NEW ORLEANS — Twenty years after Steve Gleason’s blocked punt became one of the defining moments in Saints history, the former Washington State standout returned to the Superdome Monday night for an emotional celebration of New Orleans’ resilience.
Gleason, a Gonzaga Prep graduate and former Cougar, was honored before the Saints’ matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. He led a second line through downtown New Orleans ahead of the team’s “Domecoming” celebration, marking two decades since the Superdome reopened following Hurricane Katrina.
The night brought former teammates back together, including Drew Brees and Curtis Deloatch, who recovered Gleason’s blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown during the first game back in the building on Sept. 25, 2006.
That game was about far more than football. The Superdome had served as a shelter of last resort during Hurricane Katrina, then sustained extensive damage that kept it closed for more than a year. When the Saints returned to face their division rival, Gleason burst through Atlanta’s protection less than two minutes into the game and got both hands on Michael Koenen’s punt.
Deloatch fell on the loose ball for a touchdown, sending the crowd into a roar and igniting a 23-3 Saints win. The play has since become known as “Rebirth,” a symbol of a city beginning to recover.
“When I roll back into that stadium, I will not only be visiting a monument to 2006, I will be walking into a mirror, a place that learned how to rise,” Gleason said before Monday’s game. “I had to learn the same thing.”
Gleason was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. He now communicates through a tablet using his eyes and has become one of the most visible advocates for people living with the disease.
Through Team Gleason, the nonprofit organization he founded, Gleason has helped raise money to improve access to technology, equipment and support for people with ALS and their caregivers.
The former Saints special-teamer has said the blocked punt transformed his life as much as it lifted the city.
“If I do not block that punt, I am another former special teams player, a has-been football guy,” Gleason said. “That play made me visible at the exact moment this city needed a symbol. Years later, that visibility became a lifeline.”
For New Orleans, the anniversary offered a chance to revisit a moment that united a city emerging from devastation. For Gleason, it was another reminder of the enduring connection between one play, one stadium and the people who have continued to support him.
“The same play that helped New Orleans breathe again is a big reason I’m still breathing now,” Gleason said.
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