Top 10 All Time Giants
Michael Strahan’s post playing career has been the antithesis of Tiki Barber’s. A player universally loved by fans and the media alike, a talk show staple and a Hall of Fame inductee; Strahan has followed his incredible, story book career with a retirement that has been almost as successful but much more televised.
The son of an Army Major, Strahan moved with his family from Texas to Germany at the age of nine. He first started playing organized football in Germany, playing for a US Department of Defense Dependent High School in Mannheim, Germany. It might not have been the traditional road to NFL stardom, but the groundwork was laid in Germany for Strahan to become a dominant defensive player.
After playing linebacker for the Mannheim Redskins, his father sent him back to Texas to live with his uncle for his senior year of high school. The one season at Westbury High School in Houston was enough for Strahan to earn a scholarship to play at his uncle’s alma mater, Texas Southern University.
Following All-American honors, defensive player of the year awards, and multiple school records at the division I-AA school, Strahan entered the 1993 NFL draft and was selected by the Giants in the 2nd round.
Although he missed 7 games due to injury during his rookie season, Strahan quickly caught on and by his second season he was starting on the defensive line. At the time, the Giants were transitioning away from the players that had helped win their last Super Bowl; Strahan represented a link between the older, dominant defensive players such as Lawrence Taylor and Mark Collins and the young, promising players such as Jessie Armstead and Keith Hamilton. Strahan would become the constant, physical leader of this new defense, being named an All Pro in both 1997 and 1998.
The Giants reached the Super Bowl in 2000, despite Strahan having a “down” season with only 9.5 sacks. He missed the Pro Bowl and the Giants got blown out in the Super Bowl. He lost a chance to claim an NFL championship, something he would continue to pursue throughout his career. The next season was Strahan’s most dominant; he recorded an NFL record 22.5 sacks and was named All Pro. The Giants missed the playoffs, and after disappointing postseason showings in 2002 and 2005, as well as an injury shortened 2006 campaign, Strahan was ready to hang up his cleats and walk away from the game.
The 2007 season started with Strahan sitting out training camp, getting fined thousands of dollars, and feuding with his coach and management over the continuation of his career. He reached an agreement with the team one week before the start of the season, after missing 36 days of training camp and spending his time working out privately in Los Angeles. He returned in time to play in all 16 games, starting in all but the season opener, and accumulating 9 sacks. He also helped bring along Justin Tuck and continued to see the progress of Osi Umenyiora, each of whom would help lead the Giants to another Super Bowl and become tremendous pass rushers in their own right.
In the final game of his career, Strahan sacked Tom Brady and helped hold the highest scoring offense of all time to 14 points. The Giants pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history, and the victory helped secure Strahan’s place as an all time great. He ended his career as the Giants all time leader in sacks and still holds the record for single season quarterback take downs. He became the definitive defensive end, one who can not only rush the passer but defend the run just as well. He played during another down time in the franchise’s history but his excellence helped resurrect the team to Super Bowl glory and he now finds himself enshrined in the Hall of Fame and is an unquestioned legend in the history of the Giants.
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