Veteran NFL reporter Jay Glazer took to social media on Monday to address the controversy surrounding his friend and colleague, Michael Strahan, after Strahan’s actions during a pregame broadcast drew negative attention. Strahan, a former New York Giants defensive end who played in the NFL from 1993 to 2007, has been a key member of FOX’s NFL team since his retirement.
On Sunday, FOX broadcast its NFL pregame show from Naval Base San Diego in honor of Veterans Day. The event was a tribute to veterans, featuring patriotic moments, including the playing of the national anthem.
During the anthem, most of the FOX broadcast team stood with their hands over their hearts. However, Strahan kept his hands at his sides, and this drew criticism from some viewers who felt his posture was disrespectful.
The criticism focused on Strahan being the only member of the crew not to place his hand over his heart, which many interpreted as a deliberate statement.
Jay Glazer, who stood alongside Strahan during the broadcast with his right hand over his heart, decided to publicly address the backlash on Monday. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a post defending Strahan and to provide context that viewers might not have been aware of.
“I’ve just seen the criticism of @michaelstrahan,” Glazer wrote. “Let me tell you this, I don’t know if I have a friend who is more proud of his military roots than Michael, growing up on an army base, constantly talking about what he learned from his dad, Major Gene Strahan, and how his time there shaped him. I heard it CONSTANTLY, still do!”
Glazer continued by highlighting Strahan’s many contributions to veterans, which he noted are done without any fanfare. “But also, with no fanfare, I personally saw him donate thousands of dollars of clothes to veterans, including many homeless veterans, as well as clothes for veterans to go on job interviews,” Glazer shared.
Glazer’s post urged people to consider Strahan’s history and intentions before jumping to conclusions. “I know these days people want to be angry fast, but maybe first, how is THIS for a novel idea: ASK him if he’s protesting something. When you protest, you want people to know, don’t ya? He was NOT. He just got caught up in how beautiful the whole moment was during the anthem and didn’t think about it. Ask the dude before forming an angry mob, but also maybe find out all he’s done for our veterans over the years.”
Glazer’s defense emphasized that Strahan’s actions were not intentional and that there was no underlying protest.
He pointed out that if Strahan had been protesting, he would have made that clear, as protest is inherently about making a statement. Instead, Glazer suggested that Strahan was simply moved by the moment and forgot to place his hand over his heart.
Strahan himself has not commented on the incident, but Glazer’s strong defense provided a detailed account of Strahan’s respect and appreciation for the military.
Given Strahan’s upbringing on an army base and his father’s military service, Glazer’s post aimed to remind people of the deep respect Strahan holds for veterans, a respect that has been demonstrated through his actions over the years.
The incident serves as a reminder of the quickness with which public figures can come under fire in the age of social media.
Glazer’s plea for understanding and context highlights the importance of looking beyond the surface of a moment and considering the entirety of a person’s character and actions.
