New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

Michael Strahan on Championship Sunday, Super Bowl Predictions, Sack Records and Life After the NFL | EP 177

January 28, 2026

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  • Hall of Famer Michael Strahan values his 2007 Super Bowl championship above all his individual accolades, emphasizing the lasting bond formed with his Giants teammates. 
  • Michael Strahan detailed his pass-rushing strategy as a psychological chess match, relying first on establishing a dominant bull rush before mixing in counter moves to keep offensive linemen off balance. 
  • The hosts and Michael Strahan discussed the difficulty of playing in cold, wet conditions, with Strahan preferring snow games over cold rain, and both brothers sharing their ideal sleep setups involving temperature control. 
  • Michael Strahan expressed discomfort with being labeled a 'great' player despite his Hall of Fame status, emphasizing that his primary motivation throughout his career was earning respect, not just money. 
  • Strahan detailed his smooth transition into media, starting with hosting opportunities like 'The Best Damn Sports Show, Period,' which prepared him for broadcasting before he even signed his post-retirement deal with Fox. 
  • Strahan's experience in space was profoundly perspective-altering, forcing him to confront mortality while simultaneously feeling immense joy and realizing the importance of his family. 

Segments

Sponsor Reads and Merch Giveaway
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: New Heights merchandise giveaway requires following both the podcast and Pro Standard on Instagram and commenting a favorite episode moment.
  • Summary: Adobe Acrobat Studio is highlighted for its new PDF Spaces feature, which uses an AI assistant to streamline podcast prep by consolidating notes and articles. Liquid IV’s energy multiplier is promoted for containing three times the electrolytes of a regular sports drink. The Pro Standard giveaway offers a kit featuring New Heights merch and an NFL jacket for three winners.
Sleeping Habits Debate
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(00:03:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Travis Kelce prefers a cooler sleep environment (55-60 Sleep Number) supplemented by a cooling mattress pad and fan, while Jason prefers a firmer setting (around 70).
  • Summary: Jason and Travis debate their preferred Sleep Number settings, with Jason favoring the 70s and Travis the 50s, often using supplemental cooling technology. Jason expressed extreme frustration with hotel room thermostats that restrict temperature control, contrasting this with the personalized climate control offered by Sleep Number beds. Travis detailed his ideal sleep system, which includes a cooling system, a specific Sleep Number setting, and a fan blowing on his face.
Introducing Michael Strahan
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(00:12:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael Strahan’s illustrious career includes being a seven-time Pro Bowler, 2001 Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl Champion, and a member of both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame.
  • Summary: Michael Strahan was introduced with a comprehensive list of his achievements, including two Emmy wins and holding the record for most sacks in a 16-game season. Strahan stated that winning the Super Bowl remains the most prized achievement of his career, citing the ongoing camaraderie with his 2007 Giants D-line group chat. He noted that he started playing football late, only playing one year in high school before earning a scholarship to Texas Southern University.
Stories on Coach Spags
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(00:16:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Coach Spags motivated the 2007 Giants defense after a poor start by assuring them he would not trade any player on the unit, fostering belief in the system.
  • Summary: Michael Strahan praised Coach Spags as one of the best humans and motivators he met, noting Spags’ wife Maria baked cookies for the team. Strahan admitted he disliked dropping into coverage, preferring to attack the passer directly, but would execute any assignment given by Spags. He attributed the team’s turnaround in his final season to Spags’ ability to make the players feel good despite an 0-2 start.
Sack Record Debate and Legends
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(00:22:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael Strahan disputes the validity of Al Bubba Baker’s alleged sack record from 1978 because official record-keeping began later, and he admired Deacon Jones, who claimed 100 sacks in a season.
  • Summary: Strahan acknowledged Miles Garrett’s 17-game sack record but referenced the historical debate surrounding older records. He shared that Deacon Jones once swore to him that he recorded 100 sacks in a single season. Strahan’s personal Mount Rushmore of pass rushers includes Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Miles Garrett, placing himself among the top two or three all-around defensive ends due to his run defense skills.
