Washington State Cougars On SI

WATCH: Former Cougar Steve Gleason's Incredible ESPYS Acceptance Speech

Joe Londergan

Jan 20, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; Hall of famer Morten Andersen with New Orleans Saints former player Steve Gleason before the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; Hall of famer Morten Andersen with New Orleans Saints former player Steve Gleason before the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

This week, former Washington State Cougar Steve Gleason was honored at the 2024 ESPY Awards with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Diagnosed with ALS in 2011, Gleason has spent the better part of the last 13 years, along with his family and his Team Gleason charitable organization, raising awareness of the disease and providing funding and resources to others living with the disease.

Watch Gleason's full viral acceptance speech below.

RELATED: Mike Leach To Be Posthumously Inducted Into Washington State Hall of Fame in September

"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, and all of you who experience fear or suffering.I suppose if you have never experienced fear, isolation or suffering, you can roll your sanctified ass right out of here," Gleason said in his speech.

A native of Spokane, Gleason played both football and baseball at Washington State, graduating in 1999. He was a two-time team captain in football and captain of the baseball team as a senior in 2023. He finished his college football career with 282 tackles. He went on to play seven seasons for the New Orleans Saints and was a vital player in the team's resurgence following Hurricane Katrina.

Gleason was inducted into the Washington State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

Published
Joe Londergan

JOE LONDERGAN

Joe Londergan joined the SI brand in 2023 with G5 Football Daily. With over 15 years of experience in covering and working directly in college and pro sports, Joe's expertise has been featured in Front Office Sports, SB Nation, and XRAY.FM. He is a member of both the Football Writers' Association of America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. Joe holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville and a master's degree in sports administration from Seattle University. Outside of his writing career, Joe enjoys golfing, although he admits that while he hits driver decently, his short game is a liability.

Home/Football