Michael Strahan

Former National Football League defensive end Michael Strahan parlayed his record setting 15-year-stint with the New York Giants into a successful second career as a television personality, most notably on "Fox NFL Sunday" (Fox, 1994- ) and "Live! with Kelly and Michael" (ABC 2012-16) before he was named as co-host on the morning news powerhouse "Good Morning America" (ABC 1975- ) in April 2016. A powerful defensive player who held the NFL's record for most quarterback sacks in a season, as well as a Super Bowl winner, Strahan's winning personality, which hinged on a shrewd sense of self-deprecating humor, helped to pave the way for his on-air roles, which also included numerous television commercials, reality series, web programs and even a brief attempt at acting on the sitcom "Brothers" (Fox, 2009). However, he proved most popular when he was simply being himself: an opinionated though well-informed commentator on sports and daily news. His appointment to the co-host position on "Kelly," followed by signing with "Good Morning America," signaled that Strahan's television career had approached the same level of stardom as he had achieved as a member of the Giants. Though many athletes enjoyed second lives after their sporting careers had wound down, few 21st century players achieved such acclaim and widespread appeal as Michael Strahan.