NFL's Marcedes Lewis -- Michael Strahan's an Inspiration ... I Wanna Be Like Him (VIDEO)

This is pretty cool ...

Jacksonville Jaguars star Marcedes Lewis says he's incredibly proud of his good friend Michael Strahan -- and says the Hall of Famer is an inspiration for NFLers who hope to succeed after football.

Lewis -- who has already dipped his toe into the Hollywood water -- says Strahan has been an off-the-field-mentor ... and after signing his new "life changing" deal to be on 'GMA,' it's clear MS knows what he's doing.

As for the rift between Michael and Kelly Ripa -- Lewis says Kelly shouldn't take things so personally ... because at the end of the day, it's just business.