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A Football Life: Steve Gleason



Former Saints Special Teams Star was diagnosed with ALS. This is his story.

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23 Comments

  1. He is great, true inspiration, as everyone mentions in the comments. But, I have to mention his wife too. Everyone should feel lucky to have someone in their lives as dedicated as she is.

  2. This is so sad to see but so inspiriting at the same time im not a Saints fan im a Steelers fan but I remember watching him block that punt live on monday night football first game back in the Superdome and I actually cheered probably one of my favorite non Steeler moments of all time in The NFL

  3. Steve’s reaction to meeting Jenny made me sob 😭 that’s exactly what he needed at that time he needed to be reminded that he’s got this and he’s making a big impression on so many people.Thank you Steve for showing me to never give up.

  4. Well done mate. I've got relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, so I can empathise with Steve.
    A truly inspirational human being.
    One would hope that a helicopter landing pad can be built up there at Machu Picchu, so others like Steve can make the trip in somewhat comfort.
    Yeah, more funding for ALS is needed. If they threw money into research for ALS like they have for Covid19, a cure would not be that far off.
    Stay strong mate.

  5. As a man who's faced adversity all my life like hydrocephalus and bullying and now being on state parole for a decade..steve gleason embodies who i want to become. I think everyone facing confidence issues needs to watch this.

  6. This story touched my heart, at a time in my life where I was giving up. It was a message from one of God's earthly angles. If Steve can achieve all this, with a smile on his face most of the time, and he's completely trapped in his body. What's my excuse? My CPTSD, anxiety, depression, lack of know how or skills. My body was shutting down because i was so exhausted. It's 8-9 years later, and I am making progress with leaps and bounds. But NO White Flags, helped me get here. ❤🥰🙏

  7. Poor guy. It's already tragic & heartbreaking what's happened to him, and it's even more tragic & heartbreaking with how much he means to the city of New Orleans. I grew up close to New Orleans, I'm a Saints fan, didn't live in the city but I was close enough to get some of the storm. Katrina was such a tragedy, New Orleans was devastated both physically & emotionally, and things were so bad for New Orleans for a while after it. Though it's problems were obviously much smaller in comparison, the New Orleans Saints had big problems as well. Losing seasons for the first 20 years, didn't win a playoff game til the new century in the 2000 season over 30 years after it's founding, then having to spend a season in exile from the city due to Katrina. Then 2006 comes along with Sean Peyton along with Drew Brees, two guys who were arguably unproven but also underrated and came in with a lot of hope & potential. While those two played a big role in turning the Saints around & helping give the city hope, it was Steve Gleason that did it the most. That blocked punt was so symbolic for both the Saints & the city of New Orleans, saying that no matter what, despite everything New Orleans, both the team & city will persevere, that it's coming back, that it won't give up. Coincidentally the kicker of the punt Michael Koenen, also suffered a debilitating illness albeit not as bad as Gleason's with Koenen having Clostridium Difficile which pretty much ended his career, so both the main men in the iconic play & both who are part of the statue ended up with serious illnesses less than ten years after the play, making it even more tragic. That play meant so much for the Saints that I have no doubt it gave them motivation & belief, and I have no doubt that the motivation & belief from that play was a big part of their 09' Super Bowl win, and even though he wasn't on the 09' team he more than deserved a ring & I'm glad he got one, he's a Super Bowl champion as far as I'm concerned. To see this happen to anybody is tragic & heartbreaking, but to see it happen to someone like Steve Gleason, a beloved underdog like man, who won the heart of New Orleans, both the team & the city, and helped give so much hope to both of them, makes it unbelievably sad. 20:0024:00 I almost teared up around this part. I really feel for his wife Michel, he has the disease but she's suffering as well, not as much as her husband but she's been through a lot as well, seeing what's happened to Steve, not being able to do things like they once could, I'm sure it's taken a toll on her, it's heartbreaking seeing her along with Steve cry around this part, I don't want to be a cynic but I can't imagine many spouses would stick by their loved one with this disease, simply put it's true love that these two have, I'm glad Steve has her & their kids. And what a moment it was for them meeting Jenny by chance on their way to Machu Picchu. Her wearing Gleason's No White Flags shirt, her being inspired by him to climb Machu Picchu, and then meeting him, it's sad but it's also very heartwarming. I love Steve Gleason. The play he made, which I'd say should be called "The Rebirth" is up there with the "Immaculate Reception" as one of the greatest plays in history. But it was so much more than just a play, it gave hope, to both the team & the city, it truly was New Orleans' rebirth. And Steve Gleason is so much more than just a football player, I wish he didn't have his disease, I wish he didn't have to suffer, but with what he did combined with what he goes through, and not giving up, no white flags, makes him one of the most inspirational people I've ever seen, I may even go so far as to say he is my idol or at the very least someone I really look up to. Steve Gleason, especially to the city of New Orleans, is a hero, an icon, a legend, and through both the play he made & with the work he & Team Gleason do, makes him a true inspiration.

  8. Absolutely inspirational Steve! Also big shoutout to all the people who helped make that journey up the mountains happen. Had to be exhausting🤝

  9. He is such an inspiration to keep on fighting even when you think about giving up. Michelle is also an inspiration and they show what the definition of true love is. Rivers is adorable!

  10. My man rocking his Crocs in 4×4 just in case something pops off! This Doc brung tears to my eyes

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