Michael Strahan found himself at the center of a controversy over the weekend regarding his stance during the national anthem, but the NFL legend has now set the record straight, directly addressing the situation and any misconceptions surrounding his actions.
The former New York Giants defensive end, who played in the NFL from 1993 to 2007, has been working as an analyst for FOX Sports since retiring. On Sunday, in honor of Veterans Day, the NFL on FOX broadcast its weekly pregame show from Naval Base San Diego, a location chosen to honor the nation’s servicemen and servicewomen.
During the performance of the national anthem, all of Strahan’s on-air colleagues stood with their hands over their hearts, while Strahan kept his hands in front of him. The subtle difference sparked a wave of accusations, with some people alleging that Strahan was being disrespectful or attempting to make a political statement.
On Tuesday evening, Strahan posted a video on Instagram to provide clarity. He emphasized that he had no political agenda whatsoever and had not intended to offend anyone.
“I didn’t have my hand over my chest,” Strahan said in the video. “Everyone thought, ‘He’s protesting, he’s making a statement,’ which is so far from the truth. I have nothing to protest. I have no statement to be made. The only statement that should be made and that I want to make is that I love the military. I’ve always loved the military, and I will always love the military.”
Strahan went on to explain that his deep connection to the military stems from his upbringing. He grew up on a military base, with his father serving as a major in the U.S. Army. He spoke about his family’s proud tradition of military service, noting that his brother, sister, and cousins have all served. “I am a military brat,” he said, adding that accusations of being unpatriotic could not be further from the truth.
Strahan elaborated on the moment itself, describing how he became lost in thought while observing the military personnel present and appreciating their commitment to the United States. “I was caught up in the moment, looking at all the men and women in uniform,” he said. “By the time I looked up from that moment, all my FOX guys had their hands over their hearts, the national anthem’s playing. I somewhat panicked and thought, ‘Do I look foolish by putting my hand over my heart after everyone else has already done it, or do I just stay as I am?’ I decided to stand there respectfully, with my hands in front of me.”
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Strahan made it clear that if his actions inadvertently offended anyone—particularly military members and veterans—he deeply apologizes. “If that offended any of our military or veterans, I apologize to you because that was never my intent,” he said. “I’m a product of the military, a proud lover of the military, and a proud supporter of everyone who has served, is serving, and will serve.”
In addition to the anthem controversy, Strahan also addressed a separate incident involving a reporter. Video footage surfaced showing Strahan taking a reporter’s phone after being approached outside his home.
Strahan admitted he was “not proud of the way [he] handled that situation,” but explained that his actions stemmed from a desire to protect his family. “I was trying to protect my family and my home,” he said, adding that the reporter’s actions had crossed a boundary.
FOX colleague Jay Glazer also came to Strahan’s defense in a lengthy social media post on Monday, expressing support for Strahan and highlighting his genuine respect for the military and his character as a person.
While national anthem protests were a major point of contention in the NFL at one time, it is clear that Strahan was not attempting to engage in any form of protest.
He was simply caught in an unplanned moment and made a split-second decision—one that has since been misconstrued but, as he firmly stated, was never intended as any form of disrespect.
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