Michael Oher grew up in poverty in Memphis, Tennessee, facing homelessness and an unstable family life until being adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who provided him stability and support to graduate high school, attend college on a football scholarship, and become an NFL champion drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. The Tuohy family, including Sean, a former college basketball player, and Leigh Anne, an interior designer, took in Michael and helped him overcome the challenges in his background to achieve academic and athletic success.