Michael Strahan has been candid about his desire to wind down his professional life after 17 years on TV. Frequently hinting at retirement during his appearances on Good Morning America and , the NFL great is considering scaling back his commitments.

The former New York Giants star has entertained audiences since 2008 alongside the likes of Terry Bradshaw, Michael Vick, Jimmy Johnson, and more recently Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski on . Now, it seems that after almost two decades, Strahan is contemplating stepping away from some of his TV roles to dedicate more time to personal pursuits.

During an appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, revealed his aspirations for a leisurely future. He said: "I like company, I like vacations. I'm at the point in life when I just want to enjoy it. I don't want to work forever, I want to enjoy life at some point.

"I retired when I was 36, from football. My twins were three. There I was talking about 'work hard. Get out there and go all out.' But they never saw any of that. They never saw me play football."

In an interview with Forbes in 2024, Strahan also indicated that he would progressively step away from several aspects of his career before retiring completely. He said: "I won't go cold turkey on everything, but I see myself slowly dropping different things until eventually, you'll just find me on the golf course.

"Time is the one thing that once it's gone, you can never get it back. I'm very conscious of that, being a dad. That's what has led me to think more about the end of my career.

"That's what has led me to think more about the end of my career - I don't want to be someone who's on TV at 80 years old. It's an absolute pleasure and privilege to be able to have that option. But I can get more of everything in life except for time."

Strahan's retirement plans followed the heartbreaking news that his teenage daughter Isabella was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer in October 2023. In a heartfelt ABC production, Strahan presented a one-hour special titled 'Isabella's Life Interrupted: Inside Isabella Strahan's Fight against Brain Cancer', which was released on February 5.

The documentary provided an intimate glimpse into how Isabella - now cancer-free - coped with her diagnosis and treatment alongside her family as she shed light on a family grappling with devastating news.

In the ABC documentary, Michael shared the dread he experienced upon learning of his daughter's condition, giving viewers a heartfelt look at the trials faced by the family during this challenging time. The ex-NFL star said: "As a parent, you're scared. Oh my, you're just scared. It never occurred to us that it would be cancer. I'll be honest with you, just looking at the trajectory at that point of her life. And we have no history of anything bad in the family.

"Nobody gives you anything. You gotta go earn it. You'd think I'm the athlete, the tough guy, the father in the family. It is not about any of that. It has really made me change my perspective on so many things."

In the wake of this sensitive revelation, reports are swirling that Strahan may be saying goodbye to his role at Good Morning America as his contract ends. An inside source said: "He will be out by this summer - he's had enough."

Meanwhile, another source reported by NewsNation stated: "It's a lot. He wants to spend more time with his family."

With an annual contract valued at a staggering £16million ($20m) from ABC, Strahan's financial hit from leaving GMA cannot be ignored. Despite this, Strahan has been unwavering in his dedication to prioritising life beyond wealth accumulation.

Before rumours surfaced about his exit from GMA, Strahan spoke to Town and Country Magazine about his eventual retirement from broadcasting. He said: "I know I live life more in the moment. I'm more gentle in a lot of ways. I always loved and appreciated my family, but sometimes you're just working, working, working.

"Now I work, but I see an end to that, because I want to spend time with my family. It's the most important thing. I love that my girls are in college and I have the ability to go and spend time with them. We've always been a close family, but this last year has given me some perspective.

"At the end of the day the most important thing is your kids, your family, your mom, your father, your other loved ones. Just to hold them close to you, and your friends as well. Now I wake up every day and enjoy that day, more so than looking to next week, next month, or next year."

Discussing his retirement considerations, Strahan added: "I've always had those thoughts. It will happen at some point. It's not happening anytime soon. The kids are still in school. I'm empty-nesting again. I have loved having the energy and noise and arguing around the house.

"I'm just so happy for Isabella to get back to college. I want her to have that sense of independence again, because my kids can't grow if they're under my shade. I'm not planning on retiring anytime soon. I will at some point. I'd like to say a lot sooner than a lot of people probably think I will.

"When I do it, it will be because I just want to have the freedom to be with her and her sister, and her other sister and brother. Wherever they are, whatever they're doing, I want to be there."

FOX Sports enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief, however, as it seems Strahan isn't going anywhere on that front. His recent social media post hints that he'll grace the NFL Sunday show for the 2025 season.

After the Super Bowl, the ex-Giants hero couldn't hide his enthusiasm for the game that saw the Philadelphia Eagles triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs with an emphatic 40-22 scoreline - and he reassured followers he's not leaving just yet.

He said: "#SuperBowlLIX on @nflonfox. What a time with the fellas. Until next year!".

Even if Strahan opts to conclude his ABC deal, he won't be strapped for cash; the TV personality's wise investments have cultivated an impressive net worth rumoured to be around £51m ($65m). Plus, he's earning £1.6m ($2m) annually from his current engagement with FOX, cushioning any financial impact from stepping away from his hefty ABC paycheck.