Michael Strahan said he wasn’t trying to make a statement when he stood without his hand over his heart while the national anthem played during a “Fox NFL Sunday” broadcast at the San Diego Naval Base.

He simply let himself be “caught in the moment”.

The Hall of Fame defensive end and current television personality offered this explanation about Sunday’s game. viral and controversial moment in a video posted to his Instagram account Tuesday evening.

“Everyone thought, ‘He’s protesting.’ He makes a statement that is so far from the truth. Strahan said. “I have nothing to protest. I have no statement to make. The only statement I want to make is that I love the military, I always have loved the military, and I always will.

“I do so many programs to help veterans and soldiers. I grew up on a military base with a father who was a major in the army. My brother, my sister, my cousins, they all served in the army. I’m a military kid. And so for someone to say that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be further from the truth.

Fox brought its NFL studio show to Pier 6 of the military base in honor of Veterans Day. Hundreds of sailors were on hand for the event, and every one of them stood at attention during the national anthem. As the song played, Fox cameras briefly showed Strahan and his fellow co-hosts.

While Howie Long, Jay Glazer, Curt Menefée, Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson And Rob Gronkowski placing their hands over their hearts, Strahan had his arms draped in front of him, one hand over the other.

“The truth is I was caught up in the moment,” said Strahan, who was nominated for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award in 2020. “I’m looking at all these young sailors standing at attention before the national anthem is playing and I’m like, “How amazing to be so young and to know that you want to do this. It’s such a commitment, but you’re ready for it.” engage in something that you think will help us gives our freedoms, plain and simple.

“By the time I looked up at that moment, all my guys at Fox had their hands on their hearts, the national anthem was playing. I’m freaking out a little and thinking, “Am I the crazy guy who puts his hand over his heart afterwards or do I stand here with my hand in front of me respectfully?” And that’s what I did. This is what happened.

“And if this offended any of our service members and veterans, I apologize because that was never my intention.” I am a product of the military, a proud lover of the military, and a proud lover of all those who have served before and today and will serve in the future.

Strahan also discussed an incident that occurred earlier in the day. According to the Daily Mailone of his reporters approached Strahan outside his home and asked him about the national anthem controversy. A video appears to show Strahan angrily shouting “Don’t come to my house!” » several times. The newspaper also reports that Strahan grabbed the reporter’s phone and threw it into a bush before entering his home.

“It’s spread to the point where I get out of my car today and I’m ambushed by a media outlet here at my house,” Strahan said. “I’m not proud of the way I handled this whole situation, but I think everyone can understand the things that you’re going to do – you’re going to protect your family and you’re going to protect your home, that’s what what you are going to do. I felt like I had to do it at that time.