Trench Warfare Tactics
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(00:48:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Strahan’s strategy against tough opponents like Jon Runyon involved establishing dominance with a bull rush first, then using that established threat to set up outside moves or inside clubs.
  • Summary: Strahan emphasized that pass rushing is like chess, requiring strategy beyond pure athleticism, especially against strong opponents like Runyon. He detailed a sequence where he would repeatedly use the bull rush to force the lineman to squat, then chop and move around them, ensuring the lineman never knew which move was coming next. He noted that he only spoke to offensive linemen if they spoke to him first.
Championship Sunday Recap
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(00:34:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Both hosts felt the Broncos should have kicked the field goal against the Patriots, and they expressed strong support for Sam Darnold’s resurgence after years of criticism.
  • Summary: The consensus was that the Broncos should have taken the points in their game against the Patriots, as relying on analytics over situational feel in the playoffs can be detrimental. The hosts praised Sam Darnold for overcoming five teams in eight years and silencing critics with his performance for the Seahawks. Jason noted that the Patriots’ defense has been playing exceptionally well in the final weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.
2007 Giants Super Bowl Run
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(00:41:28)
  • Key Takeaway: The 2007 Giants’ path to the Super Bowl was the hardest ever, and the team bonded deeply during their trip to London, which solidified their commitment not to let each other down.
  • Summary: Strahan believes the 2007 Giants had the most difficult road to the Super Bowl, defeating the Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Packers before facing the undefeated 18-0 Patriots. The team’s bond was cemented during a trip to London where they celebrated a win, leading to a realization that they did not want the brotherhood to end. The team was motivated by the fact that the Patriots organization had already distributed tickets for the NFC Championship game, implying they expected the Giants to lose.
Michael Strahan’s Media Career
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(00:53:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael Strahan felt uncomfortable with his Hall of Fame status because his primary career driver was earning respect, not accolades.
  • Summary: Strahan admitted that making money was not enough to sustain him in a difficult game; he played for respect, which he ultimately earned. He views his successful post-NFL media career as having happened somewhat accidentally through hard work and enjoyment. He praised Jason and Travis Kelce for paving their own paths after football.
Retirement Advice and Finality
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(00:54:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The finality of retirement is absolute, as players never put on the helmet or tape their wrists again.
  • Summary: Strahan advised that once a player knows they have given everything, they should not regret retirement, as there is no ‘big three’ or other league equivalent to return to. He had a Fox deal signed and waiting, allowing him to retire on his own terms after the 2007 Super Bowl win.
Broadcasting Origins and Joy
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(00:58:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Broadcasting was never a primary goal, but early fun experiences on shows like ‘The Best Damn Sports Show, Period’ provided a vital foundation.
  • Summary: Strahan did various network spots while still playing, realizing people made a good living in broadcasting, which became an opportunity. He chose Fox because it was the most fun, emphasizing entertainment and personality over strict meeting-like analysis. Football remains his favorite subject, but the news keeps him engaged with the wider world.
Missing the Locker Room Camaraderie
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(01:01:54)
  • Key Takeaway: The most missed aspect of playing is the unique, non-age-gap camaraderie found only among football players in the locker room.
  • Summary: Talking football on set is secondary to the feeling of being around like-minded guys with the same sense of humor. Strahan maintains a year-round group chat with former teammates, noting that older members like Terry and Jimmy show the least maturity. This shared experience, built on mutual respect without ego, is the magic that makes their current show work.
Working with Gronk and Fox Family
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(01:04:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Terry Bradshaw is brilliantly smart despite playing the ‘dumb guy,’ and Robert Gronkowski is an incredibly sweet human being who is successfully finding his lane on Fox NFL Sunday.
