Michael Strahan and Nicole Murphy's engagement has entered the end zone.
People Magazine reported that the former New York Giant and his fiancée have decided to end their five-year engagement and seven-year relationship Friday. A representative for the athlete blamed the couple's separation on distance and their busy work schedules.
"They love each other very much, but with the distance and work schedule, it has been hard to maintain the relationship," the representative told People.
The couple began dating in 2007. The "Live! With Kelly and Michael" host proposed to Murphy, 46, two years later on a beach in the Bahamas with a canary yellow and white diamond engagement ring.
Strahan was previously married to Jean Muggli and had a romantic relationship with Wanda Hutchins. Murphy, who stars in the VH1 reality show "Hollywood Exes," is the former wife of comedian Eddie Murphy.
In a recent interview with Ebony Magazine, Strahan confessed his love to Murphy - even calling her the perfect woman for him because they both were family-oriented people.
"As a divorced man, you just want somebody around your kids who's respectful and will treat them like her own," he told the publication. "When you understand that, there's never any issue. We laugh and are at graduations and birthday parties...I love the kids and the family. For us, it's key that we maintain normalcy. We have a great life."
The news comes just one day before Strahan is scheduled to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
