- Horoscope: Pisces
- Net worth: $2 000 000
- Nationality: American
- Education: College Washington State
- Weight: 96.0
- Hair color: Light Brown
- Eye color: brown
- Match marriage: married
Steve Gleason: biography
Steve Gleason is a former football player known for his performance for the New Orleans Saints. Despite the fact that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the man takes an active part in social life; Team Gleason is a non-profit organization named after the athlete.
Childhood and youth
The would-be athlete was born in Washington on March 19, 1977. There is not so much information about his early years. The boy liked sports and started his football story at Gonzaga Preparatory School, where he joined a team and showed impressive results from the first moments.
Further on, Gleason enrolled at Washington State University and continued to do what he liked best: football. In 1997, he became a starting linebacker for the team. Apart from that, the young man was good at baseball and represented his school in some games.
Professional football career
Gleason did not participate in drafts and started his career as a free agent at once; he signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts in 2000. However, he played only the preseason games with them and started collaborating with the New Orleans Saints.
Just like a one-role actor, Steve earned his fame for a single match: he blocked Michael Koenen’s attack on September 25, 2006. It was crucial for the team: their home city had suffered from Hurricane Katrina, and a long non-touchdown period followed. The game was victorious for the Saints; more than that, it was one of the most advantageous seasons in their history.
Gleason finished his career the same year, in 2006. The news about the terrible diagnosis came in January 2011; the disease affected his muscles badly so that Gleason was able to communicate with his eye movements. Nevertheless, he did not give up and learned how to live a new life.
Personal life
The disease has not prevented Steve from loving and being loved. He married Michel Rae Varisco in 2008. The wife became the former athlete’s main supporter; she frequently accompanies him during ALS Foundation events. The couple has two kids: the son Rivers and the daughter Gray.
Gleason’s strong character has encouraged many artists to create. For instance, Eddie Vedder and his band Pearl Jam created several soundtracks for the 2016 movie Gleason; one can watch its trailer on YouTube. Steve is often mentioned in books about best football players. There is also a statue of Gleason honoring the starry block for the Saints; it is named “Rebirth”.
Present days
In 2019, Steve received the Congressional Gold Medal for his ongoing work on raising awareness about ALS. The athlete’s former teammate, Drew Brees, was present and delivered an emotional speech at the ceremony.
Today, Gleason remains an inspiration for many people with ALS; he participates in fund-raising events and helps people realize that their diagnosis is not the end of the world.
Steve Gleason’s net worth is $2 million in 2020. While his sports earnings are no longer available, he receives most money from public work and donations.
Achievements
- The defensive MVP awards
- 2011 - Super Bowl ring
- 2015 - George Halas Award
- 2019 - Congressional Gold Medal
