What's Happening with Michael Oher: From NFL Fame to Inspiring Memoir and Film

After gaining international recognition for his remarkable story, which later inspired the bestselling memoir The Blind Side by Michael Lewis and the movie The Blind Side (2009), Michael Oher has been actively involved in various pursuits. Following the success of the film and book, Oher has become an advocate for education, children in foster care, and other causes important to him.

The film adaptation of The Blind Side focused primarily on the early life of Michael Oher, his journey through the foster care system, his recruitment by Ole Miss linebacker coach, Archie Manning, and his subsequent draft into the NFL. What has Michael Oher been up to since his football days and the film's release? Has he continued his philanthropic work? What current projects is Oher involved in? This article will delve into the life of Michael Oher after the spotlight of his NFL career and explore his involvements in his personal and public life.

Michael Oher's Post-Football Career

Following his release from the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, Michael Oher took time off to care for his nephew, Jacob, who was born prematurely and suffers from cerebral palsy. This personal commitment and his initial hesitation to return to football after being released from the Ravens led some to wonder whether Oher would continue pursuing a career in the NFL.

Over a year after his playing days, Oher expressed his continued desire to give back, supporting causes like the Michael Oher Foundation (which provides care and aid for children and families dealing with social and economic hardship). At that time, Oher had already begun focusing more on advocacy and education. His passion for helping others and sparking change in society led him to create more professional and public engagements outside of his football playing years.

To quote former Ravens WR, Steve Smith Sr:

"Michael Oher's taken a tough road, and he's risen above. He's shown he's got character, that he's a leader, and he's got a heart of gold."

Philanthropy and Charitable Works

Michael Oher's Phiosophy on Helping Others

By his own description, Michael Oher is passionate about education. Oher's understanding that every student deserves equal access to quality educational opportunities has fueled his life's work. Recognizing the wide disparities in education across communities in the United States, Michael Oher advocates for closing these gaps.

Key ways Oher gets involved with education include:

• Supporting and establishing educational programs in disadvantaged communities, aimed at generating a steady, long-lasting change.

• Promoting sports programs, which could open up social and educational opportunities for young individuals (

his own recovery, he believes, was due in part to a community in Tennessee becoming like a "family" that helped him heal).

• Providing foster care advocacy—most notable through the Michael Oher Foundation and its website, where information about foster care can be found, along with encouragement for foster children to never give up on their dreams.