Michael Oher says lawsuit against Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy isn't financially motivated

Michael Oher, the former NFL player whose life story inspired the film The Blind Side, has clarified that his lawsuit against Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy is not motivated by financial gain. In an interview with The New York Times Magazine on Aug. 18, Oher explained, “I worked hard for that moment when I was done playing, and saved my money so I could enjoy the time. I’ve got millions of dollars. I’m fine.” According to Over the Cap, Oher earned $34 million during his NFL career with three different teams.

Oher filed a lawsuit against the Tuohys in 2023, resulting in the termination of a conservatorship they had established over him. Oher alleges that the Tuohys misled him about being adopted while profiting from his name, particularly through the success of The Blind Side, which grossed $309.2 million at the box office. He claims the film painted a false narrative that affected his life, including how others perceived his intelligence and impacted his NFL draft position. “Every article about me mentioned The Blind Side, like it was part of my name,” Oher told the NYT, expressing concern about how this portrayal could affect his children.

Legal documents obtained by PEOPLE reveal that the Tuohys agreed to divide proceeds from The Blind Side book and film with Oher. They assert that Oher received one-fifth of the payments until 2016, with his share later deposited into an account for his son. Oher’s relationship with the Tuohys, however, has become strained, leading him to file the lawsuit after his NFL career ended. Oher stated that he initially went along with the narrative to focus on his demanding career, explaining, “Pro football’s a hard job. You have to be locked in 100 percent.”