what happened to steve gleason: Why is this trending now

What happened to Steve Gleason

Steve Gleason is a former NFL safety who played for the New Orleans Saints from 2000 to 2006. He became an enduring symbol of resilience in New Orleans during the September 25, 2006, “Domecoming” gamethe Saints’ first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrinawhen he blocked an Atlanta Falcons punt in the opening minutes for a touchdown.

Wikipedia

In January 2011, at age 34, Gleason was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neuromuscular disease. Since then, he has lived with severe paralysis, relying on a wheelchair and eye-tracking technology to communicate. Through his foundation, Team Gleason, he has become one of the world’s leading ALS advocates, helping pass federal legislation (such as the Steve Gleason Act) to ensure patients have access to speech-generating assistive technology. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2024.

Team Gleason+ 1

Why he trends

Gleason typically trends around three main circumstances:

• Anniversaries of the 2006 Blocked Punt and Saints-Falcons Games: Whenever the Saints face the Falcons on primetime or during milestone anniversaries of the Superdome’s post-Katrina reopening, the iconic play and Gleason’s story are highlighted across national broadcasts.

  Wikipedia

• New Projects and Milestones: Gleason frequently trends around his creative and advocacy releases, such as his memoir, major charity events, and new multimedia projects commemorating the city of New Orleans and his journey living with ALS.

  WWL-TV

• Health and Hospitalization Updates: Because ALS creates severe vulnerability to respiratory infections and other acute medical complications, public updates regarding his health or hospital stays frequently trigger widespread searches and support from fans.