In the public eye for more than thirty years, former NFL player Michael Strahan has truly made his mark. He first came into our homes with his electrifying talent on the gridiron in 1993; he has since transitioned effortlessly onto our small screens, now currently serving as one of the lead anchors on morning news show Good Morning America.
Yet, something many of the household name’s fans may not know is that Strahan, the quintessential All-American, spent his formative years in Germany. At the ages of nine, he and his family relocated to the Army post BFV (Benjamin Franklin Village) situated in Mannheim, West Germany. Here, Strahan spent seven transformative years of his life.
While Strahan did play organized football during his time in school, he only dedicated himself wholly to the sport during his senior year. He left Germany and moved to Houston, Texas, to live with his uncle Art Strahan – a retired NFL defensive lineman himself. The move was definitely beneficial for his career, as it was during his time playing with Westbury High School that his football prowess truly started to manifest itself.
Recently, during an interaction with the official Instagram page for his former NFL team – the New York Giants in Germany, Strahan took the opportunity to share his memories of growing up in the European nation. He stated: “I was nine years old when we moved to Germany. And then I came back to the States for half of my senior year when I was 16. My parents stayed, so all in all, family wise, 19 years.” Clearly reminiscent, Strahan made it evident that he treasures those years, speaking fondly of his life in Germany.
He further went on to add: “My whole family loved the country. It was great to grow up there because it taught me to be tolerant and appreciate different cultures. It made me realize that the world is much more than the tiny community you live in.”
Living abroad essentially made Strahan more broad-minded, teaching him to respect people and communities for their differences. It taught him the importance of acclimation and integration in a community irrespective of people’s backgrounds, a lesson he attributes to his years spent in Germany.
Taking the audience on a nostalgic trip, Strahan recalled an enduring memory that left a lasting impression on him. He shared: “Every weekend we used to go for dinner at the Schützenhaus [a clubhouse], and the waitress, every week she’d come over and grab my cheeks, and say, ‘Such a cute little boy!’ I’ll never forget that.”
Post moving to the States, Strahan’s single season with Westbury earned him a scholarship to the prestigious Texas Southern University (TSU). There, he etched his name into school history, replicating his uncle Art, by being inducted into the TSU Sports Hall of Fame, an achievement for any athlete. After his graduation in 1993, his dream finally came true when he was drafted almost immediately by the New York Giants, marking the beginning of a successful career in NFL.
