Michael Strahan to join 'Live! With Kelly' as permanent co-host

He spent more than a decade sacking quarterbacks, but now former NFL star Michael Strahan is tackling a new gig: co-hosting "Live! With Kelly" alongside Kelly Ripa.

It won't be official until the syndicated daytime talk show debuts its new season on September 4, but Broadcasting & Cable was the first to report Strahan has won the much-coveted gig vacated by longtime co-host Regis Philbin last fall. USA Today has since confirmed that Strahan is indeed the man.

The 40-year-old Strahan was a Pro Bowl defensive end for the New York Giants for 15 seasons before segueing smoothly into TV, co-hosting "Fox NFL Sunday" since his retirement. (He'll reportedly stay onboard there, flying to Los Angeles each weekend to shoot his segments.) His ill-fated 2009 Fox sitcom "Brothers" only lasted a single season, but his new landing spot should be a bit more permanent: After all, the last guy stuck around for 28 years.

Strahan is one of a wide array of rotating co-hosts who've joined Ripa on the "Live!" set in the nine months since Regis departed. Anderson Cooper, "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison, former boy-bander Nick Lachey, and singer Josh Groban were all viewed as top contenders for the job, but Strahan's infectious smile and easy-going demeanor helped him cinch the gig. "Live! With Kelly and Michael"... we could get used to that.

Watch Michael show "Magic Mike's" Channing Tatum how it's done in this "Live! With Kelly" clip:

What do you think of Michael Strahan co-hosting "Live! With Kelly"? Let us know in the comments.