On Wednesday, the New Orleans Saints honored former safety Steve Gleason with the inaugural Saints Hall of Fame Courage Award.
He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2000, but the team waived him following the preseason. That November, he would sign with the Saints practice squad and ended up staying with the team for seven seasons before retiring in 2007. Additionally, in 2001, he played for the Rhein Fire of the NFL Europe League.
Steve Gleason: A Saints legend on and off the field
In his seven seasons, he gathered 66 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and four blocked kicks. But in terms of on-field performance, Gleason is best remembered by Saints and football fans alike for a blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown on September 25, 2006, in a 23-3 victory over Atlanta in the Superdome's reopening following Hurricane Katrina. It would be the first points scored in the Superdome since the devastating storm.
However, people will also remember him for his contributions off the field.
Gleason was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2011, and founded the Team Gleason foundation that same year. Since then, they've provided over $55 million in assistive technology, equipment, and robust support services to those suffering with ALS, with a goal of helping those people not just survive, but thrive.
Additional Awards and Honors
In the wake of his diagnosis, the Saints gave Gleason a Super Bowl Ring, and at the same ceremony, he was awarded a key to the city. In 2015, he was given the George Halas Award, which is handed out annually by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) to an NFL player, coach, or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.
Gleason became the first NFL player to receive a Congressional Gold Medal—the oldest and one of the highest civilian awards in the country—in 2019 for his contributions to ALS awareness.
"It was truly surreal. I still don't feel I deserve to be in a group that includes some of my heroes and some of the most inspiring in human history." Gleasonsaid when asked what it was like receiving the award. "Beyond that, though, the emotion and power and love that I felt, and I think that a lot of other people felt, was something more than physical."
Additionally, as part of the annual ESPYs, Gleason received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which is given to individuals whose contributions transcend sports.