quite a perfect final nod from the franchise he gave everything to.

“That is like the ultimate respect from a team,” Strahan said. This hits harder when you remember the player behind it. The guy who poured 15 seasons of blood and sweat into the Giants. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, seeing him in person for the first time, said he didn’t expect Strahan to be that big. Not just in size, but in presence. And that’s the thing, you know, despite all the records, it’s not the sacks he misses most. “You miss the guys… to have these guys get called and say, of course, they’ll come and fly from out of town… really, really means the world to me.” That’s why, even as the face of Good Morning America, he still drops into the Giants’ locker room. Checking out the new cleats, passing the torch to fresh faces.

Michael Strahan gets hit with back-to-back blows

Michael Strahan’s week went from heavy to heartbreaking in days. First came Jimmy Johnson’s retirement announcement at 81, a moment that hit the Fox Sports crew like a gut punch. Strahan’s tribute on social media wasn’t just a polite send-off. It was kind of personal. “Congratulations on your retirement, @jimmyjohnson4616!” he wrote, sharing a photo of the two embracing on set. Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson, and the rest of the crew followed with their own tributes, but it was a candid party snapshot. Andrews with Strahan, Thompson, and the guest of honor—that spoke volumes. “Love our family,” Andrews posted.

And you could see it wasn’t just talk. For Strahan, this wasn’t losing a colleague. It was losing a piece of his football family. Then came another emotional hit. This time, far from the TV studio. News broke that Deion Sanders had been diagnosed with bladder cancer, and Strahan, who’s shared an NFL brotherhood and off-field business ventures with “Prime Time,” went public with his support. “Proud of my brotha @DeionSanders,” Strahan posted, alongside a throwback photo from Sanders’ high school coaching days. His words carried weight, along with that admiration and urgency.

Sanders later addressed the media, offering an update on his health, but for Strahan, the hits kept coming. In the span of a week, he’d watched one friend step away from the spotlight and another face the fight of his life. Whether it’s the Fox set or the NFL sidelines, the bonds he’s built run deep. And this week proved that some connections in football go far beyond the game.