View source for Michael Oher

{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{redirect|Oher|the city in North Macedonia|Ohër}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name         = Michael Oher
| image        = Michael Oher 2016 (cropped).JPG
| caption      = Oher with the Carolina Panthers in 2016
| current_team =
| number       = 74, 72, 73
| position     = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]]
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1986|5|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 4
| weight_lbs   = 315
| high_school  = [[Briarcrest Christian School|Briarcrest]] {{avoid wrap|([[Eads, Tennessee]])}}
| college      = [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]] (2005–2008)
| draftyear    = 2009
| draftround   = 1
| draftpick    = 23
| pastteams    =
* [[Baltimore Ravens]] ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2014}})
* [[Carolina Panthers]] ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})
| status       = 
| highlights   =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XLVII|XLVII]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] (2009)
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Jacobs Blocking Trophy|Jacobs Blocking Trophy]] (2008)
* [[Unanimous All-American]] ([[2008 College Football All-America Team|2008]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[2007 All-SEC football team|2007]], [[2008 All-SEC football team|2008]])
* Second-team All-SEC ([[2006 All-SEC football team|2006]])
| statlabel1   = Games played
| statvalue1   = 110
| statlabel2   = Games started
| statvalue2   = 110
| pfr          = OherMi20 
}}

'''Michael Jerome Oher''' ({{IPAc-en|ɔː|r}}; {{né}} '''Williams Jr.''';<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis |first=Michael |date=2009 |title=The Blind Side |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RIPdMkiKipMC&q=oher+michael+jerome+williams&pg=PA295 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |page=295|isbn=9780393079029 |edition=Movie Tie-in }}</ref> born May 28, 1986) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was an [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|offensive tackle]] for eight seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss Rebels]], earning [[unanimous All-American]] honors as a senior in 2008. Oher was selected by the [[Baltimore Ravens]] in the first round of the [[2009 NFL draft]]. He spent his first five seasons with the Ravens and was a member of the team that won [[Super Bowl XLVII]]. He later played one season for the [[Tennessee Titans]] and his final two for the [[Carolina Panthers]].

Oher's life through his final year of high school and first year of college is one of the subjects of [[Michael Lewis (author)|Michael Lewis]]' 2006 book, ''[[The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game]]'', and was dramatized in the [[The Blind Side (film)|2009 film adaptation]].

==Early life==
Oher was born in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; he was one of 12 children of Denise Oher. His mother suffered from alcoholism and [[crack cocaine]] addiction, and his father, Michael Jerome Williams, was frequently in prison. He received little attention or discipline during his childhood.<ref name="ballad">{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Lewis |date=September 24, 2006 |title=The Ballad of Big Mike |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/magazine/24football.html }}</ref> He repeated first and second grades, and attended eleven schools during his first nine years as a student.<ref name="ballad"/> He was placed in foster care at age seven, and alternated between living in various foster homes and periods of homelessness.<ref name="ballad"/><ref name="diamond">[http://michaeloher.us/ Michael Oher . . . his life and football career] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925142732/http://michaeloher.us/ |date=September 25, 2010 }} at Michael Oher fan site (September 9, 2010)</ref> Oher's father was murdered when Oher was a senior in high school.<ref name="ballad"/>

Oher played football during his freshman year at a public high school in Memphis. He applied for admission to [[Briarcrest Christian School]] at the suggestion of Tony Henderson, an auto mechanic with whom he was living temporarily. Henderson was enrolling his son at the school to fulfill the dying wish of the boy's grandmother and thought Oher might enroll as well.<ref name="ballad"/> The school's football coach, [[Hugh Freeze]], submitted Oher's school application to the headmaster, who agreed to accept him if Oher could complete a home study program first. He did not finish the program, but was admitted when the headmaster realized that his requirement had removed Oher from the public education system.<ref name="ballad"/>

