Michael Strahan Says Daughter's Cancer Battle May Change His Career Plans

Michael Strahan Honored with Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame

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'Good Morning America' host, FOX Sports analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan said he may consider retirement from television "a lot sooner" after his daughter's recent battle with brain cancer.

Strahan, 52, and his daughter, Isabella, who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma earlier this year, were featured in the November 2024 edition of Town & Country magazine released on Tuesday (October 29) and the popular television personality discussed how her battle changed his perspective.

“I’ve always had those thoughts,” Strahan said of his potential retirement. “It will happen at some point. It’s not happening anytime soon. The kids are still in school. I’m empty-nesting again. I have loved having the energy and noise and arguing around the house, but I’m just so happy for Isabella to get back to college [at USC]. I want her to have that sense of independence again because my kids can’t grow if they’re under my shade.

“I’m not planning on retiring anytime soon. I will at some point, and I’d like to say a lot sooner than a lot of people probably think I will. When I do it, it will be because I just want to have the freedom to be with her and her sister, and her other sister and brother. Wherever they are, whatever they’re doing, I want to be there.”

Strahan spent his entire playing career with the New York Giants before retiring in 2008. The Super Bowl XLII champion began working as an analyst on the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show months later and also appeared as a guest host on Live! with Regis and Kelly in 2010 before taking over as the late Regis Philbin's full-time replacement alongside Kelly Ripa in 2012.

Strahan left Live! with Kelly and Michael to begin his role on Good Morning America in 2016. Isabella, 20, underwent three surgeries, six weeks of radiation and four rounds of chemotherapy before officially being deemed cancer-free in July.

The sophomore needed to relearn how to walk and talk before returning to USC in August amid her ongoing recovery.


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