Michael Strahan wasn’t nervous to go to space. He wasn’t antsy about playing in the most-watched event of the year. He’s not overwhelmed by being live in front of millions each morning. But receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Now that’s scary.

“I’m so nervous about this — of all the things in the world,” he talked about the star he received . It’s beyond even my comprehension, knowing where I started and what this all signifies for me, it’s overwhelming.”

Where he started is a bit different than most NFL players; he didn’t begin playing football until his senior year of high school. One season was enough to get him a scholarship to Texas Southern University. He graduated in 1993 and headed to the NFL, signing with the New York Giants, the team he remained with for his entire 15-year career.

I think that’s the biggest thing that has helped me and a whole other people take the advice

“It made me feel as if being a football player was the beginning and the end of a career. It was the opportunity to create a life,” he says. “I never thought I’d be doing what I’m doing now but I always felt like after football there would be a little bit more. I didn’t know it’d be this much more — this is a lot more than I ever anticipated.”

The New York Giants’ Michael Strahan celebrates after a 17-14 Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XLII

The Giants won Super Bowl XLII in 2008, beating the previously undefeated New England Patriots. The 17-14 win marked Strahan’s final game, as he announced his retirement in June of that year, leaving as the NFL’s single-season sack leader. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Strahan has worn many hats (and helmets) over the years.

After retiring from the NFL, he joined the “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show. Two years later, he filled in as a guest host on “Live! With Regis and Kelly” when Regis Philbin was out. After 20 guest appearances, he joined the show full time in 2012 and stayed for four years. In 2016, he left to join “Good Morning America” where he is now. Still, he remains humble.

“I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do, what I would be good at or what my skill set actually worked for,” he says.

After his first time filling in for Philbin, his business partner and the co-founder of SMAC Entertainment, Constance Schwartz-Morini, called him.

“She said, ‘This is what you’re going to do, what you’re meant to do,’” he recalls.

She remembers the same: “One of the ‘Live’ producers saying to us, ‘Buckle up, if you do this right, you’re going to take off like a rocket ship.’ I would say he did a pretty good job considering he literally ended up in a rocket ship.”

But we’ll get to that.

At “Good Morning America,” he’s surrounded by support. “The bosses there say, ‘This is where we feel like you can really excel.’ I just couldn’t see it for myself, so I’m glad that I’ve always been around people who had a vision for me to achieve more than I imagined that I could achieve,” he says. “In the game of football, that was my dad. In the TV world, it’s my business partner Constance, my Fox family and my ABC family, who all push me further than I would push myself.”

Strahan’s “talents are on full display each morning as a thoughtful and enthusiastic ‘co-captain’ of our broadcast alongside Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos,” says Simone Swink, “GMA” executive producer. “From venturing out with scientists tracking polar bears in Canada as part of our climate crisis coverage to interviewing Fyre Festival’s Billy McFarland in his first television interview since prison, Michael is a natural storyteller and versatile journalist.”

Becoming a journalist — just like becoming a defensive end on the Giants — it all came down to teamwork for Strahan.

“I think I’m a product of just being around the right people at the right time and who have the right intentions,” he says. “If you put yourself around that type of environment, it just gives you a bigger opportunity — not saying you’re always going to be successful, but it gives you a better opportunity to be successful.”

Schwartz-Morini has been one of those people for Strahan for more than a decade. They met when he was playing for the Giants, and she was working in the marketing department for the NFL.

“Michael and I did a lot of events together and he quickly became my go-to. Michael had a special spark even back then — he was always willing to do whatever was asked of him, whether it was a feature on the ‘NFL Country’ and ‘NFL Jams’ CD series or helping to dust off the ‘NFL Lineman Challenge,’ a made-for-TV skills event show featuring the league’s premier linemen,” she says. “Michael’s work ethic was always second to none.”

An example of that was while working on the “NFL Lineman Challenge,” he wanted to help further: “Always wanting to learn, Michael asked if he could sit in on the overnight edit, which is not something players normally want to be a part of. He wanted to learn the other side of the business.”

Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini

When Schwartz-Morini left the NFL in 2001, she remained friends with Strahan as she became a talent manager. When he left the league seven years later, she offered to manage him. “I vividly remember his response being, ‘You manage Snoop Dogg, and I’m not anywhere as big as Snoop.’ I replied, ‘You’re not now, but you will be,’” she recalls. “That’s how our business relationship began, a year as his manager.”

Within 12 years, they’d begin official working side by side. Launching SMAC Entertainment in 2011, the talent management, business incubation and production company now has 17 clients. But it’s taken years to get to that point.

“When the company started, it was more talent management — mostly retired athletes who are in the media business — and a production company. It managed a lot of the things that I was doing for myself at the time,” he says. “From there, it just kind of morphed into something a lot bigger than what we intended and we’re really grateful for that.”

Now, the staff is much bigger and the businesses represented have evolved. In addition to working with major talent, including Nikki and Brie Bella, Troy Aikman, Deion Sanders and Tony Gonzalez, SMAC also represents clients’ clothing companies, skincare businesses (including Strahan’s own line) and in Snoop Dogg’s case, a pet apparel line.

“We’ve become a business incubator and started being able to conceive an idea and take it to execution. It’s something that we’ve been very proud of. We don’t have to go out of our company to get things like that done,” he says.

The production side has also “exceeded a lot of our expectations,” says Strahan. SMAC produces “$100,000 Pyramid,” which Strahan has hosted since 2016, as well as HBO’s upcoming “BS High” documentary and the “American Football” podcast for Audible, among others.

“It was a real surprise how much I love business,” says Strahan. “And I think those are the things that I can continue to do when no one wants to see my face on TV.”

