Thomas Morstead was misplaced.
From 2009 to 2020, the now-Jets punter was one of many NFL’s finest. He had uncommon job safety for a participant at his place — 12 seasons with the Saints — and was on the peak of his occupation.
Then got here a again damage in 2020, a drop in manufacturing and finally a launch by New Orleans after these 12 years of service. At 34 years outdated, Morstead, questioning whether or not he was completed, couldn’t even get an NFL tryout.
When the Jets signed him to exchange an injured Braden Mann early within the 2021 season, it was a profession lifeline for Morstead, who punted for them for seven video games earlier than Mann returned. Morstead publicly thanked the Jets on the time of his launch for the prospect “to maintain residing out my dream.”
This was a time when Morstead, with out even in search of it, discovered solace and inspiration from an outdated good friend — former Saints participant Steve Gleason, who famously has been bravely battling ALS for years.
Morstead had gotten to know Gleason in his rookie season and remained near him. And, whereas he was dealing with the primary true uncertainty of his NFL profession, Morstead discovered himself quietly impressed by Gleason — with out Gleason even figuring out it.
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“He’s at all times been form of some extent of perspective and inspiration — particularly about coping with undesirable circumstances and the way you’re going to reply,” Morstead instructed The Submit. “I don’t know that I had ever absolutely communicated my appreciation to him, how a lot he’s form of carried me by way of some tough occasions. And I simply personally wished to do one thing significant for him.”
That is when Morstead hatched an thought to lift cash for Crew Gleason, which is Gleason’s well-established basis to lift cash for ALS expertise and a litany of different actions, akin to adventures for these bothered with ALS to take.
Morstead is donating $1,000 for each punt he drops contained in the 20 this season (he did it 36 occasions final yr), and he’s doing a jersey swap with every week’s opposing punter, having the punter signal it and promoting these to bidders to lift extra money.
Morstead did it in final week’s preseason opener with Washington punter Tress Manner, and he’ll do it in Saturday’s sport with Panthers punter Johnny Hekker, whom he referred to as his “nemesis” for making Professional Bowls.
For subsequent week’s preseason finale in opposition to the Giants, Morstead will likely be internet hosting some households affected by ALS on the sideline as a part of the Crew Gleason “adventures.”
“It’s a strategy to encourage folks to maintain residing,” Morstead stated.
On a way more trivial degree by comparability, Morstead stored his NFL dream alive after the Saints launched him, and he was in search of any workforce to provide him a exercise.
“I simply seemed like a washed-up participant,” he recalled. “I believed I used to be performed enjoying, and that was actually tough.”
That is the place Gleason’s quiet encouragement impressed Morstead to energy on.
“When the chance opened up right here [with the Jets] after Week 1 of the 2021 season, I believe they anticipated to get an outdated punter to return work for a number of weeks, however then I performed very well,” he stated.
When Mann was wholesome, Morstead was launched and bounced from Atlanta to Miami earlier than the Jets signed him again final season. He delivered arguably his finest season — a 48.8-yard gross common and 41.7-yard web with these 36 contained in the 20.
“He’s an incredible weapon,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich stated. “You would make a declare that he was the MVP of the protection final yr for all of the occasions that he pinned folks contained in the 20-yard line and made folks should go the gap on us. We actually imagine as a protection, if you’ve bought to go the gap, you’re not getting factors.”
Jets particular groups coordinator Brant Boyer referred to as it “vital for us to get him again and thank God we did.”
“It’s arduous to even say this with so long as he’s performed, however he’s getting higher on a regular basis,” Boyer stated. “I believe he’s performing in addition to he ever has. I believe he’s pretty much as good a directional punter as there was on this league. He’s been an absolute pleasure to educate. Considered one of my favourite gamers I’ve ever had.”
Morstead, within the offseason, made a shock go to to Gleason in New Orleans to inform him about his charity endeavor. He had his go to videotaped. Gleason cried when Morstead instructed him of his plan.
One of many T-shirts Gleason usually wears is from his Crew Gleason assortment, offered on the inspiration’s web site. Throughout the chest, it reads:
“#NeverPunt’’ along with his “SG” initials on it.
Gleason was carrying that shirt when Morstead visited, and Morstead playfully took a pink marker out and crossed out the phrase “by no means” on the shirt.
“I’ve been ready 10 years to do that,” Morstead instructed Gleason. “I don’t like your shirt. If folks by no means punted, I wouldn’t have a lot of a profession, and also you wouldn’t have a statue outdoors the Superdome. So we’re going to alter it and put a pleasant pink line by way of it and I’ll even put my very own initials right here.”
Gleason turned a supply of inspiration to New Orleans lengthy earlier than his ALS combat. Within the first Saints sport again on the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina left 1000’s of displaced households residing contained in the stadium for weeks, Gleason blocked a punt for a TD that served as the primary rating after Katrina.
It was such an iconic play {that a} statue of Gleason was erected outdoors the dome.
“This has been like a very redemptive previous three years for me, and Steve has been someone that I look to,” Morstead stated. “I’m not someone that has a ton of dangerous days, however all of us have doubts and vulnerability. And if you see someone that’s coping with such totally different stakes, it’s only a perspective giver.”
Gleason, quietly and unwittingly, helped Morstead emerge from the darkness and discover himself. The Jets, and extra importantly Morstead, are grateful for that.
