Steve Gleason Returns to Superdome Amid ALS Battle, Honored 20 Years After Iconic Play
The former Saints player, a hero of New Orleans' post-Katrina rebirth, received a hero's welcome at the Superdome on Monday night.
Saints icon Steve Gleason, who has been battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) for 15 years, made an emotional appearance at the Superdome on Monday night as New Orleans celebrated two decades since its rebirth following Hurricane Katrina. Gleason was a pivotal figure in September 2006, during the Saints' first game back in the Superdome after the storm. His blocked punt, which led to a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, is widely credited with helping to revitalize the city's spirit.
The Superdome had previously served as a crucial shelter for tens of thousands of New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina's devastation. On Monday, nearly 20 years to the day after Gleason's memorable play, the Saints and Falcons faced each other once more, and Gleason was honored with a hero's reception at the stadium where he cemented his legacy.
Gleason, 49, was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. He is now dependent on a wheelchair and a ventilator, and communicates through a specialized tablet controlled by his eyes. On Monday, he was reunited with former teammates from the 2006 team, including Drew Brees, as the Saints honored past heroes. Messages about 'NOLA' and the Saints were visible on tape above his eyes.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to a loss of muscle control. According to the ALS Association, it impairs a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe. While there is no cure for the disease, Gleason's foundation, Team Gleason, has reportedly raised over $65 million in the past 15 years to support research and provide assistance to those affected.
In an interview with Good Morning America earlier on Monday, Gleason reflected on his return to the stadium. "When I roll back into that stadium, I will not only be revisiting a monument of 2006, but I will be walking into a mirror — a place that had to learn how to rise... I had to learn the same thing," he stated. He added that if he had not blocked that punt, he might have faded away anonymously. "That play made me visible at the exact moment this city needed a symbol. Years later, that visibility became a lifeline. So many people have told us our foundation's work saved their lives."
