Jets punter dedicates season to helping friend's ALS battle

New York Jets punter Thomas Morstead is looking to capitalize on his career 2023 campaign by raising money and awareness for ALS as one of his best friends battles Lou Gehrig's disease.

Defensive back Steve Gleason spent his entire seven-year career with the New Orleans Saints from 2000-2006, before retiring in 2008. Morstead was drafted by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft and helped them win a Super Bowl during his rookie year.

Gleason revealed his ALS diagnosis in 2011 and was surprised by then-head coach Sean Payton with a Super Bowl ring. The 47-year-old received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2024 for his contributions to ALS awareness.

Morstead spent the first 12 years of his career with the Saints from 2009-2020, earning one Pro Bowl honor, and then split the 2021 campaign between the Atlanta Falcons and Jets. Morstead played the 2022 season with the Miami Dolphins before signing a $1.3 million contract with New York last April.

Thanks in part to the team's atrocious offense, he led the NFL in both punts (99) and total punt yardage (4,831) in 2023. The number of punts was 25 more than he had ever recorded in a season, the yardage was 1,124 more than his previous career high and his 48.8 yards per punt were the second-most of his career.

Over one-third of Morstead's punts from 2023 landed inside the 20-yard line, giving him an excellent shot at raising thousands in 2024.