We are ranking the top 10 All-Time Best NFL Defensive Players from Texas HS Football. The list is based only on the players’ NFL careers, not their high school careers.
Michael Strahan is our #6 ranked player on this list, and his NFL résumé speaks for itself. A dominant force on the defensive line, Strahan was a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-Team All-Pro, two-time NFL sack leader, and the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He capped off his legendary career by helping the New York Giants pull off one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history, defeating the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Strahan’s impact on the game was undeniable, and in 2014, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Early Life and High School Career
Michael Strahan was born on November 21, 1971, in Houston, Texas. Although he spent much of his childhood in Germany due to his father’s military service, he returned to Houston for his senior year of high school, attending Westbury High School. That one season of high school football was enough to earn him a scholarship to Texas Southern University, where he developed into an elite defensive lineman.
College Career at Texas Southern
At Texas Southern, Strahan quickly became one of the most dominant defensive players in college football. By his junior year, he was already an NFL prospect, but it was his senior season that put him on the national radar. He recorded 19 sacks and 32 tackles for loss, earning First-Team All-American honors and being named Black College Defensive Player of the Year. He left Texas Southern as the school’s all-time sacks leader and remains one of the best defensive players to come out of an HBCU.
NFL Career with the New York Giants
Strahan was selected 40th overall in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. His early years were slowed by injuries, but by 1997, he had established himself as one of the league’s premier pass rushers, recording 14 sacks and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He followed that up with a 15-sack season in 1998.
The peak of Strahan’s career came in 2001, when he set the NFL single-season sack record with 22.5 sacks, a record that still stands (tied by T.J. Watt in 2021). That season, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year and cemented his status as one of the most feared defensive players in league history. Over his 15-year career, Strahan recorded 141.5 sacks, 854 tackles, and 24 forced fumbles.
In 2007, Strahan helped lead the Giants to an improbable Super Bowl run. In Super Bowl XLII, Strahan had two tackles and one sack, playing a key role in holding the Patriots’ record-breaking offense to just 14 points. The Giants’ 17-14 victory over the previously undefeated Patriots was one of the biggest upsets in NFL history, and Strahan retired on top after that season.
Legacy and Post-Football Career
Strahan’s impact on the game was recognized when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. His #92 jersey was retired by the Giants in 2021, solidifying his place in franchise history.
Beyond football, Strahan has built a successful media career, becoming a fixture on Fox NFL Sunday and co-hosting Good Morning America. His larger-than-life personality and knowledge of the game have made him one of the most recognizable figures in sports media.
Awards and Accomplishments
- Super Bowl champion (XLII)
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001)
- 4× First-Team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003)
- 7× Pro Bowl selection (1997-1999, 2001-2003, 2005)
- 2× NFL sacks leader (2001, 2003)
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2014)
Michael Strahan’s career was a perfect blend of dominance, longevity, and leadership. From setting the NFL sack record to winning a Super Bowl, he left an undeniable mark on the game. His ability to transition into a successful post-football career only adds to his legacy. Few players have made a bigger impact on and off the field, and that’s why he ranks #6 on our all-time Texas HS Football defensive players list.
