The True Story Behind The “Blind Side”

Michael Oher was just 16 years old when his life changed forever. He went from living with a drug-addicted mother to becoming a professional football player in the span of a few years. Michael has one special family and a few others to thank for propelling him towards the life he lives today.

His story was documented in the Oscar-winning film “The Blind Side,” and while the film got many things right, it also got a few things wrong — and there’s a major reason why Michael himself doesn’t like the movie.

Audiences Loved The Film

The 2009 movie “The Blind Side” starred Quinton Aaron as Michael “Big Mike” Oher, a high school student at Briarcrest Christian School who was rescued from poverty and taken in by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and Sean Tuohy (Tim McGraw). Big Mike became a highly sought-after prospect in college football and wound up playing for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

The film was based on the 2006 book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis and was written and directed by John Lee Hancock. The movie made $300 million at the box office, and Bullock won an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for her role.