Nearly seven years after a hurricane devastated the region and nearly six years after one special-teams play in a football game came to represent its return, a statue capturing that moment has been unveiled.
Titled “Rebirth,” the sculpture shows former Saints defensive back Steve Gleason blocking a punt from Falcons punter Michael Koenen. It happened at the end of the first drive of the first game played in the Superdome after the Hurricane, in September 2006.
Curtis DeLoach recovered the ball in the end zone, and the Saints went on to upset Mike Vick and the Falcons.
The “Rebirth” statue officially debuted earlier today during a ceremony attended by, among others, Gleason, who currently is battling ALS.
(Photo credit: Greg Bensel, New Orleans Saints V.P. of communications)