Laura Shepard Churchley, Michael Strahan, Dylan Taylor, Cameron Bess, Lane Bess and investor Evan Dick after they flew into space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard on December 11, 2021.Getty Images

One of SMAC’s latest ventures is “Blue Origins Space Rangers,” an upcoming animated space adventure series it is producing with Genius Brands and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Strahan, who completed his 10-minute flight to space aboard Blue Origin NS-19 in 2021, will appear.

Strahan wasn’t always a space fanatic. He enjoyed watching spaceships take off on TV as a kid — especially in the middle of the school day when teachers would stop lessons to let the students watch — but it wasn’t until he went to the first launch of the Blue Origin with Bezos and his brother, Mark, that he became enamored.

“It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen in my life,” he says. “It was like an Iron Man! I felt like I was watching Robert Downey Jr.”

Afterward, he interviewed Mark and Jeff and knew instantly he wanted to be a part of it.

“It completely changed my mind, because I’m a risk averse person. I’ve got a good life. I’m not trying to lose it,” he says. “I got invited to dinner in New York a month or two later and I talked to Mark and Jeff about it. I was just thinking, I would never do that because I’m not trying go crazy in my life. But after watching what they did and seeing the happiness … the euphoric look, I will actually do it. A few days later, I got a call and was asked to do it. It was the most amazing non-sports related thing I’ve ever done in my life. It completely changes your perspective. I just want other people to experience that. So, if keeping up with Jeff and coming up with a program that can make kids or make people more interested in that experience, I’m all for it.”

Strahan lives and works with two mottos in mind: “Hustle like you’re broke” and “When, not if.” Both are extremely necessary for the amount of work he does.

“That is the core mindset to our success,” says Schwartz-Morini of the company’s mottos. “Whether on camera or off, he always gives his all. We share a common goal in life to make those around
us better.”

On a normal week, he’s up at 5 a.m. and in the “Good Morning America” makeup chair by 6. When he’s not on the broadcast, he’s keeping up with the news, always in the know. Directly after Friday’s show, he flies to California for his one day off. On Saturdays, he works on his golf game with his friends — when asked what he’d like to still achieve, he notes, “have a lower handicap” — and preps for Sunday, foorball game day. When that comes, he arrives at the Los Angeles studio for his longest day of the week, sometimes up to 11 or 12 hours beginning at 5 in the morning. Right after the show, he catches a flight to New York to start over.

In 2022, the schedule was a bit crazier than usual, as he did a “GMA” segment in Manitoba, Canada, followed directly by a “Fox NFL Sunday” live show at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

“I spent the week up there with the polar bears, flew back to New York on Thursday or Friday. A few hours later, I caught a 14-hour flight to Qatar. I was there for less than 24 hours filming. and then got on another 14-hour flight back to New York,” he says,  before joking, “If I couldn’t sleep on planes, I would have given this all up years ago.”

In all seriousness, Strahan wouldn’t do any of this if he didn’t really love it.

“I don’t complain about it because I actually have fun doing it. I really, really do. I never thought that the news would be something I would want to do, but it keeps me so informed. I’m so interested in everything,” he says. “I’m watching stuff and I’m reading things that I never would have liked to read before. ‘GMA’ gives me a full well-rounded interest in the world. ‘Fox NFL Sunday’ keeps me tied into my knucklehead football friends. We laugh so much every weekend and it’s just like hanging out with the boys.”

It may feel like a day of fun for Strahan but he’s also “a huge part of the success” of the show, says executive producer Bill Richards. “For a show whose main objective is to inform and entertain the widest variety of NFL fans, Michael’s ability to connect with so many different types of viewers is a tremendous asset.”

For Strahan, keeping busy means being disciplined. He admits that, due to his schedule, he has to say no to many opportunities — but knows it’s worth it.

“I just have to be able to say no, and understand that something may seem fun, may seem cool, but it would hurt my work performance. So, I have to just turn a lot of things down,” he says. “I don’t miss it because I kind of got it out of my system when I was younger, so that’s a good thing!”

Through it all, one thing stays constant. Strahan is grounded. He has a huge audience and a fanbase spanning multiple decades. But at the end of the day, he’s still ending each day by calling his mom to say goodnight.

Although work has always been such a major part of his life, it’s the memories with his family — including his four children and his late father — that he looks back at with the biggest smile. In fact, one of his fondest memories of winning the Super Bowl in 2008 is captured in a photograph of his dad, who died two years ago, that’s now in his man cave.

“He’s got the biggest smile on his face. He was in the stands and my friend took the picture when we won before they came down on the field,” he says. “I used to look at that picture and cry. But now I’m looking at the picture, and I smile. You can see the happiness on his face — him being able to see me accomplish that, something he always believed that I could do.”

FOX NFL Sunday fans are used to Terry Bradshaw being the one delivering the digs — but this weekend, the Hall of Fame quarterback found himself blindsided when Rob Gronkowski flipped the script, dropping a weight joke that left the studio in stunned silence… and Michael Strahan frozen in shock.

It all started lighthearted enough, with Gronk teasing his own “comeback” at next year’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia. Bradshaw, quick with the banter, asked Gronk about his current playing weight. But instead of the routine answer, Gronk delivered a zinger that went way too far.

“I’ve got to lose about 20 pounds — just like you,” Gronk quipped at Bradshaw.

The moment instantly drew audible gasps from the crew. Cameras quickly cut to Michael Strahan, who leaned back in disbelief, his wide-eyed reaction instantly going viral across social media.

Even Gronk seemed to realize he’d crossed a line, nervously adding, “I’m just messing around,” in an attempt to smooth things over. But Bradshaw wasn’t laughing. “Don’t be shaking his hand. That wasn’t funny,” he snapped at Strahan, who had instinctively given Gronk a quick dap.

