Michael Strahan could barely keep a straight face during FOX NFL Sunday's broadcast and wasn't convinced when Terry Bradshaw declared he used to coach cheerleading
14:45 ET, 12 Oct 2025
Terry Bradshaw during NFL on FOX
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Terry Bradshaw claimed to be a former cheerleading coach(Image: NFL on FOX)
Michael Strahan has heard plenty of wild stories from Terry Bradshaw over the years involving weight, singing, age, and more, but even by NFL on FOX standards, his latest claim pushed the limits of belief, especially after the ex-Giants star reached a breaking point with his co-host in August.
During Sunday's pregame broadcast, the Hall of Fame quarterback claimed with conviction that he used to coach cheerleading. It came out of nowhere, even for Bradshaw, whose outbursts have become as much a part of the show as Curt Menefee's introductions or Howie Long's deadpan one-liners.
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"I coached cheerleading," Bradshaw said casually, launching into a story about his daughters and their routines. The set fell silent for half a second, and then came Strahan to shut it all down. Strahan said, "Sure you did," then broke into laughter after recognizing his co-host's antics, as Bradshaw doubled down.
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After swearing that he "100 percent" coached, Strahan asked, "Where's the video," invoking the running joke that everyone on the FOX NFL Sunday team has some old clip of themselves from their playing days.
Bradshaw laughed and insisted he'd bring proof next week. "We did backflips," he continued, trying to add more details and convince the crowd.
Fans of the program will now need to wait until next week to find out if any video of Bradshaw's claimed cheerleading days ever appears on the show.
Although the initial segment was playful, Bradshaw faced criticism afterward for remarks he made about Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, who was acquired via trade from Bradshaw's Steelers.
During the halftime broadcast, Bradshaw referred to Pickens as "a selfish player,” a comment that immediately sparked criticism online.
Pickens had five catches for 74 yards in the first half against the Panthers and hadn't done anything particularly controversial.
"Terry Bradshaw straight up hating on Pickens," one fan posted. "I hope he gets another couple TDs today."
Another wrote, "Someone has to get Terry Bradshaw off of FOX. He just went off on George Pickens for absolutely no reason." A third fan added, "Terry Bradshaw tripping, saying Pickens is a selfish player. He's been balling this season."
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Through Week 5 of the regular season, the 24-year-old wideout ranks among the league's most productive receivers, with 23 catches for 357 yards and five touchdowns (tied for second in the NFL).
He's averaging 15.5 yards per reception, with a long of 43, and has recorded at least one touchdown in four of his five games.
Bradshaw has held his current role as a studio analyst and co-host on Fox NFL Sunday since the show's debut on Sept 4, 1994, providing commentary for over nearly 40 NFL seasons.