Strachan played for Jackson High School in Miami, Florida and went to college at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa from 1972 to 1974 on an athletic scholarship. He was named All Big 8 three times while a member of the Iowa State Cyclones.
Strachan was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the ninth round of the 1975 NFL draft. He played six seasons for the Saints and was affectionately known as "the Hound". He led the Saints in rushing during his rookie season.
After his release by the Saints at the end of the 1980 season, he attempted to begin a career in real estate but that was cut short due to legal troubles. In 1982, Strachan was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 3 years in federal prison after “about 10” Saints players including his former teammates Chuck Muncie and Dave Waymer, as well as two Saints who were drafted in 1981, George Rogers and Frank Warren, went before a grand jury and agreed to testify against Strachan in exchange for their immunity from prosecution.[2][3][4] He served eighteen months of his sentence at Maxwell Air Force Base and was paroled early.[5][6]
Strachan and his wife still live in the New Orleans area and he continues to work in real estate sales with RE/MAX.[7] During an interview by WHNO Sports in 2012,[8] he stated that he was a part owner of a couture furniture and art gallery on Dauphine Street in New Orleans called “Exagere” but it has since closed.
