Biographical films must be made with the utmost care for those who lived through the events portrayed on-screen. It's a big reason why many of them, such as Oppenheimer, are made long after the subject's death. Some subjects, like Patch Adams, have outright disowned their biopics. Others, like former National Football League player Michael Oher, have been displeased with the films purporting to tell their life stories.
Released in 2009, The Blind Side followed Oher's high school experience years before he was drafted into the NFL as an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. While Oher didn't dislike the film as much as Patch Adams did his own, the heartwarming and inspirational story nevertheless left him dissatisfied.
Updated on July 20, 2023, by Michael Colwander: The Blind Side remains one of the most beloved sports movies of all time, especially for its ability to engage viewers who don't follow sports. More context has been added on Michael Oher's thoughts on The Blindside and Oher himself.
What Is The Blind Side About?
Based on Michael Lewis' 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, the film starred Quentin Aaron as Michael Oher, and Sandra Bullock as his adoptive mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who took Oher in after she noticed him alone in the cold. Michael spent a night at the Tuohy family home before he tried to return to his mother, who struggled with drug addiction. However, his attempt failed when he found an eviction notice on her door.
After he brought up his grades with help from a tutor, Oher became a football prospect for several prestigious schools. The Tuohys eventually adopted Michael, and he agreed to attend the University of Mississippi, commonly known as Ole Miss. Once his college career finished, the Baltimore Ravens drafted him in the first round in 2009, which is where the movie leaves off. However, despite appearing in the film's credits, the real Micahel Oher remained unimpressed with the movie.
Michael Oher's Criticisms of The Blind Side
Although The Blind Side was a commercial success that won over audiences, the real-life inspiration couldn't get behind the film. Oher admitted to ESPN that he didn't like the film because of how it negatively affected his football career, attributing it to why he was "downgraded" so much. He also shared his reactions to the film in his 2011 book, I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to the Blind Side and Beyond, in which he stated he was more extroverted than depicted on-screen and that his football knowledge existed before the Tuohys came into his life.
Aaron, who portrayed Oher in The Blind Side, responded to Oher's criticism in an interview with TMZ. He focused on how much the film touched audiences and encouraged Oher to ignore the criticism because he was still a "millionaire, famous and a Super Bowl champ." Aaron ended his response respectfully and told Oher he would "have his back."
Differences Between The Blind Side and Real Life
While The Blind Side does share key elements from Oher's life, it is still "based on a true story." Liberties were taken to make the film digestible to audiences, which in turn, led to Oher's disappointment in the film. The differences between The Blind Side and real life aren't limited to Oher's real-life extroversion and football knowledge.
First and foremost, it wasn't just the Tuohy's who influenced Oher and who he credits for his success. It takes a village. In I Beat the Odds, Oher also credits his siblings, his case worker growing up, and the security that came from his foster homes. Not to mention the coaching that pushed and motivated Oher to excel in athletics. The Tuohys provided Oher with the stability, care, and academic support he needed to propel him into his successful career.
Oher was also a multisport athlete having also competed in basketball and track and field. In both, Oher earned two varsity letters for each, signifying excellence in both sports. Oher was All-State in basketball where he won the district championship in his senior season. That athletism did carry over to football, where Oher had already been recognized for his elite offensive linemen play prior to meeting the Tuohys.
How Good Was Michael Oher in the NFL?
When watching The Blind Side, it can be easy to forget that Oher isn't a fictional character in a movie. Oher truly did overcome difficult odds to make it to the NFL and had a successful career to boot. In college for Ole Miss, Oher was an All-American in 2008, being a unanimous selection, which is an incredibly rare feat given the sheer number of college players in Division I football. Even some of the most recognizable NFL players today did not achieve this. Oher also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded to the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) best blocker. Oher received two first-team All-SEC selections as well as a second-team All-SEC selection.
In the 2009 NFL Draft, Oher was selected by the Ravens in the 23rd pick of the first round. The Ravens acquired that pick in a trade with the New England Patriots for their original first-round pick, which was later traded to the Green Bay Packers, and a fifth-round pick. Oher was the fifth offensive lineman selected in the 2009 NFL Draft behind Jason Smith, Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe, and Alex Mack. Of those five, only Mack has an argument for having a better career than Oher.
Oher was immediately plugged in as a start for the Ravens' offensive line. Oher started every game he played with the Ravens, not missing a single game. Oher finished second in voting for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, losing to Minnesota Vikings' wide receiver Percy Harvin, who was selected the pick before Oher. Oher would've been the first offensive lineman to win the award, which has still yet to go to that positional group. The highlight of Oher's career remains his Super Bowl XLVII victory in 2012.
Oher played one more season with the Ravens before signing a four-year deal with the Tennesee Titans, where injuries caught up to him. The Titans released Oher in 2015 where he signed with the Carolina Panthers to play in what would be his final two NFL seasons, which did include another Super Bowl appearance in a Super Bowl 50 loss to the Denver Broncos. After a concussion and a failed physical, the Panthers released Oher effectively ending his NFL career. While Oher didn't receive any Pro Bowl or All-Pro nods, and won't make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he did still have a successful career.
Despite Oher's criticism, The Blind Side can still be appreciated for its showcase of someone who conquered poverty's adversities to become a success story.