The irony wasn’t lost on fans: Bradshaw himself came under fire in 2023 after calling out Chiefs coach Andy Reid for needing to “waddle over” and “have a cheeseburger on us” during the Super Bowl broadcast. Though he later apologized, critics were quick to point out the double standard.

Still, the tense moment on FOX’s pregame desk didn’t stop the rest of the broadcast — or the internet — from running wild with the awkward exchange.

“Strahan’s face said it all,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “That was ICE COLD.” Another added, “Bradshaw finally got a taste of his own medicine — and he did NOT like it.”

For Strahan, it capped off a rough Sunday. His bold call that the Falcons were “the better team” ahead of their showdown with the Panthers blew up in his face when Bryce Young and Carolina dismantled Atlanta 30-0.

The moment instantly drew audible gasps from the crew. Cameras quickly cut to Michael Strahan, who leaned back in disbelief, his wide-eyed reaction instantly going viral across social media.

Even Gronk seemed to realize he’d crossed a line, nervously adding, “I’m just messing around,” in an attempt to smooth things over. But Bradshaw wasn’t laughing. “Don’t be shaking his hand. That wasn’t funny,” he snapped at Strahan, who had instinctively given Gronk a quick dap.

The irony wasn’t lost on fans: Bradshaw himself came under fire in 2023 after calling out Chiefs coach Andy Reid for needing to “waddle over” and “have a cheeseburger on us” during the Super Bowl broadcast. Though he later apologized, critics were quick to point out the double standard.

Still, the tense moment on FOX’s pregame desk didn’t stop the rest of the broadcast — or the internet — from running wild with the awkward exchange.

“Strahan’s face said it all,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “That was ICE COLD.” Another added, “Bradshaw finally got a taste of his own medicine — and he did NOT like it.”

For Strahan, it capped off a rough Sunday. His bold call that the Falcons were “the better team” ahead of their showdown with the Panthers blew up in his face when Bryce Young and Carolina dismantled Atlanta 30-0.

But the viral clip of Gronk’s jab — and Strahan’s priceless reaction — is already living rent-free in the minds of NFL fans everywhere.

Michael Strahan wasn’t nervous to go to space. He wasn’t antsy about playing in the most-watched event of the year. He’s not overwhelmed by being live in front of millions each morning. But receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Now that’s scary.

“I’m so nervous about this — of all the things in the world,” he talked about the star he received . It’s beyond even my comprehension, knowing where I started and what this all signifies for me, it’s overwhelming.”

Where he started is a bit different than most NFL players; he didn’t begin playing football until his senior year of high school. One season was enough to get him a scholarship to Texas Southern University. He graduated in 1993 and headed to the NFL, signing with the New York Giants, the team he remained with for his entire 15-year career.

I think that’s the biggest thing that has helped me and a whole other people take the advice

“It made me feel as if being a football player was the beginning and the end of a career. It was the opportunity to create a life,” he says. “I never thought I’d be doing what I’m doing now but I always felt like after football there would be a little bit more. I didn’t know it’d be this much more — this is a lot more than I ever anticipated.”

The New York Giants’ Michael Strahan celebrates after a 17-14 Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XLII

The Giants won Super Bowl XLII in 2008, beating the previously undefeated New England Patriots. The 17-14 win marked Strahan’s final game, as he announced his retirement in June of that year, leaving as the NFL’s single-season sack leader. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Strahan has worn many hats (and helmets) over the years.

After retiring from the NFL, he joined the “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show. Two years later, he filled in as a guest host on “Live! With Regis and Kelly” when Regis Philbin was out. After 20 guest appearances, he joined the show full time in 2012 and stayed for four years. In 2016, he left to join “Good Morning America” where he is now. Still, he remains humble.

“I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do, what I would be good at or what my skill set actually worked for,” he says.

After his first time filling in for Philbin, his business partner and the co-founder of SMAC Entertainment, Constance Schwartz-Morini, called him.

“She said, ‘This is what you’re going to do, what you’re meant to do,’” he recalls.

She remembers the same: “One of the ‘Live’ producers saying to us, ‘Buckle up, if you do this right, you’re going to take off like a rocket ship.’ I would say he did a pretty good job considering he literally ended up in a rocket ship.”

But we’ll get to that.

At “Good Morning America,” he’s surrounded by support. “The bosses there say, ‘This is where we feel like you can really excel.’ I just couldn’t see it for myself, so I’m glad that I’ve always been around people who had a vision for me to achieve more than I imagined that I could achieve,” he says. “In the game of football, that was my dad. In the TV world, it’s my business partner Constance, my Fox family and my ABC family, who all push me further than I would push myself.”

Strahan’s “talents are on full display each morning as a thoughtful and enthusiastic ‘co-captain’ of our broadcast alongside Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos,” says Simone Swink, “GMA” executive producer. “From venturing out with scientists tracking polar bears in Canada as part of our climate crisis coverage to interviewing Fyre Festival’s Billy McFarland in his first television interview since prison, Michael is a natural storyteller and versatile journalist.”

Becoming a journalist — just like becoming a defensive end on the Giants — it all came down to teamwork for Strahan.

“I think I’m a product of just being around the right people at the right time and who have the right intentions,” he says. “If you put yourself around that type of environment, it just gives you a bigger opportunity — not saying you’re always going to be successful, but it gives you a better opportunity to be successful.”

Schwartz-Morini has been one of those people for Strahan for more than a decade. They met when he was playing for the Giants, and she was working in the marketing department for the NFL.

“Michael and I did a lot of events together and he quickly became my go-to. Michael had a special spark even back then — he was always willing to do whatever was asked of him, whether it was a feature on the ‘NFL Country’ and ‘NFL Jams’ CD series or helping to dust off the ‘NFL Lineman Challenge,’ a made-for-TV skills event show featuring the league’s premier linemen,” she says. “Michael’s work ethic was always second to none.”

