Michael Strahan was a force for 15 years on the Giants’ defense.
Credit: Getty Images
Michael Strahan’s name has rarely been out of the public eye since his retirement, but now you’ll be seeing a new phrase before it: Pro Football Hall of Famer.
The former Giants defensive end was elected to the Hall of Fame on Saturday night in his second year of eligibility.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound lineman was a perfect combination of size and speed, with passing and run-stopping ability. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All Pro during his 15-year career.
He spent all 15 seasons with the Giants after being drafted in the second round (40th overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft out of Division I-AA (now FCS) Texas Southern. The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) school is located in Strahan’s hometown of Houston.
Strahan finished his career with 141 1/2 sacks — fifth all time.
He also set the record for most sacks in a season in 2001 when he finished with 22 1/2. The record was achieved somewhat controversially when Packers quarterback Brett Favre rolled out and right into the hands of Strahan, seemingly intentionally.
But the results controversy didn’t prevent Strahan from winning the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2001.
Strahan also ranks 18th all time with an 18 1/2-sack season in 2003.
The only thing eluding Strahan in his career was the Lombardi Trophy. But he checked that off his list with the epic upset of the 18-0 Patriots in 2008 in Super Bowl XLII. He retired after the game.
Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, Bills wide receiver Andre Reed, Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones, Rams defensive back Aeneas Williams, Raiders punter Ray Guy and Falcons defensive end Claude Humphrey were the other members elected to the Hall of Fame. Guy, the first punter to ever make the Hall, and Humphrey were Veterans Committee selections.
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