It was an incredible moment on an incredible night.
Steve Gleason sat in his wheelchair on the stage at the 2024 ESPY Awards as the packed house of star athletes, Hall of Fame coaches and international celebrities in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles rose to its feet.
By his side, his 12-year-old son Rivers proudly held the silver trophy for the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, which was presented to Gleason for his tireless work to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and help others living with the disease.
Stirred by the rousing ovation, a moving introduction by his good friend and former New Orleans Saints teammate, Drew Bees, and an inspirational six-minute video tribute to his life, emotions welled inside Gleason. A tear streamed down his left cheek.
Eyes twinkling and face glistening, Gleason cued up his computer tablet to deliver the acceptance speech he'd painstakingly worked to produce with his failing eyes for the past several weeks.
“When I learned I was receiving this award, I started reflecting on what that word ‘courage’ means,” Gleason said via his synthetic, AI-powered voice. “To be courageous, we must first experience loneliness, unworthiness or any of the faces of fear. I was told I'd have three years to live when I was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, so I've got the wilderness of fear tattooed all over me.”
A speech that will touch people’s hearts for years to come ❤️
— ESPN (@espn) July 12, 2024
Steve Gleason delivered a memorable moment while accepting the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2024 ESPYS. pic.twitter.com/ljuQuPz68t
The emotional four-minute speech was vintage Gleason. It followed familiar themes of courage, resilience, compassion and love while provoking thought, stirring laughter and moving many to tears.
“For me, this honor represents some encouragement and triumph for the families currently living with ALS, all the people living with disabilities or other illnesses," he said. "I suppose if you have never experienced fear, isolation or suffering, you can roll your sanctified ass right out of here."
At various times during the speech, Rivers reached out with his right hand to rub his father’s left shoulder in a display of support and affection.
The emotional scene and Gleason’s inspirational words touched the star-studded crowd in attendance. TV cameras caught several people in tears.
It also resonated with many in the global viewing audience, cementing its place in ESPYs lore as an instant classic moment. Within minutes, Gleason was a trending topic on social media and his speech displayed as the feature story on ESPN.com’s homepage.
“I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Steve Gleason," Brees said during his introductory speech. “When I think about Steve as a teammate and a friend, I think of a guy who’s always taken the idea of living to the next level. Steve has always been interested in having a deeper conversation, going on a bigger adventure, finding ways to experience the wonders of the world in every possible way. Always curious to explore both the seen and the unseen of human emotion and connection, experiencing plenty of fear along the way, but never shying away from challenging himself and those around him.”
The memorable acceptance speech punctuated a whirlwind visit to Los Angeles for the former New Orleans Saints standout and his close-knit circle of friends and family.
True to form, Gleason turned the event into a communal affair. Along with his family — wife Michel, son Rivers, daughter Gray, and in-laws Paul and Jill Varisco — former Saints teammates Scott Fujita and Eric Johnson and former Spokane (Wash.) Gonzaga Prep teammate, Jim Salters, also were part of Gleason’s entourage. Longtime caregivers Kyle Olasin and Beau Baker were there, too.
We’re in LA! We attended the ESPN Humanitarian dinner last night, and we’ll be at the ESPY award ceremony tonight. I’m getting to spend time with my family, and some of my favorite people from high school, NFL, and the ALS journey.
— Steve Gleason - "Live Impossible" (@SteveGleason) July 11, 2024
To receive the Arthur Ashe award for Courage… pic.twitter.com/5CFeLPVVh9
The festivities began on Wednesday night at the Humanitarian Awards banquet in Hollywood, which Gleason attended as a past recipient after winning the 2022 Stuart Scott Enspire Award.
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, who was a nominee for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his criminal justice reform work in New Orleans, acknowledged Gleason from the podium, calling him a “legend” and recognizing him for his work in the ALS and New Orleans communities.
Throughout the two days, Gleason was celebrated as a star among stars. He posed for pictures and exchanged pleasantries with a host of celebrities and star athletes: boxer Sugar Ray Leonard; current and former Saints J.T. Gray and Mark Ingram; Khalilah Ali, the widow of boxing legend Muhammad Ali; and Sydni and Taelor Scott, the daughters of former ESPN personality Stuart Scott.
The parade never stopped. And Gleason soaked it all in, displaying his trademark humor, humility and grace along the way. ALS has robbed him of the ability to walk, talk and run, but it can't take away his ability to inspire.
There have been many highs and lows for Gleason since his playing days with the Saints in the early 2000s and being diagnosed with ALS in 2011.
Only a few months ago he tweeted that “life ain’t easy” and he was “working through emotions of sorrow.” As usual, Gleason didn’t stay down for long. A few days later he was back to inspiring the world through the release of his new memoir “A Life Impossible.”
Not long thereafter, he learned he would receive the Arthur Ashe Award, joining an illustrious list of recipients that includes Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King and Nelson Mandela. Gleason has received numerous honors and awards throughout his remarkable journey, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2020. This one, though, was special because of what it represented. And because of how he was able to share it with his family and friends.
Knowing Gleason, he'll most cherish the poignant moment on stage with Rivers. It was the latest validation of his extraordinary life and the often difficult decision to keep forging ahead, despite the enormous challenges ALS presents to him daily.
It also served as a revelation.
The world learned Thursday night what his fans and the ALS community have known for decades: Steve Gleason is special, and his extraordinary life story is a gift, not just to New Orleans, but to all of humankind.