An example of that was while working on the “NFL Lineman Challenge,” he wanted to help further: “Always wanting to learn, Michael asked if he could sit in on the overnight edit, which is not something players normally want to be a part of. He wanted to learn the other side of the business.”

Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini

When Schwartz-Morini left the NFL in 2001, she remained friends with Strahan as she became a talent manager. When he left the league seven years later, she offered to manage him. “I vividly remember his response being, ‘You manage Snoop Dogg, and I’m not anywhere as big as Snoop.’ I replied, ‘You’re not now, but you will be,’” she recalls. “That’s how our business relationship began, a year as his manager.”

Within 12 years, they’d begin official working side by side. Launching SMAC Entertainment in 2011, the talent management, business incubation and production company now has 17 clients. But it’s taken years to get to that point.

“When the company started, it was more talent management — mostly retired athletes who are in the media business — and a production company. It managed a lot of the things that I was doing for myself at the time,” he says. “From there, it just kind of morphed into something a lot bigger than what we intended and we’re really grateful for that.”

Now, the staff is much bigger and the businesses represented have evolved. In addition to working with major talent, including Nikki and Brie Bella, Troy Aikman, Deion Sanders and Tony Gonzalez, SMAC also represents clients’ clothing companies, skincare businesses (including Strahan’s own line) and in Snoop Dogg’s case, a pet apparel line.

“We’ve become a business incubator and started being able to conceive an idea and take it to execution. It’s something that we’ve been very proud of. We don’t have to go out of our company to get things like that done,” he says.

The production side has also “exceeded a lot of our expectations,” says Strahan. SMAC produces “$100,000 Pyramid,” which Strahan has hosted since 2016, as well as HBO’s upcoming “BS High” documentary and the “American Football” podcast for Audible, among others.

“It was a real surprise how much I love business,” says Strahan. “And I think those are the things that I can continue to do when no one wants to see my face on TV.”

Laura Shepard Churchley, Michael Strahan, Dylan Taylor, Cameron Bess, Lane Bess and investor Evan Dick after they flew into space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard on December 11, 2021.Getty Images

One of SMAC’s latest ventures is “Blue Origins Space Rangers,” an upcoming animated space adventure series it is producing with Genius Brands and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Strahan, who completed his 10-minute flight to space aboard Blue Origin NS-19 in 2021, will appear.

Strahan wasn’t always a space fanatic. He enjoyed watching spaceships take off on TV as a kid — especially in the middle of the school day when teachers would stop lessons to let the students watch — but it wasn’t until he went to the first launch of the Blue Origin with Bezos and his brother, Mark, that he became enamored.

“It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen in my life,” he says. “It was like an Iron Man! I felt like I was watching Robert Downey Jr.”

Afterward, he interviewed Mark and Jeff and knew instantly he wanted to be a part of it.

“It completely changed my mind, because I’m a risk averse person. I’ve got a good life. I’m not trying to lose it,” he says. “I got invited to dinner in New York a month or two later and I talked to Mark and Jeff about it. I was just thinking, I would never do that because I’m not trying go crazy in my life. But after watching what they did and seeing the happiness … the euphoric look, I will actually do it. A few days later, I got a call and was asked to do it. It was the most amazing non-sports related thing I’ve ever done in my life. It completely changes your perspective. I just want other people to experience that. So, if keeping up with Jeff and coming up with a program that can make kids or make people more interested in that experience, I’m all for it.”

Strahan lives and works with two mottos in mind: “Hustle like you’re broke” and “When, not if.” Both are extremely necessary for the amount of work he does.

“That is the core mindset to our success,” says Schwartz-Morini of the company’s mottos. “Whether on camera or off, he always gives his all. We share a common goal in life to make those around
us better.”

On a normal week, he’s up at 5 a.m. and in the “Good Morning America” makeup chair by 6. When he’s not on the broadcast, he’s keeping up with the news, always in the know. Directly after Friday’s show, he flies to California for his one day off. On Saturdays, he works on his golf game with his friends — when asked what he’d like to still achieve, he notes, “have a lower handicap” — and preps for Sunday, foorball game day. When that comes, he arrives at the Los Angeles studio for his longest day of the week, sometimes up to 11 or 12 hours beginning at 5 in the morning. Right after the show, he catches a flight to New York to start over.

In 2022, the schedule was a bit crazier than usual, as he did a “GMA” segment in Manitoba, Canada, followed directly by a “Fox NFL Sunday” live show at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

“I spent the week up there with the polar bears, flew back to New York on Thursday or Friday. A few hours later, I caught a 14-hour flight to Qatar. I was there for less than 24 hours filming. and then got on another 14-hour flight back to New York,” he says,  before joking, “If I couldn’t sleep on planes, I would have given this all up years ago.”

In all seriousness, Strahan wouldn’t do any of this if he didn’t really love it.

“I don’t complain about it because I actually have fun doing it. I really, really do. I never thought that the news would be something I would want to do, but it keeps me so informed. I’m so interested in everything,” he says. “I’m watching stuff and I’m reading things that I never would have liked to read before. ‘GMA’ gives me a full well-rounded interest in the world. ‘Fox NFL Sunday’ keeps me tied into my knucklehead football friends. We laugh so much every weekend and it’s just like hanging out with the boys.”

It may feel like a day of fun for Strahan but he’s also “a huge part of the success” of the show, says executive producer Bill Richards. “For a show whose main objective is to inform and entertain the widest variety of NFL fans, Michael’s ability to connect with so many different types of viewers is a tremendous asset.”

For Strahan, keeping busy means being disciplined. He admits that, due to his schedule, he has to say no to many opportunities — but knows it’s worth it.

