In an effort to honor America’s veterans, FOX NFL Sunday took its show on the road to Naval Base San Diego for a special pregame broadcast ahead of Veterans Day. The segment marked a longstanding Fox tradition, celebrating the military and patriotism by bringing NFL coverage to the men and women in uniform.

Yet, a fleeting moment during the National Anthem managed to create controversy involving one of the show’s hosts, Michael Strahan—a controversy some believe is overblown.

During the anthem, cameras captured the broadcast team standing solemnly with hands over hearts. Strahan, however, stood with his hands in front, fingers interlocked—a position some viewers found disrespectful, despite Strahan’s respectful stance and attentive posture.

The backlash didn’t take long to surface. Newsmax host Todd Starnes posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “Michael Strahan disrespected the military during a Veterans Day pre-game show… So, his behavior is not just repugnant, it’s downright cowardly.”

Critics were also met with a wave of support for Strahan, with sports commentator Joe Pompliano stepping up to set the record straight. Pompliano highlighted Strahan’s family connection to the armed forces, noting that his father served in the Army for 23 years and that Strahan himself grew up on a military base in Germany. “He’s standing quietly at attention,” Pompliano pointed out. “We need to stop getting so upset at every little thing.”

The Fox crew’s appearance at the naval base continued the network’s tradition of honoring service members by broadcasting from military installations, following previous shows at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the Air Force Academy. This year’s show aimed to celebrate those who protect and serve, with Strahan being a visible part of that tribute.

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