Coached by Freeze and [[Tim Long (American football)|Tim Long]], Briarcrest's [[offensive line]] coach, Oher was named Division II (2A) Lineman of the Year in 2003, and First-team Tennessee All-State.<ref name="ballad" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mississippi.scout.com/2/278876.html |title=Scout.com: Michael Oher is the top lineman out of Tennessee |publisher=Mississippi.scout.com |date=March 30, 2004 |access-date=November 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224001100/http://mississippi.scout.com/2/278876.html |archive-date=February 24, 2015 }}</ref> [[Scout.com]] rated Oher a five-star recruit and the No. 5 offensive lineman prospect in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mississippistate.scout.com/a.z?s=136&p=8&c=1&nid=1259020 |title= Michael Oher Profile |publisher=Mississippistate.scout.com |access-date=November 13, 2010}}</ref> Before that season and for his prior 20 months at Briarcrest, Oher had been living with several foster families. In 2004, [[Leigh Anne Tuohy|Leigh Anne]] and [[Sean Tuohy]], a couple with a daughter and son attending Briarcrest, invited Oher to live with them. When the family learned about his difficult childhood, they began to help him succeed academically and socially. They hired a tutor for him, who worked 20 hours per week with him.<ref name="ballad" /> Oher would later allege in 2023 that they tricked him into signing a document making them [[Conservatorship|conservators]] while telling him it was the same as adoption.<ref name="espn_suit" /> 

Oher earned two [[Varsity letter|letters]] each in track and basketball. He averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game, earning All-State honors by helping lead the basketball team to a 27–6 record and winning the district championship in Oher's senior year. Oher was also a state runner-up in the [[Discus throw|discus]] as a senior.<ref name="Baltimore Ravens">{{cite web |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/People/Players/Roster/Michael_Oher.aspx |title=Michael Oher |publisher=Baltimore Ravens |access-date=November 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924052659/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/People/Players/Roster/Michael_Oher.aspx |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Oher's initial low grades were a barrier to his acceptance to an NCAA program. He raised his 0.76 [[grade point average]] (GPA) to a 2.52 GPA by the end of his senior year so he could attend a [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] school, by enrolling in 10-day online courses from [[Brigham Young University]]. Taking and passing the online courses allowed him to replace D's and F's earned in earlier school classes, such as English, with A's,<ref name="BYU">{{cite news |author=Scott Elliott |url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/education/entries/2006/09/26/football_and_th.html |title=Football and the magical GPA: An academic disgrace |work=[[Dayton Daily News]] |date=September 26, 2006 |access-date=November 13, 2010 |archive-date=February 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213102323/http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/education/entries/2006/09/26/football_and_th.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> raising his graduating GPA above the required minimum.<ref name="ballad" />

At the conclusion of his senior season, Oher participated in the 2005 [[U.S. Army All-American Bowl]].

==College career==
Though he received scholarship offers from [[University of Tennessee|Tennessee]], [[Louisiana State University|LSU]], [[University of Alabama|Alabama]], [[Auburn University|Auburn]], and [[University of South Carolina|South Carolina]], Oher ultimately decided to play for [[Ed Orgeron]] at the [[University of Mississippi]], the [[Alma mater#General term|alma mater]] of his guardians, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2004/nov/05/ten-talented-recruits-on-uts-radar-this-weekend/?print=1 |title=Ten talented recruits on UT's radar this weekend|first= Dave |last=Hooker|work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] |date=November 5, 2004|access-date=November 17, 2009}}</ref> His decision to play for the [[Ole Miss Rebels football]] team sparked an investigation by the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA). The first issue was that Oher's grade-point average (GPA) was still too low to meet the requirements for a Division I scholarship at the time of the offer from Ole Miss. That difficulty was corrected by graduation, when Oher completed online classes through [[Brigham Young University]].<ref name="ballad" /> The second issue was the Tuohys' preexisting relationship with the school and the fact that Ole Miss hired Freeze twenty days after Oher signed his [[National Letter of Intent|letter of intent]].<ref name="ballad" /><ref name="espn">{{cite web| date= April 2009| url= http://espndb.go.com/nfl/draft/player/profile/_/playerId/23889/michael-oher|title=Michael Oher|quote= Michael Oher's decision to sign with Ole Miss was investigated by the NCAA...|publisher= ESPN |access-date= May 15, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131029234614/http://espndb.go.com/nfl/draft/player/profile/_/playerId/23889/michael-oher |archive-date= October 29, 2013}}</ref> Freeze asserted that his position with Ole Miss was not an example of ''[[quid pro quo]]'' for encouraging Oher to attend the school, but rather the result of his preexisting relationship with Ole Miss offensive coordinator [[Noel Mazzone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2005/jan/17/ohers-ole-miss-ties-may-be-hard-to-break |title=Oher's Ole Miss ties may be hard to break| first= Dave |last=Hooker|work=Knoxville News Sentinel|date=January 17, 2005|access-date=October 4, 2006}}</ref> The NCAA did not close its case on its suspicions of collusion. However, it ruled that Ole Miss had committed no NCAA violations in its recruitment of Oher. Freeze was found guilty of secondary violations for contacting other Memphis-area recruits before joining the Ole Miss staff.<ref name=ballad /><ref name=espn />

