Steve Gleason thanks Sean Payton in emotional post

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Legendary Saints safety Steve Gleason penned an emotional post after New Orleans Head Coach Sean Payton announced he was stepping down from coaching.

When Sean Payton took over the team, he thought Gleason was one of the trainers because he was so small.

Gleason's crowning achievement in his career was his blocked punt against the Falcons during the Super Dome reopening.

The moment was memorized forever in a statue outside the Dome called "Rebirth."

Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS, holds a special place in Payton's heart.

Payton even gave Gleason his own Super Bowl ring after he was cut from the team a year before they won the Super Bowl.

Gleason called Payton his brother, in a post thanking him for his impact in his life.

"I met coach 15 years ago. He thought I was an equipment manager. Now I consider him my brother.

"I appreciate all you have done for me, in my football career, and my ALS career. You are easily the best coach I ever had.

"I have used so much of what I learned from you in my life with ALS. As a result, I am flourishing, despite the opponent.

"I'm happy you're moving on, if that is truly the case. You have done so much for this city and the community.

"I love you coach."

Here is a link where the Fletcher and Travers Mackel tell the story.
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NEW ORLEANS —
It is a story many do not know, nonetheless get a chance to see first-hand.WDSU's Fletcher Mackel and Travers Mackel recall the night New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton presented Steve Gleason with his very own Super Bowl ring.

Former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita invited the Mackel brothers to dinner.

"We both looked at each other thinking, how did we get here?" Travers said.

That dinner happened to be a surprise for Gleason, who had retired a year before the Saints won the Super Bowl due to his ALS diagnosis.

"It just goes to show you the character of Sean Payton," Travers said.

Fletcher became emotional, remembering how important Payton's impact was to the community after Hurricane Katrina.

"When a lot of people were running away, he ran into the city," Fletcher said, regarding the impact of Hurricane Katrina. "I feel awkward getting emotional, but he didn't have to do that. He could have taken another head coaching job, but he didn't."