PonyFans.com

Former SMU star Thomas Morstead, now with the New York Jets, announced he is dedicating his season to his longtime friend, former New Orleans Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason, who is battling ALS. Morstead made his pledge to support ALS research in the tweet below. For anyone who wants to help support the cause, the link is at the bottom.

Morstead's tweet:

I’m honored to announce that I’m dedicating this season to my dear friend, Steve Gleason, and his unwavering commitment to helping as many people living with ALS as possible. I’ll be donating $1,000 for every punt I land inside the 20-yard line. I’m grateful to be shining light on Team Gleason and appreciate you supporting Punt for ALS!
#PuntForALS #ALS #TeamGleason #Jets #NFL

https://teamgleason.org/puntforals/

Not even a little surprised. Great player, great guy.

I've never been a fan of Pat McAfee, but this might change that.

The former NFL punter-turned-media mouthpiece had former SMU star Thomas Morstead on his show, and after they talked about punting and about the start of the Jets' season, McAfee brought up the fact that Morstead is dedicating the season to his friend and former teammate, Steve Gleason, and has gotten punters around the league involved to help raise money for research.

McAfee then (correctly) called Morstead "one of the best humans to come through" the NFL, and said that his show will match whatever Morstead and his fellow punters raise this season.

https://jetsxfactor.com/2024/09/13/ny-j ... -morstead/

McAfee is right when he points out that this is not a one-time effort by Morstead, who has been involved in various philanthropic efforts throughout his career.

Cheers to both.

Serious question: what would it take to get Morstead's number retired (OK ... "honored") alongside the other greats? And into the SMU Hall of Fame?

He was easily the best punter in SMU history, and has been elite in the NFL for nearly 2 decades. Stories like this one make it even more of a no-brainer for me.