When you think about the New Orleans Saints and ALS, your mind probably goes straight to that blocked punt. September 25, 2006. The Superdome’s reopening after Katrina. Steve Gleason flying through the air, hands outstretched, smothering a Brian Moorman kick. It was more than a play. It was a resurrection for a city that had been underwater and written off. But today, the connection between the Saints and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is about something much heavier than a football game. It’s about a decade-plus battle against a disease that systematically shuts down the body while leaving the mind perfectly intact.
Honestly, it’s a brutal reality. ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. It attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. For the New Orleans Saints community, this isn't some abstract medical term. It's Steve Gleason. It's Tim Shaw. It's the "No White Flags" mantra that has become woven into the very fabric of the franchise.
The Steve Gleason Impact on New Orleans Saints ALS Awareness
Steve Gleason wasn't a superstar. He was a special teams ace, a "glue guy" who played with a sort of reckless abandon that fans in New Orleans deeply respected. He retired in 2008. In 2011, he revealed his ALS diagnosis. At the time, the average life expectancy for someone with the disease was roughly two to five years. Gleason is still here in 2026. That’s not just luck. It's the result of aggressive technology, incredible care, and a stubbornness that defines his entire existence.
The Saints didn't just give him a pat on the back and a pension. The organization, led by the Benson family and former coach Sean Payton, basically integrated Gleason into the team’s identity. You see him at games in his power wheelchair, using his eyes to type out messages that are broadcast on the big screen. It’s haunting and inspiring all at once. Through his foundation, Team Gleason, the focus shifted from just searching for a cure—which is the long game—to improving the quality of life for people living with the disease right now.
They provide "adventures" for patients and, more importantly, the technology needed to communicate. Imagine being unable to move a finger but still needing to tell your kid you love them. That’s where the eye-tracking tech comes in. It's expensive. It's complicated. Team Gleason has provided millions of dollars in this tech to people who otherwise would be trapped in a silent body.
Why Does Football Have This Connection?
There’s always a conversation about whether football causes ALS. It’s a touchy subject. Researchers have looked into the link between repeated head trauma and neurodegenerative diseases for years. A study published in JAMA Network Open previously suggested that professional football players might be at a higher risk of developing ALS compared to the general population. But it's not a straight line. It's not like "play 10 years, get ALS." It’s a mix of genetics, environmental factors, and potentially, physical trauma.
The Saints have become the "face" of this struggle in the NFL. It’s not just because of Gleason. Other former players have faced similar battles. The team doesn't shy away from it. They don't treat it as a PR nightmare. They treat it as a family matter. This transparency is rare in a league that often tries to bury the long-term health consequences of the sport.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Life with ALS: The Day-to-Day Reality
Most people don't understand how ALS actually works. It starts small. Maybe a stumble. Maybe a dropped glass. A "twitch" in the muscle that won't go away. This is called fasciculation. Eventually, the motor neurons die. When the motor neurons die, the brain can no longer start or control muscle movement.
Think about that.
Your muscles atrophy because they aren't being used. But your "internal" functions—your heart, your digestion, your ability to think and feel—usually stay fine. You are a prisoner in a suit of skin that won't respond.
For a New Orleans Saints player used to being at the peak of human physical performance, this is a psychological mind-game of the highest order. Gleason has spoken openly about the "darkness" that comes with it. He doesn't sugarcoat the experience. He’s talked about the hours it takes just to get dressed or the frustration of technical glitches in his communication device.
The Financial Burden of the Disease
ALS is expensive. Like, devastatingly expensive. We’re talking $200,000 to $300,000 a year for 24-hour care, specialized equipment, and home modifications. Most insurance doesn't cover the full scope of what's needed for a patient to live with dignity.
- Van modifications: $50,000+
- Power wheelchairs: $30,000+
- Respiratory equipment: Thousands monthly
This is why the Saints' involvement is so critical. The fundraising efforts through events like the "Gleason Grassroots" or the various black-tie galas in New Orleans provide a literal lifeline. Without this support, many ALS patients are forced into nursing homes where they might not get the specific respiratory care required for this condition.
👉 See also: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
The Legacy of the Gleason Act
One of the most significant things to come out of the Saints' connection to ALS isn't even on the football field. It’s in Washington D.C. In 2015, the Steve Gleason Act was signed into law. It sounds dry, right? It’s not.
