Giants legend Michael Strahan makes scathing on-air remark about team’s current general manager Joe Schoen

Retired New York Giants legend Michael Strahan delivered a nasty dig at the team’s current general manager during Fox Sports’ Wild Card pregame show.

While previewing Sunday’s matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles offense and the Green Bay Packers defense, Strahan pointed out that All-Pros on both sides of the ball had been let go by Giants boss Joe Schoen.

First, Strahan listed the credentials of Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who put together an MVP-worthy season in Philadelphia after leaving New York in March on a three-year, $37.7 million contract.

Entering Sunday’s 22-10 win over Green Bay, Barkley had racked up a career-high 2,005 yards on the ground, while another 278 yards came on 33 receptions. And with 15 total touchdowns, it was no wonder Barkley – who was drafted by the Giants with the second pick of the 2018 NFL Draft – received All-Pro honors for the first time in his impressive career.

Then Strahan turned to Packers safety Xavier McKinney, who also earned an All-Pro nod after leaving the Giants. Now, McKinney ranks among the NFL’s leaders in takeaways with eight interceptions and a fumble recovery in 2024. He’s another player Schoen should have re-signed, as Strahan explained with a scathingly sarcastic comment.

“Thank you New York Giants for allowing it [McKinney] Go and let Barkley go,” the Fox Sports analyst said, flashing his famous toothy smile. ‘Well done.’

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen, center, on the field before a recent game

Barkley had 119 yards on 25 carries in Sunday’s win. The Eagles now advance to the winner of Monday’s Minnesota Vikings-Los Angeles Rams game from Glendale, Arizona.

Schoen famously re-signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract in March 2023, only to let Barkley walk to a division rival the following year with catastrophic results.

The struggling Jones has since been released by Schoen, who decided to free up $19.4 million in cap room next season, albeit with a $22.1 million cap penalty.

But while Strahan urged the Giants to keep Barkley as he approached free agency, the team’s all-time leader in sacks also supported the disastrous decision to re-sign Barkley.

“You have to pay Daniel Jones,” Strahan said in 2023, as quoted by the New York Post.

‘That’s just the way football works now. And the toughest position to fill is quarterback.

“So if you don’t keep it, someone else will take it and what’s your next move? There is no guarantee that anyone else will be great.”

Saquon Barkley had 119 yards on 25 carries in the Philadelphia Eagles’ win on Sunday

Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) walks onto the field before Sunday’s loss

Despite the fateful decisions regarding Barkley, McKinney and Jones, not to mention the team’s dismal 3-14 record, Schoen managed to keep his job in East Rutherford, New Jersey, working with head coach Brian Daboll.

“Now that the season is over, we felt it necessary to make this statement,” team co-owner John Mara said in a statement. “Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue in their respective roles with the organization. However disappointing the results were, [co-owner Steve Tisch] and I remain confident in the process Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team.

“We look forward to the future and achieving the results we all desire.”

Previously, HBO’s Hard Knocks caught Mara saying he would “lose sleep” if the team lost Barkley to a division rival in Philadelphia, which is exactly what ended up happening.

That exchange has since led to an ad for the sleep aid Unisom, in which Barkley pokes fun at Mara’s sleepless nights.

“I heard some of you were having trouble sleeping, so I wrote you a lullaby: ‘Swing baby awake in your bed, with the thought of 2,000 swirling in your head.’ It’s certainly hard to lose sleep over football; not for me though. Good night everyone.’