Oher started in ten games as a [[Guard (American football)|guard]] during his first season with the Ole Miss Rebels, becoming a first-team [[Underclass All-American|freshman All-American]]. After shifting to the position of [[left tackle]] for the 2006 season, he was named to various preseason All-Conference and All-American teams.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oxfordeagle.com/archives/2006/0706/071706-072106/072106/sports1.html |first= Patrick |last= Willis |title= Michael Oher named to Coaches All-SEC Football Team |work=The Oxford Eagle |date=July 21, 2006| access-date=October 4, 2006}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.secsports.com/index.php?url_channel_id=2&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=7733&change_well_id=2 |title=2006 SEC Football&nbsp;– Week 5 Game Previews| publisher= | website= SECsports.com| date=September 26, 2006 | access-date=October 4, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231439/http://www.secsports.com/index.php?url_channel_id=2&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=7733&change_well_id=2 |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> He was named a second-team [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) offensive lineman after his sophomore season and a first-team SEC offensive lineman after his junior season. He was academically successful at Ole Miss, and his tested IQ score increased 20–30 points between when he was measured in the public-school systems and in college.<ref name="ballad" />

On January 14, 2008, Oher declared that he would be entering the [[2008 NFL draft]].<ref name=ap-draft>{{cite news |url= http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=337437 | title=Ole Miss LT Oher to enter NFL draft| work= [[Sporting News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=January 14, 2008 |access-date=January 16, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081005003854/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=337437 |archive-date=October 5, 2008}}</ref> However, two days later, he announced his withdrawal from the draft to return to Ole Miss for his senior season.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011608aaa.html|title=Oher Reconsiders, Returns for Senior Season |publisher= Ole Miss Sports |access-date=November 17, 2009|date=January 16, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151117063519/http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011608aaa.html|archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After the 2008 season, Oher was recognized as a [[unanimous All-American]],<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3773686|title=Laurinaitis, Bradford, Crabtree on All-America first team |publisher= ESPN |date= December 16, 2008|access-date=November 17, 2009|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> made the honor roll for the second time (the first time being his sophomore year),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2009-04-23-michael-oher-cover_N.htm |first= Jarret|last=Bell|title=From homeless to the NFL: Oher's journey to draft unique|work=USA Today|access-date=November 20, 2009| date= April 24, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/43132262.html|title=Perception not always reality for LT Michael Oher|publisher=[[WIBW-TV]]|website=WIBW.com|access-date=November 20, 2009|date=April 16, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217011016/https://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/43132262.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and graduated with a degree in criminal justice in the spring of 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2009/11/16/coming-attraction-not-a-distraction/|first=Dan|last=Connolly|title=Coming Attraction Not A Distraction|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=November 16, 2009|access-date=November 20, 2009|archive-date=September 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908015807/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-11-16/news/0911150085_1_sean-tuohy-michael-oher-ravens|url-status=live}}</ref>

===College awards and honors===
{{div col}}
*2005 First-team Freshman All-American
*2005 First-team All-Quad Freshman Chrome [AQFC] Tackle Letius
*2005 First-team [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] All-Freshman
*2006 Second-team All-SEC
*2007 First-team All-SEC
*2008 First-team All-American
*2008 First-team All-SEC
*2008 [[Shug Jordan]] Award as the Southeast Offensive Lineman of the Year
*2008 Colonel Earl "Red" Blaik Leadership-Scholarship Award
*2008 [[Outland Trophy]] finalist
*2008 [[Conerly Trophy]] finalist
*2008 [[Lombardi Award]] semifinalist
*2008 SEC [[Jacobs Blocking Trophy]]
{{div col end}}

==Professional career==
===Pre-draft===
Already in 2008, Oher was projected as one of the top prospects for the [[2009 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2008/04/29/2009-prospects | magazine=Sports Illustrated | title=Never too early: Here's a dozen first-round prospects for '09 draft | date=April 29, 2008}}</ref>

