Steve Gleason took center stage on Monday as the Saints honored a pivotal moment in their history.
The former safety led a procession through downtown New Orleans, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ return to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina. His famous blocked punt in that game has secured his place in NFL history.
“Returning to that stadium, it’s not just a visit to a landmark from 2006; it’s like looking into a mirror, a reminder of resilience,” Gleason shared with “Good Morning America” prior to the Saints’ 45-24 loss against the Falcons on “Monday Night Football.”
“I had to learn to rise again too. Two decades on, I’m eager to be in the space where that love and spirit still thrive.”
Interestingly, while it may seem like he’s rolling in, it’s important to note that Gleason cannot walk—he was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, which has left him unable to move, talk, or breathe unaided. He communicates via a tablet using his eye movements.
Only about 10% of people diagnosed with ALS survive for a decade or more, according to the ALS association. Gleason, now 49, has transformed his extra time into a mission by founding Team Gleason, a charity that has raised over $65 million to enhance the lives of those dealing with ALS and their caregivers through technology and empowerment.
Reflecting on his career, Gleason remarked, “If I hadn’t blocked that punt, I’d just be another former player fading into obscurity. When ALS hit me, I’d likely have slipped away unnoticed.”
“That moment gave me visibility when this city desperately needed a symbol of hope. Over the years, that emerged visibility turned into a lifeline for me.”
A blocked punt in Week 3 might not typically be a moment remembered through time, but for a city still healing from a catastrophic hurricane that claimed 1,300 lives, that play and subsequent touchdown marked a “Rebirth,” a term still used to describe it.
Now, two decades later, Gleason feels the hope he once gave to New Orleans has come back to him many times over.
“I have to face this reality: the same play that helped New Orleans find its breath again is a significant reason I’m still breathing today,” Gleason stated.
