Steve Gleason facts for kids
Gleason in January 2020
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| No. 37 | |||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | March 19, 1977 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 212 lb (96 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Washington) |
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| College: | Washington State (1995–1999) | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2000 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Stephen Michael Gleason (born March 19, 1977) is a former American football player. He played as a safety for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). Steve played college football for the Washington State Cougars.
He first joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2000. Later, he played for the Saints until the 2006 season. Steve retired from the NFL in 2008 after playing for eight seasons.
Gleason is famous for blocking a punt in a 2006 game. This moment became a powerful symbol for the city of New Orleans. It was the team's first home game after Hurricane Katrina.
In 2011, Steve shared that he was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This disease is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. His journey with ALS was filmed over five years. It was shown in the 2016 documentary Gleason.
He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019. In 2024, he earned the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Both awards were for his work in raising awareness about ALS.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Steve Gleason was born and grew up in Spokane, Washington. He went to high school at Gonzaga Prep. There, he was a star linebacker on the football team.
He won the defensive MVP award two years in a row. He also played offense as a fullback.
College Sports Career
After finishing high school in 1995, Steve received a scholarship. He went to Washington State University in Pullman. He played college football there.
Steve was a starting linebacker for the 1997 team. This team made it to the famous Rose Bowl game. He also played baseball for four years. He was a center fielder and holds a school record for triples.
Professional Football Journey
In 2000, the Indianapolis Colts signed Steve. He was an undrafted free agent, meaning he wasn't chosen in the main draft. The Colts released him after the preseason.
In November, the New Orleans Saints added him to their practice squad. On September 25, 2006, Steve made history for the Saints. He blocked a punt by the Atlanta Falcons punter, Michael Koenen. This happened early in a game at the Superdome.
Another Saints player, Curtis Deloatch, picked up the ball. He ran it into the end zone for a touchdown. This was the first score in the Saints' first game back in New Orleans. The city had been badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina almost two years earlier.
The Saints won that game. They went on to have one of their best seasons ever. They even reached the NFC Championship that year.
Steve's Life Beyond Football
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Steve Gleason is married to Michel Rae Varisco. They have a son named Rivers and a daughter named Gray. Six weeks after Steve was diagnosed with ALS, they found out they were going to have their first child.
ALS caused Steve to lose his ability to speak. A company called CereProc helped him. They used his old recordings to create a "cloned" voice for him. This way, he can still communicate using his own voice.
Steve worked with filmmaker Sean Pamphilon to create a documentary. It shows his fight with ALS. It also serves as a video journal for his son, Rivers. The film, Gleason, was shown at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
In 2013, Steve was featured in an episode of A Football Life. This TV series on NFL Network shared his NFL career and his battle with ALS. In 2024, Steve released his memoir, A Life Impossible. It shares his experiences living with ALS.
Awards and Special Recognitions
In September 2011, the Saints gave Steve a Super Bowl ring. At the same event, the mayor of New Orleans gave him the key to the city. In July 2012, a statue called Rebirth was put up outside the Superdome. It shows Steve blocking the famous punt.
In 2015, Steve received the George Halas Award. This award honors a player who overcomes a great challenge. He received the award during a Thursday Night Football game.
During that game, Saints player Michael Mauti also blocked a punt. He returned it for a touchdown. Mauti had been at the 2006 game when Steve made his famous block. After Mauti's block, Steve tweeted: "Hey, Falcons. #NeverPunt -SG".
In 2019, Steve Gleason was given a Congressional Gold Medal. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the U.S. He was the first NFL player to ever get this award. He received it for his important work in raising awareness about ALS. In 2024, he also received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his efforts to help others with ALS.
Images for kids
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Gleason in January 2020
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Gleason in April 2016