  • Summary: Strahan noted that Gronk has done a great job fitting into the established Fox panel, which is difficult when joining a long-running show. He encourages Gronk to jump in with his takes, assuring him that word count is not tracked. Strahan values Gronk’s sweetness and enjoys working with him.
Space Travel Perspective
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(01:09:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The space flight experience was life-changing, forcing a peaceful acceptance of death while simultaneously highlighting the importance of family.
  • Summary: The 12-minute flight felt like hours due to the intensity of the gradual G-force push and the visual spectacle of Earth from space. A key part of the experience was becoming relaxed and free, accepting that if death occurred, it was God’s will. This perspective shift made him realize how insignificant he was globally but how vital he was to his loved ones.
Future Plans and Business Interests
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(01:12:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Strahan plans to reduce his workload to prioritize time left over time lived, focusing on business ventures that engage him like football did.
  • Summary: He loves Fox but feels constrained by commitments that prevent him from traveling and pursuing other interests. He is interested in business ventures that require learning, similar to how he had to learn football. He will continue with Fox until they remove him but seeks balance for the time he has left.
John Madden Movie Production
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(01:15:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Strahan’s production company is involved in a new movie about John Madden, directed by David O. Russell.
  • Summary: His company is producing a documentary series on Coach Vic, and a feature film about John Madden starring Nicholas Cage as Madden and Jamie Bell as Al Davis. Strahan noted that meeting John Madden would have been more pressure than facing John Runyon.
Battles with John Runyon
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(01:16:16)
  • Key Takeaway: John Runyon, along with Eric Williams and Leon Searcy, made Michael Strahan a better player by forcing him to study and improve his game.
  • Summary: Strahan studied Runyon intensely after the Eagles brought him in specifically to counter Strahan, allowing him to predict Runyon’s moves. Runyon, Williams, and Searcy were his toughest opponents, and he gave Runyon a shout-out in his Hall of Fame speech. Strahan found it ironic that Runyon now works in NFL rules and policy regarding late hits.
Welcome to the NFL Moments
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(01:18:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Eric Williams delivered Strahan’s defining ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment by telling the young player to ’take this whipping like a girl.’
  • Summary: Strahan’s first moment was wanting autographs from 49ers legends like Jerry Rice as a rookie from Texas Southern. His true welcome came from Eric Williams, who told him to stop planning revenge and just endure the current physical beating. Travis Kelce shared a similar moment where Jay Ratliff told him he deserved a holding call because he had been ‘whooping his ass all day.’
Encouraging the Next Generation
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(01:22:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Older players must encourage young players and recognize that the game has fundamentally changed regarding pay and skill sets.
  • Summary: Strahan praised Miles Garrett’s unstoppable, versatile skill set, noting that today’s players are built differently than in his era. He recalled making $3 million, which was top-of-the-league money then, compared to today’s massive contracts. He stressed that tearing down young players because they weren’t born in a previous era is counterproductive.
Super Bowl Predictions and Fandom
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(01:24:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Jets fan Jake Chatsky hopes the Patriots get ‘shitrocked’ in the Super Bowl because their success has personally tormented him for decades.
  • Summary: Travis Kelce noted that Jets fans cannot blame the Patriots for their own organizational malpractice, but Jake Chatsky’s hatred stems from the Patriots’ sustained success overshadowing the Jets’ failures. Travis is rooting for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks storyline, while Jason is leaning toward the Patriots due to his respect for former player Mike Vrabel.
Stamp of the Week Selections
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(01:29:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesse Minter received a stamp for becoming the new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and DeMarcus Lawrence was stamped for accurately predicting he wouldn’t win a Super Bowl with Dallas.
  • Summary: Jesse Minter is taking over for the Ravens after success at Michigan and with the Chargers, facing big shoes to fill. DeMarcus Lawrence’s quote from March stating he knew he wouldn’t win a Super Bowl in Dallas aged well as he reached the Super Bowl with Seattle. Lawrence also recently exchanged words with Micah Parsons.