FOX NFL Sunday analyst Michael Strahan threw his colleague, Howie Long, under the bus after Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers called them both out
15:55 ET, 28 Dec 2025
Michael Strahan commended Philip Rivers during this week’s FOX NFL Sunday pregame show(Image: Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Michael Strahan cleared himself of any wrongdoing after Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers called him and Howie Long out during a pregame interview on Sunday.
Ahead of the Colts’ Week 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Rivers joined the FOX NFL Sunday crew for a pregame chat to discuss his improbable NFL comeback as a 44-year-old father of 10. It comes after FOX NFL Sunday viewers had enough of Terry Bradshaw and cited ‘elder abuse.’
Rivers detailed that while he would have loved to win games and compete for a Super Bowl, which is now impossible this season after Indianapolis was eliminated from playoff contention, he was motivated to come out of retirement due to his undying love for the game.
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“I weren’t chasing glory, I weren’t chasing the Super Bowl. To be completely honest, I wasn’t. It was just a chance to play,” Rivers said.
The 18-year NFL veteran then revealed his vulnerable mindset when deciding whether or not to unretire before calling out Strahan and Long for previous comments about his physique.
“I have heard about some of the impact and I’m thankful for that. I was scared, nervous, unsure, and I knew the safe bet was to go back to the house,” Rivers said.
Philip Rivers came out of retirement this year having not played since the 2020 playoffs(Image: Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“The only way to find out if you can do it was to come back out here, a little bit out of shape, or a lot of shape – whatever you say Strahan and Howie. This game has been from the neck up for me. I was never a physical specimen to begin with.”
Known for being wholesome and pure, Rivers calling out the FOX NFL Sunday personalities came as a bit of a surprise, and Strahan quickly came to his own defense while throwing his colleague under the bus.
“Well, Philip, just to clear it up, Howie was the one who said that about the weight,” Strahan said. “He threw my name in to take the heat off him. But all I want to say is we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.”
Rivers replied, “Hey, Howie, it’s just a bigger rib protector.”
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No matter what kind of shape Rivers is in, his NFL comeback has been one of the stories of the season and allowed him to showcase that he can still play.
Last week, the former Chargers star turned back the clock with 277 passing yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
After the interview, Strahan continued to pour on the praise for the 44-year-old, perhaps in part to get further back in his good graces.
“Watching him play is like watching that father who goes out and plays to show the son that anything is possible in life like a movie,” Strahan said. “I absolutely love this guy.”
