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.

1. Amazing People:
Michael Oher /
Leigh Anne & Sean Tuohy
He grew up in the ghettos of Memphis, TN., his father was
murdered while in prison, and his mother was addicted to
crack. He was passed over by his teachers and failed in
school multiple times. With the help of a kind family, who
adopted him, Michael graduated from high school, went to
university, and became an NFL champion.

2. Who is Michael Oher?
❧ Born in Memphis, TN., 1986
❧ Earned a scholarship from several schools, and
decided on the University of Mississppi, and
graduated on the honour roll with a degree in
criminal justice (2009). He also won 13 awards
while playing football during his time in
university
❧ At 23, he was drafted 23rd overall in the NFL draft
by the Baltimore Ravens, and started every game
during his rookie season. Oher would go on to
win the Super Bowl with the Ravens in his fourth
year with the team.
❧ Oher was featured in The Blind Side: Evolution of
a Game, which was later adapted to a film. Oher
also wrote a biography called I Beat the Odds:
From Homelessness to the Blindside and Beyond

3. Who are Leigh Anne and
Sean Tuohy?
❧ Leigh Anne: Born in Memphis, TN., 1960
❧ Graduated from the University of Mississippi, where
she met her husband, Sean, and became a
successful interior designer, and appeared on the
TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
❧ Sean: Born in New Orleans, LA., 1959
❧ Was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds (MLB) out of
high school, but chose to go to the University of
Mississippi on a scholarship to play basketball,
where he met his wife, Leigh Anne, and was an all-
star basketball player. Although he was drafted by
the New Jersey Nets (NBA), he turned to the food
industry and sports broadcasting.
❧ Together, the Tuohys have three children (after
adopting Michael) and own over 85 fast food
franchises

4. Questions to Research
1. What was Michael Oher’s childhood like?
2. How was Michael Oher’s life changed?
3. What kinds of CRAP (Criticism, Rejection, A-holes, Pressure) did Michael
Oher have to get through? How did he do it?
4. What were Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy like? What was important to them?
5. What kinds of risks did the Tuohys take to help Michael?
6. What did the entire Tuohy family do to help Michael?
7. What kinds of CRAP did the Tuohy family have to get through? How did they
do it?
8. If Michael Oher, and the Tuohy family can do all this, what can you do?

5. Michael Oher
❧ A three minute biography on Michael Oher
❧ ABC News 20/20: The Epic Journey of NFL’s Michael Oher
❧ Highlights from the life of Michael Oher, on and off the
field