No. 92 says Giants will be No. 1 again
In a ceremony to honor his great past, Michael Strahan promised a better future for the Giants.
The Giants retired Strahan’s No. 92 on Sunday during halftime of a 13-7 win over the Eagles, more than 5,000 days after he wrapped his Hall of Fame career in the legendary Super Bowl XLII upset of the undefeated Patriots.
When Strahan got to the part in his five-minute address to the crowd at MetLife Stadium when he thanked Giants ownership, fans responded with light booing aimed at John Mara and Steve Tisch seated on the dais. The towel-waving crowd was mostly pro-Giants, easing concerns that Eagles fans might invade the stadium and ruin the moment.
“I’ve got to say this: Every team has their ups and downs,” Strahan said to interrupt the booing and restart cheering. “But the New York Giants have won Super Bowls. There are teams that never have. Appreciate what you got. We will be back! We will be up again! I guarantee you that!”
Strahan ran out of the tunnel with his muscles flexed and low-fived a line of former teammates dressed in No. 92 jerseys, including Eli Manning. The Giants retired Manning’s No. 10 on Sept. 26, and Mara was booed vociferously when he introduced the two-time Super Bowl MVP, so the Giants pivoted this time right from emcee Bob Papa to Strahan’s speech.
Former teammate Jessie Armstead and coach Tom Coughlin unveiled a framed No. 92 jersey, which hasn’t been issued since Strahan’s retirement after the 2007 season. Strahan was part of the inaugural 2010 class into the Giants’ Ring of Honor honored underneath the top deck at the stadium, but he admitted this week that he expected his jersey to be retired sooner.
“To be here today does not mean my journey is over,” Strahan said. “It just means my journey in a uniform is complete. I want to thank you for taking a 15year journey. I love you, New York Giants fans.”
Strahan explained how his career spanned three eras — from playing alongside Lawrence Taylor as a rookie, to his heyday alongside Armstead and the 2000 NFC champions, to handing off the Giants’ legacy of great pass-rushers to Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. Armstead was the only former player in a No. 64 jersey with Strahan’s name on the back, which raised questions.
“That was the number they gave me, and after my first time being in the newspaper here in New York, I looked at the picture and said, ‘That’s an ugly number,’” Strahan said. “So, I went in the locker room and got No. 92.”
In retirement, Strahan is busier than ever, as the gold standard for athletes crossing into entertainment stardom, whether hosting various game shows or morning television shows over the years. It’s all a far cry from the captain who once battled the rules-stickler Coughlin over things like being five minutes early to meetings.
“I want to thank all my teammates because I stand up here, but I stand on your shoulders,” Strahan said. “You guys made me better as a player, you made me better as a leader, you made me better as a man. Coach Coughlin, I can’t thank you enough. Completely changed my life. I almost came out here five minutes late just to piss him off.”
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