“I just have to be able to say no, and understand that something may seem fun, may seem cool, but it would hurt my work performance. So, I have to just turn a lot of things down,” he says. “I don’t miss it because I kind of got it out of my system when I was younger, so that’s a good thing!”

Through it all, one thing stays constant. Strahan is grounded. He has a huge audience and a fanbase spanning multiple decades. But at the end of the day, he’s still ending each day by calling his mom to say goodnight.

Although work has always been such a major part of his life, it’s the memories with his family — including his four children and his late father — that he looks back at with the biggest smile. In fact, one of his fondest memories of winning the Super Bowl in 2008 is captured in a photograph of his dad, who died two years ago, that’s now in his man cave.

“He’s got the biggest smile on his face. He was in the stands and my friend took the picture when we won before they came down on the field,” he says. “I used to look at that picture and cry. But now I’m looking at the picture, and I smile. You can see the happiness on his face — him being able to see me accomplish that, something he always believed that I could do.”

FOX NFL Sunday fans are used to Terry Bradshaw being the one delivering the digs — but this weekend, the Hall of Fame quarterback found himself blindsided when Rob Gronkowski flipped the script, dropping a weight joke that left the studio in stunned silence… and Michael Strahan frozen in shock.

It all started lighthearted enough, with Gronk teasing his own “comeback” at next year’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia. Bradshaw, quick with the banter, asked Gronk about his current playing weight. But instead of the routine answer, Gronk delivered a zinger that went way too far.

“I’ve got to lose about 20 pounds — just like you,” Gronk quipped at Bradshaw.

The moment instantly drew audible gasps from the crew. Cameras quickly cut to Michael Strahan, who leaned back in disbelief, his wide-eyed reaction instantly going viral across social media.

Even Gronk seemed to realize he’d crossed a line, nervously adding, “I’m just messing around,” in an attempt to smooth things over. But Bradshaw wasn’t laughing. “Don’t be shaking his hand. That wasn’t funny,” he snapped at Strahan, who had instinctively given Gronk a quick dap.

The irony wasn’t lost on fans: Bradshaw himself came under fire in 2023 after calling out Chiefs coach Andy Reid for needing to “waddle over” and “have a cheeseburger on us” during the Super Bowl broadcast. Though he later apologized, critics were quick to point out the double standard.

Still, the tense moment on FOX’s pregame desk didn’t stop the rest of the broadcast — or the internet — from running wild with the awkward exchange.

“Strahan’s face said it all,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “That was ICE COLD.” Another added, “Bradshaw finally got a taste of his own medicine — and he did NOT like it.”

For Strahan, it capped off a rough Sunday. His bold call that the Falcons were “the better team” ahead of their showdown with the Panthers blew up in his face when Bryce Young and Carolina dismantled Atlanta 30-0.

The moment instantly drew audible gasps from the crew. Cameras quickly cut to Michael Strahan, who leaned back in disbelief, his wide-eyed reaction instantly going viral across social media.

Even Gronk seemed to realize he’d crossed a line, nervously adding, “I’m just messing around,” in an attempt to smooth things over. But Bradshaw wasn’t laughing. “Don’t be shaking his hand. That wasn’t funny,” he snapped at Strahan, who had instinctively given Gronk a quick dap.

The irony wasn’t lost on fans: Bradshaw himself came under fire in 2023 after calling out Chiefs coach Andy Reid for needing to “waddle over” and “have a cheeseburger on us” during the Super Bowl broadcast. Though he later apologized, critics were quick to point out the double standard.

Still, the tense moment on FOX’s pregame desk didn’t stop the rest of the broadcast — or the internet — from running wild with the awkward exchange.

“Strahan’s face said it all,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “That was ICE COLD.” Another added, “Bradshaw finally got a taste of his own medicine — and he did NOT like it.”

For Strahan, it capped off a rough Sunday. His bold call that the Falcons were “the better team” ahead of their showdown with the Panthers blew up in his face when Bryce Young and Carolina dismantled Atlanta 30-0.

But the viral clip of Gronk’s jab — and Strahan’s priceless reaction — is already living rent-free in the minds of NFL fans everywhere.

Robin Roberts Bursts Into Tears as She Reaches the Pinnacle of Her Career — With Her Closest GMA Partner By Her Side

She’s woken up America for more than 30 years, guiding viewers through breaking news, emotional interviews, and unforgettable moments. But now, Robin Roberts has received the kind of recognition that cements her legacy forever — and she’ll share it with someone who’s been by her side every step of the way.

On July 2, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that Roberts, along with her longtime Good Morning America co-anchor George Stephanopoulos, will receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2026. It’s the ultimate career milestone for the beloved broadcaster, who admitted she was left “incredibly honored” and overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Our very own @robinrobertsgma and @gstephanopoulos are set to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! ” GMA’s social team posted on Instagram. “They’re joining @michaelstrahan, who received a star in 2023. Robin and George will be part of the new 2026 class of 35 entertainment professionals.”

“This Little Girl From Mississippi Says Thank You”

The following day, Roberts addressed the emotional news herself in a video shared with GMA’s millions of followers.

“It’s just now sinking in,” she said, visibly moved. “The Hollywood Walk of Fame! Oh my goodness. I am incredibly honored — and to be going with George! A double ceremony. It means so much. I gotta tell you — this little girl from Mississippi says thank you to all.”

Her words quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments: “Congratulations!! Well deserved The best morning crew ” wrote one follower. “Finally!! Congratulations!! ” exclaimed another.

A Career Built on Resilience and Reinvention

Roberts’ star doesn’t just symbolize three decades behind the GMA desk. It represents a career marked by reinvention, courage, and undeniable grit. From her early days as a college basketball standout, to her rise through ESPN, to becoming one of the most trusted morning television anchors in America, Roberts has become more than just a TV personality — she’s an icon.

