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At halftime of Sunday’s 13-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants retired the jersey of Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan.
It was a long time coming.
As Strahan thanked his former teammates and the Giants organization, fans once again booed when the names John Mara and Steve Tisch were mentioned. Rather than ignore it as Eli Manning had done before him, Strahan took the opportunity to remind Giants fans just how good they’ve had it.
The 92 jersey has officially been retired for the New York @Giants 🙏
Congratulations to @michaelstrahan! pic.twitter.com/ewYyBd770R
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 28, 2021
“I’ve got to say this: Every team has their ups and downs,” Strahan said to the crowd. “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!”
Leave it to Strahan to bring his leadership back to the table 14 years after he last stepped onto the field.
“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 15-year journey. I love you, New York Giants fans.”
Strahan also took the opportunity to poke a little fun at his former head coach, Tom Coughlin. Although he credited Coughlin with making him a better player and man, Strahan couldn’t help but to poke fun at Coughlin’s five-minute rule one final time.
“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 [expletive] him off.”
In fitting fashion, Strahan ended his ceremony with one last, “we will stomp you out!” And the Giants defense did just that in his honor, limiting the Eagles to only seven points while forcing four turnovers.
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