{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 4 1/2
|       weight = 309
|         dash = 5.16
|    ten split = 1.75
| twenty split = 2.99
|      shuttle = 4.60
|   cone drill = 7.81
|     vertical = 31.0
|     broad ft = 8
|     broad in = 7
|        bench = 23
|    wonderlic = 19
|     arm span = 33 1/2
|    hand span = 10 3/8
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]/[[Pro Day]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/michael-oher/32004f48-4556-7504-ef83-49cf78c8c2d9 |title=Michael Oher Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=56811&DraftYear=2009 |title=2009 Draft Scout Michael Oher, Mississippi NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/23889 |title=Michael Oher 2009 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=November 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===Baltimore Ravens===
[[File:Michael Oher.jpg|175px|thumb|left|Oher with the Baltimore Ravens in 2009]]
The [[Baltimore Ravens]] selected Oher with the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/draft.htm |access-date=May 12, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Ravens had acquired the pick from the [[New England Patriots]] in exchange for their first- and fifth-round draft picks. The Tuohy family was there to witness his draft day selection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2009 |title=Oher completes journey, drafted by Ravens |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft09/news/story?id=4100861 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

On July 30, 2009, Oher signed a five-year, $13.8&nbsp;million contract with the Ravens.<ref>{{citation | url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/07/30/michael-oher-contract-details/ | title=Michael Oher contract details |publisher=NBC Sports |date=July 30, 2009| access-date=January 17, 2011}}</ref> He started the 2009 season as right tackle, but was moved to left tackle after an injury to lineman [[Jared Gaither]]. In week eight, he returned to right tackle.

Oher started every game in 2009, eleven at right tackle and five at left tackle. He played right tackle in his first post-season game, January 10, 2010, against the [[New England Patriots]], and did not allow a single [[Quarterback sack|sack]] as the Ravens won 33–14.

Oher was second in the voting for [[Associated Press]]' [[NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award]], with six votes.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

Prior to the [[2010 NFL season]], Oher was moved to the left tackle position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8180125d&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true |title=Ravens moving Oher to left tackle, sending Gaither to right side |first=Jason |last=La Canfora |publisher=NFL |date=May 7, 2010 }}</ref> During the 2011 pre-season, the Ravens announced that Oher would be moving back to the right side.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} On February 3, 2013, Oher won a [[Super Bowl ring]] as the Ravens' starting right tackle as the team defeated the [[San Francisco 49ers]] 34–31 in [[Super Bowl XLVII]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201302030sfo.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVII – San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens|date=  February 3, 2013 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans===
[[File:Michael Oher 2014.jpg|thumb|175px|Oher with the Tennessee Titans, 2014]]
On March 14, 2014, Oher signed a four-year, $20 million contract with the [[Tennessee Titans]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Aaron|title=Source: Michael Oher joins Titans on four-year, $20 million contract|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-source-michael-oher-visiting-titans-today-raiders-up-next-20140314,0,6226118.story|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=March 14, 2014|date=March 14, 2014|archive-date=March 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315143521/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-source-michael-oher-visiting-titans-today-raiders-up-next-20140314,0,6226118.story|url-status=dead}}</ref> Oher started eleven games for the Titans, but he was placed on [[injured reserve]] on December 13 after missing the previous two games due to a toe injury. ''[[Pro Football Focus]]'' graded Oher as the 74th best tackle out of 78 for the 2014 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/titansinsider/2014/12/13/titans-michael-oher-khalid-wooten/20361279/|title=Titans put tackle Michael Oher on injured reserve|date=December 13, 2014|work=The Tennessean|access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref> The Titans released Oher on February 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/titansinsider/2015/02/05/titans-michael-oher-ravens/22942067/|title=Titans release veteran tackle Michael Oher|date=February 5, 2015|work=The Tennessean|access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref>

