Michael Strahan has a long résumé of high-pressure live TV and elite competition, but there’s one gig he says he’s not built for: Dancing With the Stars.
During a recent on-air exchange connected to Good Morning America, Strahan shut down the idea of joining the ABC dance competition—even with DWTS cohost Alfonso Ribeiro trying to recruit him—saying he’s genuinely intimidated by what the show demands.
“Harder than football” is the dealbreaker
Strahan’s biggest reason is simple: he’s heard from athletes who’ve done the show that the training is intense. He pointed to the steady stream of former pros who’ve said DWTS was tougher than their sport—prompting his blunt conclusion: if it’s harder than football, “I cannot fathom it” at this stage of his life.
In the same conversation, Strahan also joked that he feels no too resilient to take on that kind of physical grind now—and that he’d rather keep his role on the sidelines than jump into weeks of rehearsals.
Ribeiro tried to sell him on it anyway
Ribeiro made the case that Strahan has the star power—and the fanbase—to go far, even joking about pairing him with a tall pro dancer to make the height difference less awkward. Strahan still didn’t budge.
He’s not anti-DWTS—he’s just not volunteering
Strahan isn’t unfamiliar with the show. He’s previously appeared in the DWTS orbit, including serving as a guest judge during a themed night in 2023, but he’s made it clear he’d rather watch, comment, and interview than compete.
For now, the former New York Giants star is keeping his dance moves firmly in the “quick joke on TV” category—and leaving the ballroom pressure to everyone else.
