NFL NETWORK’S A FOOTBALL LIFE SERIES PROFILES THE INSPIRATIONAL STEVE GLEASON
Emmy-Nominated Series Continues Tuesday, November 26,
at 9:00 PM ET
“My Life is Not Easy, But It’s Awesome.” – Steve Gleason
Members of Team Gleason In-Studio for
A Football Life: Backstory at 10:00 PM ET
Leading Washington State to the Rose Bowl or being the central figure in the New Orleans Saints’ most iconic play defines a football life. Facilitating awareness for an incurable disease defines a legacy.
NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated series A Football Life continues Tuesday, November 26 at 9:00 PM ET with a profile of the inspirational Steve Gleason who is currently living with ALS, an incurable neurological disease. The one-hour special chronicles Gleason’s football career, the early stages of his retirement, his life-altering diagnosis and his new livelihood as a patient, spokesperson, and trailblazer.
Each day, Gleason is challenged and rewarded in ways opponents and victories never could. Featured stories in Steve Gleason: A Football Life are:
· ALS Diagnosis: After eight NFL seasons, Gleason retired and began a new chapter of his life. He was married, he traveled and was spontaneous. However, after two years of retirement, his care-free life was forced to slow down. Ahead of him was a battery of tests to determine his illness. Eight months later, Gleason and his family’s worst fears were confirmed: he had ALS.
Steve Gleason: A Football Life details his family’s reaction to the traumatic diagnosis and the inevitable deterioration of Gleason’s physical abilities. Fast-forwarding to present day, Gleason demonstrates how he is able to communicate with others and what his day-to-day life is like living with ALS.
· No White Flags: Steve Gleason’s story has positively inspired many people since he went public with his diagnosis. Furthermore, his foundation Team Gleason, has become the voice of ALS patients throughout the world.
With the mantra “No White Flags,” Team Gleason views no obstacle as too big and no challenge as unattainable. In fact, the foundation specializes in setting up adventures for those suffering with ALS and other neurological muscle diseases. The ultimate goal behind the foundation is to create ALS awareness which will facilitate medical research, and create a path toward a cure for ALS.
Team Gleason’s tangible impact is best demonstrated through The Team Gleason House for Innovative Living – a housing complex to help those who suffer from ALS and other neurological muscle diseases. Steve calls the house “The most significant achievement for his foundation to date.”
· The Ascent of Machu Picchu: Climbing Machu Picchu is a challenge for the healthiest people. With Steve Gleason’s limitations and his toddler son, Rivers, along for the climb, Team Gleason tried to do the impossible.
Steve Gleason: A Football Life documents the entire adventure – from preparation, to traveling to Peru, and the ascent up mountain. As former NFL player and teammate of Gleason Scott Fujita summed up during the climb, “Football has nothing on this.”
Team Gleason faced a number of challenges which almost derailed the mission. However, it was the chance encounter with Jenny Gonzalez – a fan of Team Gleason – which positively changed the whole trip.
Steve Gleason: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people:
Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints quarterback
Scott Fujita – Former Saints teammate and Gleason’s best friend
Gail Gleason – Steve’s mother
Michel Varisco Gleason – Steve’s wife
Mike Gleason – Steve’s father
Kyle Gleason – Steve’s brother
Blair Casey – General Manager of Team Gleason
Kevin Swan – Fellow ALS patient
H.T. Higgins – Gleason’s football coach at Gonzaga Prep High School
Jenny Gonzalez – Fan of Team Gleason
Dr. Jim Logan – One of Steve’s doctors
A first look at Steve Gleason: A Football Life can be viewed here:
A Football Life: Backstory – Immediately Following at 10:00 PM ET
New this season, A Football Life: Backstory airs following each A Football Life episode at 10:00 PM ET on NFL Network. The 30-minute show provides a deeper look into Steve Gleason’s life and story. This week, joining host Jenn Brown, are members of Team Gleason including Blair Casey and Clare Durrett. Additionally, the producer of the film Charlie Askew will be in-studio to talk about the making of the documentary and Jenny Gonzalez, who met Steve Gleason by happenstance, will be live to talk about the chance-encounter and how it impacted her life.
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A Football Life: Xtra
Viewers can also interact with and follow the series on their phones and tablets with A Football Life Xtra. Located within the new NFL Mobile app, A Football Life Xtra features producer commentary, photos and artifacts from the NFL Films archives, and career stats and unique facts, as well as trivia games and polls on NFL legends. Visit NFL.com/XTRA on your mobile device to download NFL Mobile. Additionally, every episode of A Football Life – as well as all NFL Network programming – is streamed live on NFL Mobile from Verizon, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Airing on Tuesday nights at 9:00 PM ET throughout the NFL season, A Football Life series examines the iconic individuals and subjects that have had an undeniable and profound impact on the history of the National Football League, offering an inside look into their untold stories.
A broadcast schedule for future episodes of A Football Life:
- December 3 – Great Wall of Dallas
- December 10 – Houston ‘93
- December 17 – Marty Schottenheimer
Please click on the following link to view the trailer for this season of A Football Life:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/a-
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