Steve Gleason is the recipient of the 2024 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, ESPN officials announced Thursday.
The New Orleans resident and former Saints standout, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2011, will receive the award at the nationally televised ESPY Awards ceremony July 11 in Los Angeles.
The award is considered one of the most prestigious in sports. It is given annually to recipients “whose contributions transcend sports” and “reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost,” according to ESPN. Past winners include Muhammad Ali, Billy Jean King, Pat Tillman, Bill Russell and Jim Valvano, who famously delivered the “Never give up. Don’t ever give up” speech as the inaugural recipient at the 1993 ESPYs.
"Over the past 13 years, I've been documenting our journey with ALS," Gleason wrote in a post on his social media platforms Thursday. "My aim has always been to see if we can discover peace and freedom with a love of Life, in the midst of extreme adversity. Being recognized at The 2024 ESPYS is not just an honor, but a powerful platform to further help and serve others. Thank you, ESPN, for this incredible accolade."
Over the past 13 years, I've been documenting our journey with ALS. My aim has always been to see if we can discover peace and freedom with a love of Life, in the midst of extreme adversity. Being recognized at The 2024 ESPYS is not just an honor, but a powerful platform to… pic.twitter.com/gGYfuz7aJi
— Steve Gleason - "Live Impossible" (@SteveGleason) June 27, 2024
Since being diagnosed with ALS, Gleason has become a global inspiration as a living example of resilience and leadership. Gleason, along with his foundation, Team Gleason, has been a leader in raising awareness of the disease and improving the lives of those affected.
In 2018, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed “The Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act” to ensure the availability of life sustaining communication devices.
In 2020, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s most prestigious civilian honor. He is the first football player to receive the gold medal and only the seventh athlete to receive the honor.
This is the second major award Gleason has received from ESPN. Two years ago, he was given the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for his humanitarian efforts.
Gleason was a standout special teams player and cult hero during his eight-year career with the Saints from 2000 to 2008. He made one of the greatest and most memorable plays in NFL history when he blocked a punt against the Atlanta Falcons on the night the Superdome reopened after Hurricane Katrina. A bronze statue commemorating the play was erected and displayed outside the Superdome in 2014. He was a special teams captain for most of his NFL career and retired as the club’s all-time leader in blocked punts with four.
In 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL and married New Orleans native Michel Varisco. He and Michel have two children: Rivers and Gray.
Gleason spent much of the last two years, writing his memoir, "A Life Impossible," which was released in April by Alfred A. Knopf Publishing.