Steve Gleason Returns to Superdome for 'Domecoming' Celebration
Former Saints player Steve Gleason, living with ALS, was honored at a ceremony marking 20 years since his iconic blocked punt after Hurricane Katrina.
Steve Gleason, a legendary figure in New Orleans Saints history, made an emotional return to the Superdome on Monday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his pivotal blocked punt. The event, dubbed "Domecoming," celebrated the Saints' return to the Superdome and the city's resilience in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Gleason, diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2011, was the focal point of the celebration. Despite his inability to move, talk, or breathe independently, he communicated his reflections on the significance of that historic play. "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," Gleason stated in remarks shared with "Good Morning America." He added, "I had to learn the same thing. Twenty years later, I can’t wait to be in the room where that love still lives."
The blocked punt occurred less than two minutes into the Saints' first home game back in the Superdome after the devastating hurricane. The play, which led to a touchdown, became a powerful symbol of the city's rebirth and recovery. Gleason, now 49, has lived significantly longer than the average prognosis for ALS, a fact he attributes in part to the visibility and purpose that play provided.
"If I do not block that punt, I am another former special teams player, a has-been football guy," Gleason reflected. "When the ALS came, I probably fade away quietly and die anonymously. That play made me visible at the exact moment this city needed a symbol. Years later, that visibility became a lifeline."
Beyond his personal legacy, Gleason founded Team Gleason, a charity that has raised over $65 million to assist individuals living with ALS and their caregivers. The organization focuses on providing technology, equipment, and empowerment to improve quality of life.
"The truth I have to live with is this: The same play that helped New Orleans breathe again is a big reason I’m still breathing now," Gleason said, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of hope and support between him and the city.
