Steve Gleason is a former New Orleans Saints safety whose football career became closely associated with one of the most memorable moments in the history of the city. His blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons in September 2006 came during the Saints’ first home game in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and became known as one of the defining images of the city’s recovery.
Years after leaving football, Gleason’s public life took a completely different direction. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS, in 2011. He subsequently became an advocate for people living with the disease, helped establish Team Gleason, supported assistive technology and ALS research, and became the subject of the acclaimed 2016 documentary Gleason.
In 2026, Gleason remains in the public eye. The 20th anniversary of his famous blocked punt brought him back to the Superdome, while a new music project titled REBIRTH gave him another way to tell the story of his life and his connection to New Orleans.
Who Is Steve Gleason?
Steve Gleason is a former American football player, ALS advocate, author and public figure. He played eight seasons for the New Orleans Saints and became particularly well known for his work on special teams.
His career was not built around large statistical numbers. Instead, one play changed how New Orleans remembered him.
On September 25, 2006, the Saints returned to the Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina had devastated the Gulf Coast. Early in the game against the Falcons, Gleason broke through the line and blocked a punt. The play led directly to a Saints touchdown and helped set the tone for a 23-3 victory.
The moment became closely connected with New Orleans’ recovery after Katrina. A bronze statue outside the Superdome later commemorated the play.
What Is Steve Gleason’s Real Name?
Steve Gleason’s full name is Stephen Michael Gleason.
He was born on March 19, 1977, in Spokane, Washington.
As of October 2026, Gleason is 49 years old.
Where Is Steve Gleason From?
Gleason was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He attended Gonzaga Preparatory School, where he became a standout athlete.
Football was not his only sport. During high school, he played linebacker and fullback in football and also played baseball. His performance on the football field earned him recognition as one of the top defensive players in the Greater Spokane League.
His athletic ability continued at Washington State University, where he played both football and baseball.
Steve Gleason’s Early Life and Education
Gleason attended Gonzaga Prep before accepting a football scholarship to Washington State University.
At Washington State, he developed into an important defensive player. His college career included 20 starts and 184 tackles, along with four sacks during his documented varsity career.
He was also a strong student athlete. His university profile records multiple academic honors, and he studied management information systems.
His combination of football ability and academic performance helped him reach professional football despite not being selected in the NFL Draft.
How Did Steve Gleason Start His NFL Career?
Gleason entered professional football as an undrafted free agent in 2000.
He initially signed with the Indianapolis Colts but was released during the preseason. He then joined the New Orleans Saints, eventually becoming part of the team’s defensive and special teams units.
That move became the beginning of his long association with New Orleans.
Gleason played 83 regular-season games for the Saints between 2000 and 2006. He recorded 68 combined tackles according to NFL statistical records and became particularly valuable on special teams.
Although his playing career ended without the statistical profile of a star defensive player, his contribution to the Saints’ history became much larger than his numbers suggested.
Why Is Steve Gleason Famous?
Steve Gleason is best known for the blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons in the Saints’ first game back at the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina.
The play happened only about 90 seconds into the September 25, 2006 game. Gleason blocked the punt, and the Saints recovered it before scoring a touchdown.
The Saints went on to win 23-3.
The significance of the moment extended far beyond football. New Orleans had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the return to the Superdome carried enormous emotional weight for the city.
Gleason’s block became a visual representation of that return. The play was later commemorated with a statue outside the stadium, known as “Rebirth.”
Steve Gleason’s NFL Career
Gleason spent his entire NFL playing career with the New Orleans Saints after joining the organization in 2000.
He played primarily as a defensive back and was especially useful on special teams.
His career included several seasons in which he appeared regularly for New Orleans. He was part of the team during a difficult period for the franchise and remained with the Saints through the team’s transformation following Hurricane Katrina.
His professional football career eventually came to an end after the 2006 season.
Gleason’s importance to the Saints is therefore unusual. His career statistics are modest compared with those of many celebrated NFL players, but a single play connected him permanently with one of the most important moments in the franchise’s history.
Steve Gleason and ALS
In January 2011, Gleason was diagnosed with ALS.
The diagnosis changed nearly every part of his life. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement.
Rather than stepping away from public life, Gleason became increasingly involved in advocacy and technology designed to improve the lives of people living with ALS.
Together with his wife, Michel, he helped establish Team Gleason after his diagnosis. The organization focuses on helping people with ALS access technology, equipment, services and experiences while also supporting broader efforts to find treatments for the disease.
Communication technology became particularly important to Gleason as ALS affected his ability to speak and move. Eye tracking and other assistive systems have allowed him to communicate and participate in public life.
What Is Team Gleason?
Team Gleason is the organization established by Steve and Michel Gleason to support people living with ALS and other neuromuscular conditions.
Its work includes providing access to technology, equipment and support services. The organization has also helped raise awareness about ALS and promote research.
Gleason’s advocacy contributed to efforts surrounding legislation designed to improve access to life sustaining communication technology for people with disabilities.
His work eventually expanded beyond fundraising and awareness. Technology became a central part of the way he communicated, worked and remained involved with his family and community.
Steve Gleason in the Documentary Gleason
Steve Gleason became the central subject of the 2016 documentary Gleason, directed by Clay Tweel.
The film began from a deeply personal idea. After receiving his ALS diagnosis, Gleason started recording video messages for his unborn son. What began as a personal record developed into a feature-length documentary covering several years of his life.
The film follows Gleason, his wife Michel, their family and friends as they adjust to the progression of ALS.
