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 At 34 years outdated, Morstead, questioning whether or not he was completed, couldn’t even get an NFL tryout.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 switch 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 dwelling out my dream.”
This was a time when Morstead, with out even looking for it, discovered solace and inspiration from an outdated good friend — former Saints participant Steve Gleason, who famously has been bravely battling ALS for years.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 going through 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 type of a degree of perspective and inspiration — particularly about coping with undesirable circumstances and the way you’re going to reply,” Morstead instructed The Put up. “I don’t know that I had ever totally communicated my appreciation to him, how a lot he’s type of carried me by some tough instances. And I simply personally needed to do one thing significant for him.”
That is when Morstead hatched an thought to boost cash for Workforce Gleason, which is Gleason’s well-established basis to boost 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 instances 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 boost 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 known as his “nemesis” for making Professional Bowls.
For subsequent week’s preseason finale in opposition to the Giants, Morstead will probably be internet hosting some households affected by ALS on the sideline as a part of the Workforce Gleason “adventures.”
“It’s a approach to encourage folks to maintain dwelling,” Morstead stated.
On a way more trivial stage by comparability, Morstead stored his NFL dream alive after the Saints launched him, and he was looking for any group to provide him a exercise.
“I simply regarded like a washed-up participant,” he recalled. “I believed I used to be carried out taking part in, 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 feel they anticipated to get an outdated punter to come back work for a number of weeks, however then I performed rather 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 internet with these 36 contained in the 20.
“He’s an incredible weapon,” Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich stated. “You could possibly make a declare that he was the MVP of the protection final yr for all of the instances that he pinned folks contained in the 20-yard line and made folks need to go the gap on us. We actually imagine as a protection, while you’ve received to go the gap, you’re not getting factors.”
Jets particular groups coordinator Brant Boyer known as it “vital for us to get him again and thank God we did.”
“It’s onerous to even say this with so long as he’s performed, however he’s getting higher on a regular basis,” Boyer stated. “I feel he’s performing in addition to he ever has. I feel he’s nearly as good a directional punter as there was on this league. He’s been an absolute pleasure to educate. One among 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 Workforce Gleason assortment, bought on the inspiration’s web site. Throughout the chest, it reads:
“#NeverPunt’’ together with his “SG” initials on it.
Gleason was carrying that shirt when Morstead visited, and Morstead playfully took a purple 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 purple line by 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 struggle. Within the first Saints sport again on the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina left hundreds of displaced households dwelling 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 anyone that I look to,” Morstead stated. “I’m not anyone that has a ton of dangerous days, however all of us have doubts and vulnerability. And while you see anyone 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.
