Steve Gleason

Steve Gleason

Stephen Michael Gleason (born March 19, 1977) is a former professional football player, best known for his time as a safety with the New Orleans Saints in the NFL. A Spokane, Washington native, Gleason played college football for the Washington State Cougars. He was initially signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000 but played the majority of his career with the Saints until retiring in 2008 after eight seasons in the league.

Gleason is most remembered for his iconic punt block during a 2006 game, which became a symbol of New Orleans' recovery in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The play occurred in the Saints' first home game post-Katrina, and Gleason's block led to a touchdown, fueling a victorious game. The Saints went on to have a historic season, ultimately making it to the NFC Championship that year.

In 2011, Gleason was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He documented his battle with the disease over five years, culminating in the 2016 documentary Gleason, which served as a video journal for his son, Rivers. Gleason's journey with ALS has made him a prominent advocate for awareness, and he received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 for his efforts. In 2024, he was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

Early Life

Gleason grew up in Spokane, Washington, where he attended Gonzaga Prep. He earned back-to-back defensive MVP awards in the Greater Spokane League (GSL) as a linebacker and also played fullback on offense.

College Career

After high school, Gleason accepted a scholarship to Washington State University, where he played college football as a linebacker for the Cougars. He was part of the 1997 team that advanced to the Rose Bowl. In addition to football, Gleason was a four-year starter for the WSU baseball team, holding the school's record for triples.

Professional Career

Gleason entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, first joining the Indianapolis Colts before being released after the preseason. He was later signed to the New Orleans Saints' practice squad in November 2000. He had a brief stint with the Birmingham Thunderbolts of the XFL before fully establishing himself with the Saints.

Gleason's most famous moment came in the 2006 season when he blocked a punt early in a game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome. This play, a symbol of the city’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina, was followed by a touchdown from Curtis Deloatch, marking the first score in New Orleans' first home game since the storm.

Personal Life

In 2011, Gleason's life took a dramatic turn when he was diagnosed with ALS. Just six weeks later, he and his wife, Michel Rae Varisco, discovered they were expecting their first child. After losing his voice to the disease, Gleason had his voice cloned through a partnership with CereProc, a speech synthesis company.

Gleason also worked with filmmaker Sean Pamphilon to create a documentary about his battle with ALS, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, he was featured in the A Football Life documentary series and released his memoir A Life Impossible: Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom Within a Fragile Existence in 2024.

Awards and Honors

Gleason's impact off the field was recognized with several honors. In 2011, he was awarded a Super Bowl ring by the Saints, and the key to the city of New Orleans was presented to him. In 2012, a statue titled Rebirth, depicting Gleason's famous punt block, was erected outside the Superdome.

In 2015, he received the George Halas Award from the Pro Football Writers Association for overcoming adversity. Four years later, Gleason was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for his advocacy for ALS awareness, becoming the first NFL player to receive such an award. In 2024, he was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his continuing efforts to raise awareness for ALS.

NFL Career Statistics

• Games played: 83
• Total tackles: 71

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