She’s weathered health battles in public, created her own production company, authored books, and used her platform to inspire millions. Through it all, she has remained a steady, reassuring presence for viewers waking up each morning to her warmth and wisdom.

A Double Celebration

The fact that she will share the Walk of Fame spotlight with George Stephanopoulos — her co-anchor of more than two decades — only makes the moment sweeter. Together, the pair have navigated political turmoil, world crises, celebrity scandals, and unforgettable cultural moments.

And with Michael Strahan already holding his own star since 2023, the trio of GMA anchors has now officially secured its place in Hollywood history.

For Roberts, though, it’s less about the glitz of Hollywood and more about gratitude. “To be recognized in this way, after all these years, with people I love and respect… it’s beyond what I ever dreamed,” she said.

The Legacy Lives On

As fans and colleagues celebrate her latest triumph, one thing is certain: Robin Roberts’ journey from a small-town Mississippi girl to one of America’s most beloved TV personalities is far from over. With a Walk of Fame star awaiting her name in 2026, her story continues to inspire — proving that perseverance, heart, and authenticity still shine brightest under the Hollywood lights.

Robin Roberts Bursts Into Tears as She Reaches the Pinnacle of Her Career — With Her Closest GMA Partner By Her Side

She’s woken up America for more than 30 years, guiding viewers through breaking news, emotional interviews, and unforgettable moments. But now, Robin Roberts has received the kind of recognition that cements her legacy forever — and she’ll share it with someone who’s been by her side every step of the way.

On July 2, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that Roberts, along with her longtime Good Morning America co-anchor George Stephanopoulos, will receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2026. It’s the ultimate career milestone for the beloved broadcaster, who admitted she was left “incredibly honored” and overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Our very own @robinrobertsgma and @gstephanopoulos are set to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! ” GMA’s social team posted on Instagram. “They’re joining @michaelstrahan, who received a star in 2023. Robin and George will be part of the new 2026 class of 35 entertainment professionals.”

“This Little Girl From Mississippi Says Thank You”

The following day, Roberts addressed the emotional news herself in a video shared with GMA’s millions of followers.

“It’s just now sinking in,” she said, visibly moved. “The Hollywood Walk of Fame! Oh my goodness. I am incredibly honored — and to be going with George! A double ceremony. It means so much. I gotta tell you — this little girl from Mississippi says thank you to all.”

Her words quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments: “Congratulations!! Well deserved The best morning crew ” wrote one follower. “Finally!! Congratulations!! ” exclaimed another.

A Career Built on Resilience and Reinvention

Roberts’ star doesn’t just symbolize three decades behind the GMA desk. It represents a career marked by reinvention, courage, and undeniable grit. From her early days as a college basketball standout, to her rise through ESPN, to becoming one of the most trusted morning television anchors in America, Roberts has become more than just a TV personality — she’s an icon.

She’s weathered health battles in public, created her own production company, authored books, and used her platform to inspire millions. Through it all, she has remained a steady, reassuring presence for viewers waking up each morning to her warmth and wisdom.

A Double Celebration

The fact that she will share the Walk of Fame spotlight with George Stephanopoulos — her co-anchor of more than two decades — only makes the moment sweeter. Together, the pair have navigated political turmoil, world crises, celebrity scandals, and unforgettable cultural moments.

And with Michael Strahan already holding his own star since 2023, the trio of GMA anchors has now officially secured its place in Hollywood history.

For Roberts, though, it’s less about the glitz of Hollywood and more about gratitude. “To be recognized in this way, after all these years, with people I love and respect… it’s beyond what I ever dreamed,” she said.

The Legacy Lives On

As fans and colleagues celebrate her latest triumph, one thing is certain: Robin Roberts’ journey from a small-town Mississippi girl to one of America’s most beloved TV personalities is far from over. With a Walk of Fame star awaiting her name in 2026, her story continues to inspire — proving that perseverance, heart, and authenticity still shine brightest under the Hollywood lights.

A WIDOW’S PAIN: “I Forgive Him,” Says Charlie Kirk’s Heartbroken Widow Erika to Husband’s ‘Assass!n’ in Heart-Wrenching Memorial Speech

The church bells tolled slowly as hundreds of mourners filed into the memorial hall, the atmosphere heavy with grief and disbelief. Candles flickered against walls draped in white flowers, a sea of black attire filling the pews. But all eyes were on one woman: Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who stood before the congregation to deliver the most haunting speech of her life.

Her face pale, her voice trembling but resolute, Erika stunned the nation with words no one expected.

“I forgive him,” she said, pausing as the audience drew in collective breath. “The man who took Charlie from me — I cannot carry the weight of hate. My husband would not want that. He believed in faith, in redemption, in a love that goes beyond anger.”

Gasps rippled through the hall. Some clutched tissues tighter, others shook their heads in disbelief. Friends, political allies, and strangers alike leaned forward, transfixed by the widow’s remarkable display of grace in the darkest of moments.

A Love Torn Apart

“Charlie lived with fire in his soul,” Erika said, tears streaming freely. “On television, he was fierce, unrelenting, but at home, he was my anchor, my safe place. He was the man who held me when the world felt too heavy, who prayed with me when we felt lost, who dreamed of our future family. That was stolen from us.”

Her voice cracked, forcing her to clutch the podium as sobs briefly overtook her. Behind her, giant screens projected images of the couple together: smiling at galas, walking hand in hand through sunlit parks, caught in candid embraces that now felt frozen in time.

“I don’t know how I will walk without him,” she admitted, steadying herself. “But I know I must walk in love. That is the only way forward.”

