‘He’s like a little brother to me’

Michael Strahan revealed the surprising and heartwarming connection he shares with Pete Davidson dating back to the aftermath of 9/11.

During Tuesday’s episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the 54-year-old television host recalled learning that Davidson was one of the children who joined New York Giants players on the field during the team’s first game back at Giants Stadium following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

While discussing Strahan’s upcoming documentary, “9/11: United We Stand – 25 Years Later,” Fallon pointed out one particularly surprising moment involving Pete – whose late father, Scott Matthew Davidson, a New York City firefighter, died while responding to the attacks when the comedian was 7.

“There’s a scene in there that’s bizarre, that I didn’t really know about. It’s kind of a full circle moment involving Pete Davidson, who’s a very funny comedian,” Fallon said.

The “Good Morning America” host explained that years later, Ariana Grande told him during an interview that she wanted him to meet Pete, her fiancé at the time.

“She kept saying to me, ‘When we’re done, I want you to meet my guy Pete, my guy Pete,’” Strahan recalled.

“And I’m like, ‘I know who he is. Yes. I’ll meet him. You know, when we’re done.’ “

When Pete eventually walked into the room and introduced himself, the “SNL” alum surprised the former NFL star with a question.

“He goes, ‘Do you remember the first game you had back at Giants Stadium after 9/11?’ ” Strahan recalled.

 After the Super Bowl champ said he did, Pete reminded him that children had joined the Giants players on the field that day, with some holding their hands and sitting on their shoulders.

“He goes, ‘I was one of those kids,’ ” Strahan said.

“And I’m like, ‘Wow! Oh, my goodness. That’s amazing.’”

“He goes, ‘No, I was the kid on your shoulder,’ ” Strahan shared. “Freaked me out. Completely freaked me out.”

“Isn’t that wild?” Fallon replied.

“I mean, who would have known?” Strahan said. “But Pete is like a little brother to me now. I absolutely love him. He’s such a gentle soul.”

The emotional connection is featured in Strahan’s upcoming documentary, which looks back at the ways New York and the country came together following the attacks.

“It is a great special, it is a powerful special about how we all came and united after 9/11 here in the world but especially in New York, as well,” Fallon said.

Strahan described the period following the attacks as an incredibly painful time, explaining that the documentary focuses on how people began to heal through sports, entertainment, comedy, music and Broadway.

“It was a very strange time for all of us and a sad time for all of us,” he said. “It’s a tribute to the victims, it’s a tribute to their families, to all the first responders, for everybody who had to go through that.”

The special features several contributors including Jon Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi, Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos and Derek Jeter.

“This is the biggest tragedy we’ve ever had around the country, not just here in New York City and I just wanted to honor everybody in this way.”

“9/11: United We Stand – 25 Years Later” premieres September 1 on ABC. It will be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.