===Carolina Panthers===
On March 6, 2015, Oher signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the [[Carolina Panthers]]. [[Dave Gettleman]], the Panthers GM, said that Oher would be the Panthers' starting left tackle going into the season despite his struggles in Tennessee, saying, "We did our homework on Michael, and we feel very strongly that he can be an answer for us. He'll be inserted at left tackle, and we'll go from there."<ref>{{cite web|title=Panthers ink Michael Oher for 2 years|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12432931/carolina-panthers-sign-left-tackle-michael-oher-two-year-deal|work=ESPN|date=March 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Ask-Bryan-Free-agent-additions/d547ea2a-9078-45ad-b728-e830ba7ab423|title=Ask Bryan: Free agent additions|publisher=panthers.com|access-date=April 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507225241/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Ask-Bryan-Free-agent-additions/d547ea2a-9078-45ad-b728-e830ba7ab423|archive-date=May 7, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Oher cited [[Cam Newton]] as an influential factor in his decision to sign with Carolina. Oher responded with one of his best seasons as a professional, protecting Newton's blind side. He played in 98.4% of the team's snaps, allowed a career-low four sacks—tied for eighth-fewest in the league—and was penalized only three times for 25 yards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pro32.ap.org/article/newton-oher-i-need-you-play-carolina|title=Newton to Oher: 'I need you' to play in Carolina|date=February 2, 2016|website=Pro32: Head to Head|language=en-US|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref>

Oher played in his second Super Bowl that season, [[Super Bowl 50]], as the starting left tackle. In the game, the Panthers lost to the [[2015 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] 24–10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201602070den.htm|title=Super Bowl 50 – Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers |date= February 7, 2016|work=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 2, 2017}}</ref>

Oher signed a three-year contract extension with the Panthers on June 17, 2016, worth $21.6 million with $9.5 million guaranteed.<ref>{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/michael-oher-signs-three-year-extension-with-panthers-0ap3000000670282|title=Michael Oher signs three-year extension with Panthers|first=Kevin|last=Patra|date=June 17, 2016|access-date=June 17, 2016}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on November 25, 2016, with a concussion—having played in only three games during the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Oher placed on injured reserve|url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Michael-Oher-placed-on-injured-reserve/1876c315-0049-4828-bf4a-6abada07a7d8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902091141/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Michael-Oher-placed-on-injured-reserve/1876c315-0049-4828-bf4a-6abada07a7d8|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 2, 2017|website=Panthers.com|date=November 25, 2016}}</ref>

On July 20, 2017, Oher was released by the Panthers after a failed physical.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panthers release offensive lineman Michael Oher|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-release-offensive-lineman-michael-oher-0ap3000000821024|author=Sessler, Marc|website=NFL.com|date=July 20, 2017}}</ref>

==Books==
Oher is one of the subjects of [[Michael Lewis (author)|Michael Lewis]]'s 2006 book, ''[[The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game]]''. Before the book was published, excerpts appeared in ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]'' as "The Ballad of Big Mike".<ref name="ballad" /> His portion of the book was adapted for [[The Blind Side (film)|film]] and was directed by [[John Lee Hancock]].<ref>[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=38566 "John Lee Hancock to Guard the Blind Side"]. Comingsoon.net (October 22, 2007). Retrieved on November 20, 2011.</ref> ''[[The Blind Side (film)|The Blind Side]]'' movie was released in the United States on November 20, 2009. The movie stars [[Quinton Aaron]] as Michael Oher, alongside [[Sandra Bullock]] and [[Tim McGraw]]. It was nominated for [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for Bullock, and Bullock won the Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy.

Oher wrote his autobiography, ''I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to The Blind Side and Beyond'', in 2011.<ref>
* {{ISBN|978-1592406388}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/books/la-xpm-2011-feb-07-la-et-book-20110207-story.html|title=Book review: 'I Beat the Odds' by Michael Oher with Don Yaeger|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 7, 2011 |access-date=February 5, 2015}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/02/09/133625802/How-The-Blind-Side-Inspiration-Beat-The-Odds|title=How The 'Blind Side' Kid 'Beat The Odds'|date=February 9, 2011|publisher=NPR|access-date=April 27, 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Oher began dating Tiffany Roy after first meeting her at the [[University of Mississippi]]. They went on to have four children together, two sons and two daughters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Football player Michael Oher, who inspired 'The Blind Side,' ties the knot with partner of 17 years |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/news/michael-oher-blind-side-marries-tiffany-roy-rcna56297 |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=TODAY.com |date=November 9, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> They became engaged on July 21, 2021, and married on November 5, 2022, in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All the Magical Photos from Michael Oher's Nashville Wedding |url=https://people.com/sports/michael-oher-wedding-photos-to-tiffany-roy/ |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref> At the time of their marriage, they had been together for 17  years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Oher, who inspired 'The Blind Side,' marries partner of 17 years |url=https://www.actionnews5.com/2022/11/10/michael-oher-who-inspired-blind-side-marries-partner-17-years/ |website=ActionNews5.com|date=November 10, 2022 }}</ref>