Forgiveness Over Vengeance

The widow’s words resonated like a sermon. “It would be easy to let bitterness consume me,” she confessed, her tone sharpening. “But that would kill me twice. And I will not let the darkness win.”

The room fell so silent that the faint sobs of mourners in the back rows carried forward. One supporter buried her face in her hands, while another reached across the aisle to embrace a stranger. The air felt charged — part grief, part awe.

“Charlie believed in second chances,” Erika continued, her eyes glistening under the lights. “Even for those who did him harm. That is the man he was. That is the legacy I will carry on.”

A Nation Watches

Outside the chapel, crowds gathered, some clutching candles, others waving flags. The speech was broadcast live, and within minutes, clips began circulating across social media. “The strength of this woman is beyond words,” one viewer wrote. Another called it “a message the world desperately needs.”

Even political adversaries admitted they were moved. “I did not expect to be shaken,” one rival commentator posted online, “but watching her forgive in the face of this unimaginable tragedy… I am speechless.”

The Final Goodbye

As Erika stepped down from the podium, the audience rose to its feet in a standing ovation that lasted nearly two minutes. Strangers wept openly, and some shouted “We love you, Erika!” as she was gently escorted back to her seat.

Beside her, family members embraced tightly, their grief intermingled with pride at the extraordinary strength she had displayed. For a moment, the hall transformed — from a place of mourning to a sanctuary of resilience, forgiveness, and hope.

And though the pain of Charlie Kirk’s loss will never fade, Erika’s words — words of love in the face of hate — will remain etched in memory as one of the most powerful tributes ever delivered at a public memorial.

Kevin Costner Stuns Fans at FanaticsFest: Secrets Behind His Sports Classics Revealed in Emotional Sit-Down With Michael Strahan

It has been more than two decades since For the Love of the Game hit theaters in 1999, but Kevin Costner proved this weekend that the film — and his legendary run of sports dramas — hasn’t lost a bit of its magic. Appearing on stage at FanaticsFest alongside football great Michael Strahan, the 70-year-old Oscar winner opened up like never before about the hidden stories, battles behind the scenes, and why his films still strike at the heart of America.

And while the crowd expected nostalgia, what they got was raw honesty, laughter, and even a shocking confession about how one of baseball’s most powerful men almost derailed the making of his beloved movie.

“It Was Never Just About the Score”

Costner, dressed casually but commanding the stage with his signature gravitas, didn’t mince words when Strahan asked him why his films like Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, and For the Love of the Game still resonate with audiences today.

“They were about something more than the score,” he declared, his voice rising over the roar of the crowd. “Sports gave me a backdrop, but the heart of every film was about people — their fears, their dreams, their second chances. That’s what keeps them alive, even decades later.”

The crowd erupted in cheers — many visibly moved — as Costner reminded everyone that his movies weren’t just about home runs or final innings, but about life itself.

The Steinbrenner Showdown

But the biggest gasp of the day came when Costner revealed that For the Love of the Game nearly never happened at Yankee Stadium. According to him, George Steinbrenner, the famously fiery Yankees owner, flat-out refused to let Hollywood show his team losing.

“George said, ‘We don’t lose here. Not on my watch,’” Costner recalled with a wry grin. “I told him, ‘This isn’t about the Yankees losing — it’s about a man finding redemption on the mound.’”

After tense negotiations, Steinbrenner relented, but the story had already made the audience lean forward in disbelief. “If he hadn’t come around, the movie you love today would look very, very different,” Costner teased.

From the Dugout to the Director’s Chair

The conversation didn’t just stay in the past. Costner also spoke about how stepping behind the camera transformed the way he saw his career — comparing filmmaking to coaching a championship team.

“When you’re directing, you’re the coach,” he explained to Strahan. “It’s about discipline, it’s about trust, and above all, it’s about respect. If you treat your cast and crew the way a coach treats his players, you’ll win together. That’s the only way I know how to work.”

Fans nodded along, many drawing parallels to Strahan’s own leadership days on the NFL field.

A Man Who Still Connects, No Matter the Challenges

What struck many most, though, was Costner’s openness about facing health challenges while continuing to stay active, creative, and deeply engaged with fans.

“Life throws you curveballs,” he admitted. “But connecting with people, sharing stories, and finding common ground — that’s what keeps me going. That’s where the joy is.”

For the fans at FanaticsFest, it was a moment that blurred the line between movie star and everyman — a reminder that the man who built a career on portraying American heroes is still very much one himself.

Why His Legacy Still Matters

As the conversation wrapped, Strahan asked what Costner hoped audiences would carry forward from his body of work. The star paused, scanning the sea of faces in front of him.

“I hope they remember that winning and losing isn’t what defines us,” he said slowly. “It’s how we live, how we love, and how we get back up when we’re knocked down.”

The room erupted into a standing ovation — proof that, 26 years after For the Love of the Game, Kevin Costner still knows exactly how to bring a crowd to its feet.

A WIDOW’S PAIN: “I Forgive Him,” Says Charlie Kirk’s Heartbroken Widow Erika to Husband’s ‘Assass!n’ in Heart-Wrenching Memorial Speech

The church bells tolled slowly as hundreds of mourners filed into the memorial hall, the atmosphere heavy with grief and disbelief. Candles flickered against walls draped in white flowers, a sea of black attire filling the pews. But all eyes were on one woman: Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who stood before the congregation to deliver the most haunting speech of her life.

Her face pale, her voice trembling but resolute, Erika stunned the nation with words no one expected.

“I forgive him,” she said, pausing as the audience drew in collective breath. “The man who took Charlie from me — I cannot carry the weight of hate. My husband would not want that. He believed in faith, in redemption, in a love that goes beyond anger.”

