Michael Strahan might be known for his work in broadcast, but he got his start on the gridiron, and he’s often put his background to use on his shows. However, he recently received criticism over an interview with former NFL player Chris Johnson. Since then, Strahan addressed the backlash on The Dan Patrick Show.
Michael Strahan Spoke With Chris Johnson & His Wife, Brittany, Last Month On Good Morning America
Strahan is a former professional football defensive end who played with the New York Giants for 15 seasons. Following this, he has pursued a career as a broadcast journalist, working on programs including Fox NFL Sunday and Good Morning America.
Last month, Strahan interviewed former football running back Chris Johnson on Good Morning America. Throughout his career, Johnson is known for playing with the Tennessee Titans, as well as the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals.
The moment was about Johnson’s 2025 diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, Strahan has since faced criticism over the interview as he didn’t ask the former NFL star about the connection between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Recently, Strahan himself was featured on a guest spot on The Dan Patrick Show. At the time, he addressed the backlash. Strahan explained, “Well, I had that — I actually thought about that, because I saw what [everyone said], ‘Well you should have asked this, you should have asked that.’ Well, you should have got the interview. How about that? That’s one thing.”
Strahan shared that he felt that the interview was “Chris’s moment.” He added that he didn’t want to take away from the message that Johnson wanted to share at the time.
Strahan told Patrick, “Two, two, that was Chris’s moment for Chris to share the story which Chris wanted to share. And when I got the call that Chris wanted to share that he has, you know, ALS, that was the story. It wasn’t for me to try to grandstand, which — I hate when people do this, Dan.”
Strahan Emphasized That This Was ‘Chris’s Story’ Throughout The More Recent Interview
“As an interviewer, our job is [to] deliver information. I’m not trying to get a bigger name for myself by putting somebody else in an uncomfortable position. I was there as a service to Chris, for what Chris wanted people to understand and know about his life and where he was now. I was not there to make a story about myself or to get a big headline — that’s what it wasn’t about. The headlines were about Chris, where they needed to be.”
Johnson was diagnosed with ALS in 2025 at the age of 39. During the interview, in which he appeared with his wife, Brittany, he did touch on the diagnosis. He shared, “I want people to know that I’m still me. ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am.”
Looking back, Strahan admitted that he was still proud of the interview. He shared, “Because that was Chris’s story to tell. The headline’s about Chris Johnson, not about Michael Strahan.” Ultimately, he mused that he wouldn’t be too good at his job if he didn’t have critics.
What is your reaction to Michael Strahan’s recent share? Did you watch the original GMA interview with Chris Johnson? Have you been following this story? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
