“It’s so nice to have a co-host literally sweep you off your feet,” Ripa said, “and I know that he can bench press me if he wanted to.”
Ripa played a clip of Strahan’s first appearance on the show in 2008, shortly after the Giants had won the Super Bowl. Philbin asked Strahan what he would want to do after retiring from football and Strahan said that Philbin’s job looked pretty good.
“I was joking,” Strahan said on Tuesday, “and I’m glad the joke came true.”
Philbin was the original “Live!” host for more than 28 years, with Ripa joining him in 2001. Strahan said Philbin set the benchmark. “I am in awe of him,” he said.