It’s official. This Monday, retired NFL star Michael Strahan became the permanent co-host of Live! With Kelly.

After the former New York Giant jogged onto the morning show set, he gave co-host Kelly Ripa a bear hug, picking her up off her feet. Strahan replaces the show's long-time host Regis Philbin, who left last November. Strahan won out in a series of on-air tryouts of potential co-hosts since Philbin left.  

Over the past two weeks, the show’s producers have been quiet about Strahan being hired.

In 2008, when he was a guest after winning the Super Bowl, the athlete playfully told Philbin he wouldn’t mind taking his place after retiring from football.

"I was joking," Strahan said on during Tuesday’s show, "and I'm glad the joke came true."

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(Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)