Marking 20 years since the Superdome reopening after Hurricane Katrina, former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason reflects on a 15-year battle with ALS. Gleason credited his iconic 2006 blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons with giving him a public platform and a lifeline that sustained him through his diagnosis.
How Steve Gleason’s 2006 Blocked Punt Created a Lifeline
On September 25, 2006, the New Orleans Saints played their first home game at the Superdome since the stadium was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2004. In the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons, Gleason blocked a punt from Falcons punter Michael Koenen. Teammate Curtis Deloatch recovered the loose ball in the end zone for the Saints’ first touchdown of the night, setting the tone for a 23-3 victory.
The triumph was earned in front of dignitaries from the football world, including longtime NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his successor, Roger Goodell, alongside former president George H.W. Bush handling the coin toss after a pregame concert performed by Green Day and U2. Coach Sean Payton held a Thursday night practice in the stadium and told his players that the night would only be special if they won. Former linebacker Scott Fujita recalled that night as the first time the team felt pressure because they recognized the magnitude of the moment. Years later, Gleason realized its personal significance after a 2011 diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive nervous system disease.
“If I do not block that punt, I am another former special teams player, a has-been football guy.”
Steve Gleason, former New Orleans Saints safety, via ABC News
Living With ALS and Finding Community Among NFL Brothers
Diagnosed 15 years ago, Gleason lives with a condition that destroys nerve cells and causes the loss of voluntary motor function and breathing control, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
“I cannot move, talk, or breathe on my own. Some days are brutal. And still, this is a miraculous, wonderful life. … I wake up, I watch the sunrise, I am with Michel, Rivers and Gray.”
Steve Gleason, speaking with Robin Roberts via ABC News
Through his advocacy and the nonprofit Team Gleason founded in 2011, he has connected with other professional football players diagnosed with the disease.
“I want everyone in their families to know they are not alone.”
Steve Gleason, via ABC News
Honoring the 20th Anniversary at the Superdome
The Saints marked the 20th anniversary of their return to the stadium during a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Gleason and former teammate Curtis Deloatch were honored as Legends of the Game. In addition to the recognition, Team Gleason was named the beneficiary of the game’s 50/50 raffle, and the NFL announced a $500,000 donation to research consortium Answer ALS and its Champion Insights program, which studies the disease in professional athletes and military first responders.
Gleason’s connection to New Orleans has also extended into music.
“When I roll back into that stadium, I will not only be visiting a monument to 2006, I will be walking into a mirror, a place that learned how to rise. I had to learn the same thing. Twenty years later, I can’t wait to be in the room where that love still lives.”
Steve Gleason, via ABC News