The New York Giants announced on Wednesday their plans to retire Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan’s No. 92 jersey.
The number will enter Big Blue history in a halftime ceremony on November 28 when the Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium.
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“Michael Strahan was one of the greatest players in franchise history,” said Giants co-owner John Mara. “He deserves to have his number retired as other Giants immortals have, including Mel Hein, Frank Gifford and Lawrence Taylor. Michael’s career was defined by his achievements, his consistency and his leadership. Very few defensive ends played the position as well as Michael. He was a tremendous run defender as well as a great pass rusher. And he realized a goal every player aspires to, but few achieve, winning a Super Bowl in his final game. We are grateful for all his contributions and are happy to officially say no Giants player will ever wear No. 92 again.”
“Michael Strahan was a Hall of Fame player and he is a Hall of Fame person,” added Giants chairman co-owner Steve Tisch. “Only the very best players get their jerseys retired and Michael is in that category in Giants history and NFL history, as well. He was the consummate defensive end, a team captain and a winner who helped lead us to the greatest victory in our history in Super Bowl XLII.”
Strahan’s jersey retirement will be the second such ceremony held this season by the Giants. On September 26, Eli Manning’s No. 10 will be immortalized during halftime of the game against the Atlanta Falcons.
From the Giants:
Strahan owns the franchise career record with 141.5 sacks. It was the fifth-highest total in NFL history when he announced his retirement on June 9, 2008 and 14 years after he played his final game, it is still the sixth-highest total (since 1982, when sacks became an official statistic). Strahan is the only Giants player to twice lead the league in sacks. He also holds the Giants’ postseason record with 9.5 sacks.
The 6-5, 255-pound Strahan was credited with 868 regular-season tackles. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2003. Strahan was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 1997 and his seventh in 2005. Only four Giants played in more Pro Bowls and all are Hall of Famers: Taylor (10), linebacker Harry Carson (9), offensive tackle Rosie Brown (9) and cornerback Emlen Tunnell (8).
Strahan’s number will be the 14th retired by the Giants after Manning. The others are No. 1 (Ray Flaherty), 4 (Tuffy Leemans), 7 (Mel Hein), 11 (Phil Simms), 14 (Ward Cuff and Y.A. Tittle), 16 (Frank Gifford), 32 (Al Blozis), 40 (Joe Morrison), 42 (Charlie Conerly), 50 (Ken Strong) and 56 (Lawrence Taylor).
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