Basically, it ensured that patients with ALS and other degenerative diseases could keep their speech-generating devices even if they entered a hospital or nursing home. Before this, Medicare rules were a mess. Patients were often forced to give back their "voice" when they were admitted to a facility. Gleason fought that. He used his platform—built on that 2006 blocked punt—to change federal law.
He’s the only former Saint with a statue outside the Superdome. It’s not of him scoring a touchdown. It’s of that block. It represents a moment of hope, but for the ALS community, the real "statue" is the legislation that allows them to keep communicating with their families.
New Developments in 2026 and Beyond
We aren't in the same place we were a decade ago. There’s progress. It’s slow, but it’s there. Drugs like Relyvrio (though it had its own controversial journey through FDA approval and subsequent market shifts) and older mainstays like Riluzole and Radicava offer some hope in slowing the progression.
The focus now has shifted toward "biomarkers." Scientists are trying to find a way to diagnose ALS before the symptoms become debilitating. If you can catch it early, you have a better chance of preserving muscle function. There’s also massive research into gene therapy. Since a small percentage of ALS cases are familial (genetic), targeting those specific genes like SOD1 or C9orf72 is a major frontier.
But for the New Orleans Saints, the mission remains centered on the person. The team continues to host ALS families at training camp. They keep the "No White Flags" stickers on their helmets during special awareness months. It’s a reminder that while the players on the field change every season, the commitment to this specific cause is permanent.
✨ Don't miss: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
What You Can Do Right Now
If you're reading this because you're a Saints fan or because someone you love just got a diagnosis, the weight can feel unbearable. It’s a lot. But you don't have to go through it in a vacuum. The Saints have helped build a massive infrastructure of support.
First, get connected with Team Gleason. They aren't just for former NFL players. They help anyone with an ALS diagnosis. They have resources for navigating the complex world of insurance and assistive technology. Don't try to figure out the Medicare paperwork on your own.
Second, look into the ALS Association's local chapters. They provide loaner closets for equipment. If you need a ramp or a specific type of chair and can't afford it, these chapters often have equipment that has been donated by families who no longer need it.
Third, advocate for the ACT for ALS. This legislation, which has seen various iterations and expansions, helps accelerate the development of and access to experimental therapies.
Living with ALS is a series of adaptations. You lose one ability, you find a tool to compensate. You lose another, you adapt again. It requires a specific kind of mental toughness that, frankly, makes a goal-line stand look like child's play. The New Orleans Saints haven't just raised money; they've raised the profile of a disease that used to be whispered about. They've made it okay to talk about the struggle, the technology, and the hope that remains even when the body fails.
Actions to Take for Support and Awareness
- Apply for a Grant: If you or a family member has ALS, visit the Team Gleason website to apply for grants specifically for communication devices and home automation.
- Volunteer for Research: Register with the National ALS Registry. This helps researchers track environmental factors and demographics to find patterns in the disease.
- Support Caregivers: If you know someone caretaking for an ALS patient, bring them a meal or offer to sit with their loved one for two hours so they can sleep. Caregiver burnout is incredibly high in this community.
- Stay Informed on Clinical Trials: Use sites like ClinicalTrials.gov to see what new gene therapies or drug trials are recruiting.
The bond between the New Orleans Saints and ALS isn't going away. As long as Steve Gleason is "rolling deep" (as he likes to say) and the "No White Flags" flags are flying in the Superdome, the fight continues. It’s a testament to what happens when a sports team decides to be about more than just a win-loss record. They’ve turned a tragedy into a blueprint for how to live with a terminal diagnosis with a ridiculous amount of grace and grit.
Next Steps for Advocacy
To move forward with supporting the cause, start by visiting the Team Gleason official site to learn about their upcoming "Gleason Grassroots" events. If you are a medical professional or student, look into the latest "ALS Focus" surveys which collect patient and caregiver perspectives to influence clinical trial designs. For those in the New Orleans area, the Ochsner ALS Center works closely with the Saints organization to provide multidisciplinary care that addresses the respiratory, nutritional, and psychological needs of patients in one location. Education is the best tool against the stigma of the disease; sharing the story of the Gleason Act helps ensure these legislative protections remain a priority for future administrations.