Steve Gleason

Infobox NFLretired


name=Steve Gleason
|width=
caption=
position=Safety
number=37
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|3|19
Spokane, Washington
deathdate=
debutyear=2000
finalyear=2007
undraftedyear=2000
college=Washington State
teams=
* Indianapolis Colts (2000)*
* New Orleans Saints (2000-2007):*Offseason member only
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=83
stat2label=Solo tackles
stat2value=59
stat3label=Assisted tackles
stat3value=6
nfl=GLE016856
highlights=
* Honorable mention All-Pac-10 (1997)

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.

Early years

He attended Gonzaga Preparatory School, where he earned consecutive Greater Spokane League (GSL) Defensive MVP awards.

Professional career

Gleason was signed by the Indianapolis Colts 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.

Personal

In September 2003, Gleason formed the One Sweet World Foundation, a charitable foundation that focuses on literacy 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. [http://www.wsu.edu/katrina/get-involved-backpacks_summary.html Backpacks for Hope Recap]

External links

* [http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Roster/People/Steve%20Gleason.aspx New Orleans Saints bio]