New Orleans – Former Saints safety Steve Gleason will be honored as a “Legend of the Game” during the Monday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The ceremony marks the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ first home game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, a moment Gleason says saved both his career and his life.
From iconic punt to lifelong advocacy
In 2006, Gleason blocked a punt that led to the Saints’ first touchdown of the game, a play the franchise calls one of its most iconic. He explained that without that visibility, he might have faded away quietly after his ALS diagnosis in 2011.
“The same play that helped New Orleans breathe again is a big reason I’m still breathing now,” Gleason told ABC’s Robin Roberts. “When the ALS came I probably would have faded away anonymously.”
Living with ALS
Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2011, Gleason now communicates through a special eye‑controlled tablet and lives on a ventilator. He described his daily reality: “I cannot move, talk, or breathe on my own. Some days are brutal, but this is a miraculous, wonderful life.”
Gleason’s nonprofit, Team Gleason, was founded the same year he was diagnosed. It provides services, advocacy, and support for people living with ALS, and it will be the beneficiary of the game’s 50/50 raffle.
Family, faith, and music
Accompanied by his wife Michel and children Rivers and Gray, Gleason said his family’s love sustains him. He also shared that he is releasing a new album, “Rebirth,” featuring poetry and collaborations with New Orleans musicians—a love letter to the city that embraced him.
Gleason added that the camaraderie of fellow NFL players with ALS, whom he calls his “NFL brothers,” has been a source of strength. “When ALS enters your life, it is a tsunami of emotions. I want everyone in their families to know they are not alone,” he said.
National support for ALS research
The NFL announced a $500,000 donation to the Answer ALS Champion Insights program, which will study ALS in professional athletes, other high‑performance athletes, and military first responders.
As Gleason prepares to roll back into the Superdome, he reflected on the city’s resilience. “When I walk into that stadium, I’m walking into a mirror, a place that learned how to rise. Twenty years later, I can’t wait to be in the room where that love still lives.”
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
