Shaun O'Hara
An undrafted center who became the rock of the New York Giants' offensive line, anchoring a Super Bowl-winning team with grit and leadership.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American football player·Birthday: June 23·Generation X
Biography
Shaun O'Hara’s NFL story is a classic tale of proving them wrong. Overlooked in the draft, he signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns, using sheer determination to claw his way onto the field. But it was with the New York Giants where he built his legacy. Taking over the starting center job, O'Hara quickly became the cerebral and vocal leader of the offensive line, known for his technical proficiency and fiery demeanor. His ability to read defenses and make protection calls was instrumental during the Giants' 2007 season, a campaign defined by resilience. O'Hara anchored the line that protected Eli Manning and paved the way for the running game, culminating in a stunning victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. His three Pro Bowl selections are a testament to a career forged from willpower as much as talent.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Shaun was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Shaun Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Shaun's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLII as the starting center for the New York Giants, defeating the undefeated New England Patriots.
- Selected to the Pro Bowl three consecutive times from 2008 to 2010.
- Played 11 seasons in the NFL after entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
- Served as a team captain for the New York Giants for multiple seasons.
Did You Know?
He was a communications major at Rutgers University and has worked as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports.
He started his college career as a defensive lineman before switching to the offensive line.
He founded the 'Shaun O'Hara Foundation' which supports children and families in need.
He was named to the Rutgers Football All-Decade Team for the 2000s.
“They said I was too small, so I learned to play with leverage.”