===Legal claims against Tuohy family===
{{Further|The Blind Side (film)#Legal dispute}}
In August 2023, Oher filed a lawsuit alleging that Leigh Ann and Sean Tuohy never actually adopted him, but instead created a [[conservatorship]] that granted them legal authority to make business deals in his name. He alleged that the Tuohys used their power as conservators to strike a deal that paid them and their two children millions of dollars in royalties from ''[[The Blind Side (film)|The Blind Side]]'' movie while Oher got nothing.<ref name="espn_suit" /> The producers of the movie, [[Broderick Johnson]] and [[Andrew Kosove]], and the author of the book, [[Michael Lewis]], denied the Tuohys were paid "millions", claiming the family was paid about $700,000 after taxes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Calvario |first1=Liz |title='Blind Side' producers detail what they paid the Tuohys and Michael Oher |date=August 25, 2023 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/showlind-side-producers-detail-paid-tuohys-michael-oher-rcna101775 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Strauss |first=Ben |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Author Michael Lewis says only Hollywood cashed in on 'Blind Side' success |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/08/16/michael-lewis-blind-side-lawsuit/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref>

Oher's legal action asked the court to end the Tuohys' conservatorship and issue an [[injunction]] barring them from using his name and likeness. It also asked for a full accounting of the money the Tuohys earned using Oher's name, to be paid his share of profits, and other [[compensatory damages|compensatory]] and [[punitive damages]].<ref name="espn_suit">{{cite news |last=Fletcher |first=Michael |date=August 14, 2023|title='Blind Side' subject Oher alleges Tuohys made millions off lie |newspaper=[[ESPN.com]] |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38190720/blind-side-subject-michael-oher-alleges-adoption-was-lie-family-took-all-film-proceeds }}</ref> The Tuohy family later claimed in legal documents Oher tried to extort $15 million from them or else he would take his accusations to the press and social media.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Picchi |first1=Aimee |title=Tuohy family claims Michael Oher of "The Blind Side" tried to extort $15 million from them |date=December 5, 2023 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-oher-tuohy-family-blind-side-15-million-extortion-lawsuit/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> 

A judge ended the conservatorship and declined to dismiss the case in September 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sainz |first1=Adrian |title=Judge says she is ending conservatorship between former NFL player Michael Oher and Memphis couple |url=https://apnews.com/article/michael-oher-blind-side-tuohys-ee1997025e6c9013e4d665ef18d95dc7 |access-date=4 October 2024 |work=AP News |date=29 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The Tuohys also later told the court they would remove all references to Oher being adopted from their website and public speaking materials.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sainz |first1=Adrian |title=Memphis couple to remove references to Michael Oher being adopted as part of legal battle |url=https://apnews.com/article/michael-oher-blind-side-finances-tuohys-bb699c2ef75a4b19482b4f80d30fe804 |access-date=4 October 2024 |work=AP News |date=29 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite news |last=Sokolove |first=Michael |date=2024-08-18 |title='The Blind Side' Made Him Famous. But He Has a Different Story to Tell. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/18/magazine/blind-side-michael-oher.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |work=The New York Times Magazine |language=en-US |url-access=subscription}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Michael Oher}}
*[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6241687 Profile of Michael Oher and an excerpt from Michael Lewis's ''The Blind Side''] at NPR.org
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170520032045/http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/michael-oher/b9c63fd4-19a8-4158-b842-dabff677ebbb/ Profile] (archived) at Carolina Panthers's website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160608135119/http://www.titansonline.com/team/roster/michael-oher/57085330-6700-428c-8669-bd79b37001ed Profile] (archived) at Tennessee Titans' website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170506190712/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/Michael-Oher/216c0a9c-c171-4ecf-8ab5-94e4c8f40736 Profile] (archived) at Baltimore Ravens' website

{{2008 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2009 NFL Draft}}
{{RavensFirstPick}}
{{Ravens2009DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XLVII}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oher, Michael}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Christians]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American adoptees]]
[[Category:American football offensive guards]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:Baltimore Ravens players]]
[[Category:Carolina Panthers players]]
[[Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Tennessee]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]
[[Category:Tuohy family]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:African American adoptees]]