Gasps rippled through the hall. Some clutched tissues tighter, others shook their heads in disbelief. Friends, political allies, and strangers alike leaned forward, transfixed by the widow’s remarkable display of grace in the darkest of moments.

A Love Torn Apart

“Charlie lived with fire in his soul,” Erika said, tears streaming freely. “On television, he was fierce, unrelenting, but at home, he was my anchor, my safe place. He was the man who held me when the world felt too heavy, who prayed with me when we felt lost, who dreamed of our future family. That was stolen from us.”

Her voice cracked, forcing her to clutch the podium as sobs briefly overtook her. Behind her, giant screens projected images of the couple together: smiling at galas, walking hand in hand through sunlit parks, caught in candid embraces that now felt frozen in time.

“I don’t know how I will walk without him,” she admitted, steadying herself. “But I know I must walk in love. That is the only way forward.”

Forgiveness Over Vengeance

The widow’s words resonated like a sermon. “It would be easy to let bitterness consume me,” she confessed, her tone sharpening. “But that would kill me twice. And I will not let the darkness win.”

The room fell so silent that the faint sobs of mourners in the back rows carried forward. One supporter buried her face in her hands, while another reached across the aisle to embrace a stranger. The air felt charged — part grief, part awe.

“Charlie believed in second chances,” Erika continued, her eyes glistening under the lights. “Even for those who did him harm. That is the man he was. That is the legacy I will carry on.”

A Nation Watches

Outside the chapel, crowds gathered, some clutching candles, others waving flags. The speech was broadcast live, and within minutes, clips began circulating across social media. “The strength of this woman is beyond words,” one viewer wrote. Another called it “a message the world desperately needs.”

Even political adversaries admitted they were moved. “I did not expect to be shaken,” one rival commentator posted online, “but watching her forgive in the face of this unimaginable tragedy… I am speechless.”

The Final Goodbye

As Erika stepped down from the podium, the audience rose to its feet in a standing ovation that lasted nearly two minutes. Strangers wept openly, and some shouted “We love you, Erika!” as she was gently escorted back to her seat.

Beside her, family members embraced tightly, their grief intermingled with pride at the extraordinary strength she had displayed. For a moment, the hall transformed — from a place of mourning to a sanctuary of resilience, forgiveness, and hope.

And though the pain of Charlie Kirk’s loss will never fade, Erika’s words — words of love in the face of hate — will remain etched in memory as one of the most powerful tributes ever delivered at a public memorial.

Kevin Costner Stuns Fans at FanaticsFest: Secrets Behind His Sports Classics Revealed in Emotional Sit-Down With Michael Strahan

It has been more than two decades since For the Love of the Game hit theaters in 1999, but Kevin Costner proved this weekend that the film — and his legendary run of sports dramas — hasn’t lost a bit of its magic. Appearing on stage at FanaticsFest alongside football great Michael Strahan, the 70-year-old Oscar winner opened up like never before about the hidden stories, battles behind the scenes, and why his films still strike at the heart of America.

And while the crowd expected nostalgia, what they got was raw honesty, laughter, and even a shocking confession about how one of baseball’s most powerful men almost derailed the making of his beloved movie.

“It Was Never Just About the Score”

Costner, dressed casually but commanding the stage with his signature gravitas, didn’t mince words when Strahan asked him why his films like Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, and For the Love of the Game still resonate with audiences today.

“They were about something more than the score,” he declared, his voice rising over the roar of the crowd. “Sports gave me a backdrop, but the heart of every film was about people — their fears, their dreams, their second chances. That’s what keeps them alive, even decades later.”

The crowd erupted in cheers — many visibly moved — as Costner reminded everyone that his movies weren’t just about home runs or final innings, but about life itself.

The Steinbrenner Showdown

But the biggest gasp of the day came when Costner revealed that For the Love of the Game nearly never happened at Yankee Stadium. According to him, George Steinbrenner, the famously fiery Yankees owner, flat-out refused to let Hollywood show his team losing.

“George said, ‘We don’t lose here. Not on my watch,’” Costner recalled with a wry grin. “I told him, ‘This isn’t about the Yankees losing — it’s about a man finding redemption on the mound.’”

After tense negotiations, Steinbrenner relented, but the story had already made the audience lean forward in disbelief. “If he hadn’t come around, the movie you love today would look very, very different,” Costner teased.

From the Dugout to the Director’s Chair

The conversation didn’t just stay in the past. Costner also spoke about how stepping behind the camera transformed the way he saw his career — comparing filmmaking to coaching a championship team.

“When you’re directing, you’re the coach,” he explained to Strahan. “It’s about discipline, it’s about trust, and above all, it’s about respect. If you treat your cast and crew the way a coach treats his players, you’ll win together. That’s the only way I know how to work.”

Fans nodded along, many drawing parallels to Strahan’s own leadership days on the NFL field.

A Man Who Still Connects, No Matter the Challenges

What struck many most, though, was Costner’s openness about facing health challenges while continuing to stay active, creative, and deeply engaged with fans.

“Life throws you curveballs,” he admitted. “But connecting with people, sharing stories, and finding common ground — that’s what keeps me going. That’s where the joy is.”

For the fans at FanaticsFest, it was a moment that blurred the line between movie star and everyman — a reminder that the man who built a career on portraying American heroes is still very much one himself.

Why His Legacy Still Matters

As the conversation wrapped, Strahan asked what Costner hoped audiences would carry forward from his body of work. The star paused, scanning the sea of faces in front of him.

“I hope they remember that winning and losing isn’t what defines us,” he said slowly. “It’s how we live, how we love, and how we get back up when we’re knocked down.”

The room erupted into a standing ovation — proof that, 26 years after For the Love of the Game, Kevin Costner still knows exactly how to bring a crowd to its feet.