Michael Oher first rose to fame and put himself on the NFL radar when the 2006 book "The Blind Side" was released.
The book outlined Oher's rise as a high school football star while chronicling his acceptance into the Tuohy family. The story was later developed into a 2009 movie for which Sandra Bullock won an Academy Award.
While "The Blind Side" became a popular and critically acclaimed story, Oher has expressed that the heartwarming tale isn't entirely accurate. That came into focus when he filed a lawsuit against the Tuohy family in 2023.
Here's what to know about Oher's lawsuit and his opinion of "The Blind Side."
IYER: Top takeaways, overreactions from preseason Week 2
Michael Oher court case, explained
Oher filed a lawsuit against the Tuohy family accusing them of "exploiting him by using his name, image and likeness to promote speaking engagements that have earned them roughly $8 million over the last two decades," per the New York Times Magazine .
The filing also claims Oher was tricked into believing the Tuohy family adopted him. In reality, he was placed into a conservatorship that gave the Tuohys control over his finances and major life decisions.
The Tuohys claimed the word "adoption" was meant "in the colloquial sense" in an affidavit responding to the 2023 lawsuit. Oher's lawyers have been adamant that "adoption doesn’t have a colloquial meaning."
"It’s not a word you throw around lightly," one of Oher's lawyers, Anne Johnson, told the New York Times. "As an 18-year-old, he was told that he was made a part of the family. He believed that, but it wasn’t true."
It isn't clear to what extent the Tuohys used the power of their conservatorship over Oher. The family asserts the agreement was put in place to show the NCAA they weren't showering Oher with gifts to drive him to attend Ole Miss, Leigh Anne and Sean's alma mater.
Probate court judge Kathleen Gomes quickly dissolved the conservatorship after Oher requested its termination in his lawsuit.
"In all my 43 years, I have never, ever seen a conservatorship being opened for someone who was not disabled," she said.
Oher also contends he did not fairly benefit from "The Blind Side" movie. The Tuohys have stated that the revenue generated from the movie was distributed between the five members of their family, including Oher.
MORE: What is a conservatorship? What to know about 'Blind Side' lawsuit
Michael Oher's opinion of 'The Blind Side'
"The Blind Side" movie is a major motivational factor in Oher's lawsuit against the Tuohys. The former left tackle outlined he disagreed strongly with the narrative presented by the movie, in which Quinton Aaron portrays him as a quiet, passive character.
"It’s hard to describe my reaction," Oher said of "The Blind Side" move to the New York Times. "It seemed kind of funny to me, to tell you the truth, like it was a comedy about someone else. It didn’t register. But social media was just starting to grow, and I started seeing stuff that I'm dumb. I’m stupid. Every article about me mentioned ‘The Blind Side,’ like it was part of my name."
Oher explained that he didn't challenge the story's narrative — and that of the Tuohys — early in his NFL career because he was focused on making it in the league.
"Pro football’s a hard job," he told the New York Times Magazine . "You have to be locked in 100 percent. I went along with their narrative because I really had to focus on my NFL career, not things off the field."
But Oher lamented that the book and film questioned his intelligence. He believes it greatly impacted his perception in NFL circles, where he said, "People were wondering if I could read a playbook."
He also believed Michael Lewis' book cost him a higher draft position because of its portrayal of his intelligence.
"That’s my heartbreak right there," Oher said. "It was as soon as I got [to the NFL], I was defined."
Now, Oher is wondering if that negative association will carry over to his children.
"If my kids can’t do something in class, will their teacher think, 'Their dad is dumb — is that why they’re not getting it?'" Oher posited.
Oher is hoping that as he gets further removed from his playing career — which ended in 2016 with the Carolina Panthers — he will be further able to distance himself from "The Blind Side."
"For a long time, I was so angry mentally," he told the New York Times. "With what I was going through. I want to be the person I was before 'The Blind Side,' personality-wise. I’m still working on it."
His lawsuit against the Tuohys appears to be a step in that process as he looks to regain control of his story.
MORE: NFL Preseason injury tracker | RB depth charts
Michael Oher's relationship with the Tuohys
Oher clarified that his time with the Tuohys was not bad. He described it as "great" in his recent interview.
"I had a bed to stay on," he said. "I was eating good. They got me a truck."
However, he also feels betrayed by the family's support of the narrative demonstrated in "The Blind Side," which has now been tethered to him.
"The first time I heard ‘I love you,’ it was Sean and Leigh Anne saying it,” he told the New York Times. "When that happens at 18, you become vulnerable. You let your guard down and then you get everything stripped from you. It turns into a hurt feeling."
"I don’t want to make this about race, but what I found out was that nobody says ‘I love you’ more than coaches and white people," he added. "When Black people say it, they mean it."
Oher knows "some people are going to think he’s being ungrateful" as legal proceedings continue between him and his adoptive family.
Still, he believes this is the right path back for him as he looks to reclaim his identity.
NEW NFL RULE EXPLAINERS: Kickoffs | Guardian caps | No chain gang
Michael Oher career earnings, net worth
Oher made just over $34.5 million in career earnings, per Spotrac.com , and has a net worth of $12 million, per Celebrity Net Worth . That has given credence to his claim that his case against the Tuohys isn't purely about money.
"I worked hard for that moment when I was done playing, and saved my money so I could enjoy the time," he told the New York Times. "I’ve got millions of dollars. I’m fine."
Most Popular
Comments / 0