It also examines fatherhood, marriage, technology, family relationships and the emotional realities of living with a progressive disease.
Gleason premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and received significant critical recognition. It went on to receive several documentary awards and nominations.
The film introduced Gleason’s story to audiences who knew little about his football career and helped broaden public awareness of ALS.
Steve Gleason’s Book
Gleason later expanded on his experiences in his memoir A Life Impossible: Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom Within a Fragile Existence.
Written with journalist Jeff Duncan, the book was published in 2024.
The memoir covers his life before ALS, his years with the Saints, his diagnosis, his family and the physical and emotional changes that followed.
It also explores the practical realities of living with a disease that progressively affects movement, communication and independence.
For readers who know Gleason mainly because of the famous punt block, the book provides a much broader picture of the person behind that moment.
Steve Gleason’s Awards and Major Achievements
Gleason has received recognition both for his football legacy and his work after his playing career.
Among his major honors are the Congressional Gold Medal and the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
He received the Congressional Gold Medal in January 2020. The award is one of the highest civilian honors given by the United States government.
In 2024, ESPN selected Gleason for the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPYS. The honor recognized his work with ALS advocacy and his efforts to improve the lives of people living with the disease.
His story has also received recognition from sports and disability communities, making his post NFL work an important part of his public legacy.
Who Is Steve Gleason’s Wife?
Steve Gleason is married to Michel Varisco-Gleason.
The couple founded Team Gleason together after his ALS diagnosis and have worked alongside each other in advocacy and public awareness efforts.
Their family life became a major part of the documentary Gleason, which captured the challenges and adjustments that followed Gleason’s diagnosis.
Does Steve Gleason Have Children?
Yes. Steve and Michel Gleason have two children, Rivers and Gray.
Rivers was born in 2011, the same year Gleason was diagnosed with ALS. Their daughter Gray was born in 2018.
Fatherhood has been an important part of Gleason’s story, particularly because his original video journals were created for his son.
That personal motivation became one of the central elements of Gleason and later informed his memoir.
Steve Gleason’s 2024 Arthur Ashe Award
Gleason received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2024 ESPYS.
The award recognized his work beyond football, particularly his advocacy for people living with ALS.
His acceptance of the award also reflected how dramatically his public role had changed. He was once known primarily as a Saints defensive back and special teams player. By 2024, he was equally associated with disability advocacy, assistive technology and ALS awareness.
What Is Steve Gleason Doing Now?
As of October 2026, Gleason remains involved in ALS advocacy and creative projects.
One of his biggest recent projects is REBIRTH, a 12-song music project created around the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
The project was developed through songwriting sessions involving Gleason and musicians connected to New Orleans and beyond. Contributors include Trombone Shorty, Marc Broussard, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, PJ Morton, Ivan Neville and other musicians.
The project gives Gleason another creative outlet at a time when physical limitations from ALS have dramatically changed how he communicates and creates.
Steve Gleason’s Latest News in 2026
October 2026 has brought renewed attention to Gleason because of the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ historic return to the Superdome.
He returned to the stadium for the anniversary celebration surrounding the Saints’ game against the Atlanta Falcons. The occasion brought the original blocked punt back into focus two decades after it became one of the most recognizable moments in New Orleans sports history.
Gleason also appeared during the ManningCast connected with the game, where his humor and personality were again on display.
At the same time, his REBIRTH music project has introduced a new chapter in his public work.
Rather than simply revisiting the past, the project connects his football history, New Orleans roots, family experiences and life with ALS through music.
Steve Gleason’s Legacy
Steve Gleason’s story cannot be reduced to football or ALS alone.
His professional career lasted only part of his life, but the 2006 blocked punt gave him a permanent place in New Orleans sports history. His ALS diagnosis later transformed his public role, pushing him toward advocacy, technology and research.
The documentary Gleason showed the personal side of that transition. His memoir offered another account. Team Gleason turned his experience into practical support for others.
In 2026, the anniversary of the famous punt and the release of REBIRTH have brought those different chapters together again.
For many Saints supporters, Gleason remains the player who blocked a punt on the night New Orleans returned to the Superdome. For the ALS community, he is also an advocate who has spent years pushing for better technology, support and research.
Both parts of his story are important to understanding who Steve Gleason is today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Steve Gleason
How old is Steve Gleason?
Steve Gleason was born on March 19, 1977. He is 49 years old as of October 2026.
What is Steve Gleason’s real name?
His full name is Stephen Michael Gleason.
Where was Steve Gleason born?
He was born in Spokane, Washington, and grew up in the city.
What NFL team did Steve Gleason play for?
Gleason played for the New Orleans Saints. He joined the team in 2000 after initially signing with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.
Why is Steve Gleason famous?
He is best known for blocking a punt during the Saints’ first game back at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. The play became a symbol of New Orleans’ return and was later commemorated by the “Rebirth” statue outside the stadium.
When was Steve Gleason diagnosed with ALS?
Gleason was diagnosed with ALS in January 2011.
Is Steve Gleason married?
Yes. He is married to Michel Varisco-Gleason, with whom he has two children.
Does Steve Gleason have children?
Yes. Steve and Michel have two children, Rivers and Gray.
What is the Steve Gleason documentary called?
The documentary is titled Gleason. Directed by Clay Tweel, it was released in 2016 and follows Gleason’s life after his ALS diagnosis.
What is Steve Gleason doing in 2026?
Gleason continues his advocacy work and is involved with Team Gleason. In 2026, he also became involved in the REBIRTH music project, created around the 20th anniversary of his famous blocked punt and the Saints’ return to the Superdome.