Michael Strahan did not place his hand over his heart during the national anthem on Sunday while paying tribute the day before Veterans Day today at the San Diego Naval Base. The Fox Sports NFL analyst was seen standing with his hands interlocked in front of him drawing massive backlash that growing up in a military family with his father serving 23 years in the United States Army, he could not show his respect to the veterans.
“@NFLonFOX Michael Strahan, standing with US military honoring Veteran’s Day can’t show honor and respect during the National Anthem… Wow!” one wrote.
“What the hell is wrong with Michael Strahan!? On effing Veterans Day! Boo, @NFL. Boo, @NFLonFOX. Not cool,” another said.
“@michaelstrahan you should be absolutely ASHAMED of yourself disrespecting these men and women! You owe everyone an apology…” one user wrote.
“I’m going to defend @michaelstrahan here,” an X user wrote. “He stood very respectfully as he was no doubt taught to do by his father. Strahan has shared many times over his respect for veterans.”
Other members of the Fox panel included Curt Menefee, Howie Long, Bradshaw, Gronkowski, Jimmy Johnson and Jay Glaze and all of them placed their right hands over their hearts.
Newsmax host Todd Starnes posted: “Michael Strahan disrespected the military during a Veterans Day pre-game show on @NFLonFOX. The great irony is Strahan on a ship surrounded by men and women who would willingly sacrifice their lives to protect his freedom. So, his behavior is not just repugnant, it’s downright cowardly.”
Strahan, 52, was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft. He played in New York for the entirety of his career, winning the Super Bowl against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots team in 2008.
The United States Flag Code does state that during the national anthem, civilians should “face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart.”
Fox NFL Sunday’s tribute to the military the day before Veterans Day has been a long-standing tradition for the network, with previous years’ broadcasts taking place at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Al Udeid Air Base and Bagram Airfield among other locations.
