Steve Gleason
Encyclopedia
Stephen Michael Gleason (born March 19, 1977 in Spokane, Washington
) is a former American football
safety of the National Football League
. He was originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football
at Washington State
.
As a free agent
in 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL after eight seasons with the Saints. In 2011, he revealed that he was battling ALS
.
, where he earned consecutive Greater Spokane League Defensive MVP awards.
While attending Washington State, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He was released by the team after the preseason and was signed to the New Orleans Saints
' practice squad in November.
On September 25, 2006, Gleason was responsible for one of the most dramatic moments in Saints history, when he blocked a punt in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons
. Curtis Deloatch
recovered the ball in the Falcons' end zone
for a touchdown. It was the first score in the Saints' first home game in nearly 21 months, during which time Hurricane Katrina
had devastated the city.
and environmentalism
. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Gleason's foundation led a group of foundations and institutions in launching "Backpacks for Hope", an initiative to provide relief to young hurricane victims in the form of backpacks and school supplies. More than 7,000 backpacks were donated from across the country, together with cash donations and other assistance. The initiative provided roughly $500,000 of relief to young students and families in the New Orleans and Gulf Coast areas. Backpacks for Hope Recap
After retiring from football, Gleason attended Tulane University
to receive his master of business administration
degree. In January 2011, while studying at Tulane, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS).
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
.
As a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL after eight seasons with the Saints. In 2011, he revealed that he was battling ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
.
Early years
He attended Gonzaga Preparatory SchoolGonzaga Preparatory School
Gonzaga Preparatory School located in Spokane, Washington is a private Catholic high school in the Inland Northwest. As a Jesuit institution, "G-Prep" has been recognized for its college preparation education, and community service.- History :...
, where he earned consecutive Greater Spokane League Defensive MVP awards.
While attending Washington State, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Professional career
Gleason was signed by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He was released by the team after the preseason and was signed to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
' practice squad in November.
On September 25, 2006, Gleason was responsible for one of the most dramatic moments in Saints history, when he blocked a punt in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Curtis Deloatch
Curtis Deloatch
Curtis Lee Deloatch is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
recovered the ball in the Falcons' end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
for a touchdown. It was the first score in the Saints' first home game in nearly 21 months, during which time Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
had devastated the city.
Personal
In September 2003, Gleason formed the One Sweet World Foundation, a charitable foundation that focuses on literacyLiteracy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
and environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Gleason's foundation led a group of foundations and institutions in launching "Backpacks for Hope", an initiative to provide relief to young hurricane victims in the form of backpacks and school supplies. More than 7,000 backpacks were donated from across the country, together with cash donations and other assistance. The initiative provided roughly $500,000 of relief to young students and families in the New Orleans and Gulf Coast areas. Backpacks for Hope Recap
After retiring from football, Gleason attended Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
to receive his master of business administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree. In January 2011, while studying at Tulane, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
(ALS).