1. Stephen Michael Gleason was born on March 19,1977 and is an American former professional football player who played as a safety with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.
21 Facts About Steve Gleason
1. 2.
Steve Gleason played college football for the Washington State Cougars.
3.
Steve Gleason is particularly known for his block of a punt early in a 2006 game, which became a symbol of recovery in New Orleans in the team's first home game after Hurricane Katrina.
4.
In 2011, Steve Gleason revealed that he was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
5.
Steve Gleason was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2024 for his contributions to ALS awareness.
6.
Steve Gleason was a starting linebacker for the 1997 team that advanced to the Rose Bowl.
7.
Steve Gleason was a four-year starter for the WSU baseball team in center field and holds the school record for triples.
8.
Steve Gleason was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000.
9.
Steve Gleason was chosen by the Birmingham Thunderbolts with the 191st pick of the 2001 XFL draft.
10.
On September 25,2006, Steve Gleason was responsible for one of the most dramatic and memorable moments in Saints history when he blocked a punt by Atlanta Falcons punter Michael Koenen early in the first quarter of a game at the Superdome.
11.
Steve Gleason, who lost his voice to ALS, had his voice cloned by CereProc, a Scottish speech synthesis company.
12.
Steve Gleason collaborated with filmmaker Sean Pamphilon to produce a documentary on his battle with ALS that would double as a video journal for his infant son, Rivers.
13.
The documentary film Steve Gleason was shown during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
14.
Steve Gleason was featured in an episode of the documentary series A Football Life that detailed his career in the NFL and battle with ALS.
15.
In September 2011, Steve Gleason was awarded a Super Bowl ring by the Saints.
16.
In July 2012, Rebirth, a statue depicting Steve Gleason blocking the punt, was raised outside the Superdome.
17.
In 2015, Steve Gleason was chosen to receive the 2015 George Halas Award from the Pro Football Writers Association.
18.
Steve Gleason was presented the award at the Thursday Night Football game between the Saints and Falcons on October 15,2015.
19.
Mauti, a New Orleans native and the son of former Saints player Rich Mauti, had attended the 2006 game where Steve Gleason made his famous block.
20.
In 2019, Steve Gleason was awarded with a Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions to ALS awareness, and became the first NFL player to ever receive the award.
21.
Steve Gleason was presented with the award at a ceremony in Washington, DC, on January 15,2020.