“My
father is my life coach.”
— Michael Strahan
Maj. Gene “Willie” Strahan, USA (Ret), left, is pinned with new rank during a promotion cere- mony (top). Strahan’s son Michael (left) is a former defensive end with the New York Giants and mem- ber of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
diers’ physical training sessions. “I remember running with my
B Q
dad’s platoon as they did their morn- ing training,” he says. The former defen-
sive end who spent 15 seasons with the New York Giants says his father, Gene, a retired Army major and former boxer, is the hardest-working man he knows. “My father is my life coach,”
Strahan says. “He taught me that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.”
What values did you pick up from your Army offi cer dad?
STRAHAN: My dad is my biggest role model. He never let us give up on anything. When I started playing football, I hated it. My dad always reminded
54 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2017
efore the Super Bowls or his induction into the Pro Foot- ball Hall of Fame, Michael Strahan was crashing sol-
me that when I signed up, I was committing to a team — some- thing bigger than myself. If I quit, I would let myself and my team down. He taught me that respect, responsibility, and loyalty are earned through actions rather than words.
earned through actions
taught you that still resonates today?
Q
STRAHAN: When I was grow- ing up, I really wanted this $1,000 BMX bike. Instead of buying it for me, my dad made a deal with me: If I could make half the money, he’d pay for the other half. I spent the summer mowing
lawns, walking dogs, and babysit- ting until I earned enough money to pay for half the bike. I still have the bike. To this day, it’s one of my most prized possessions.
What similarities did you see between the military and football cultures?
Q
Is there a spe- cifi c lesson he
STRAHAN: Both communities operate like a family. The military base I grew up on in [Mannheim] Germany was very tight-knit. All my friends’ parents were like second parents. I would never try to get away with stuff , because I felt like I had eyes on me everywhere I went! It was a blessing to be cared for
and loved by such a great com- munity, and it was very similar in the NFL. My teammates were my brothers. We’d not only look out for each other on the fi eld but off the fi eld as well.
Did your dad’s career as a boxer and a soldier contrib- ute to your own athleticism?
Q
STRAHAN: It did. I spent a lot of time in the gym watching my father train and push my older brothers. Having three older brothers also helped because it made me want to keep up.
The military lifestyle is very ac-
tive, and that is a great thing for helping someone develop into an athlete.
IMAGES: ABOVE, SHUTTERSTOCK; CENTER, JILL FRITZO PUBLIC RELATIONS; TOP, COURTESY MICHAEL STRAHAN. PHOTOS FROM PREVIOUS SPREAD: FROM LEFT, SHUTTERSTOCK, JILL FRITZO PUBLIC RELATIONS, FOOD NETWORK, NPR
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