Retired NFL safety and New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason, who has been fighting ALS since 2011, received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at The ESPYS on Thursday night.
Gleason established a nonprofit, Team Gleason, in the wake of his diagnosis to help others with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, live purposeful lives by providing programming and support services.
Gleason was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 for his contributions to ALS awareness, and released his memoir earlier this year.
The Ashe award, named for tennis player Arthur Ashe, is given to a sports person who possesses strength in the face of adversity, making a difference beyond the field of play.
“For me, this honor represents some encouragement and triumph for the families currently living with ALS, all the people living with disabilities or other illnesses, and all of you, who experience fear or suffering,” Gleason said in his acceptance speech. “…The truth is, no human is immune from fear or adversity. Not even super athletes, royal princes or the most holy saints.
“Considering this truth of our humanity, it’s vital that we all, individually and collectively, discover ways to be courageous and love the life we have. My view is that the fears and adversities we encounter are our opportunity to accept what is and explore what is on the other side of fear, to grow stronger, better and have peace of mind.”
Gleason spent eight years in the NFL before retiring in 2008. He memorably blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown in the Saints’ first game back at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. This moment made him “a legend in New Orleans forever,” in the words of his former teammate, quarterback Drew Brees, who introduced Gleason on Thursday.
“It would be a lie to say the years since his diagnosis haven’t been difficult. Steve wouldn’t want me to claim otherwise,” Brees said. “But through it all, he’s never given in, never stopped fighting, no white flags, and never stopped finding ways to inspire, impact, and write his own story.”