Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has answered the call of a fellow franchise legend, accepting the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge nominated by Steve Gleason in support of former NFL running back Chris Johnson.
In a video posted to his official Instagram account, Brees—who was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame—completed the challenge and announced that he would also make a financial contribution to support medical research. Specifically, Brees pledged to donate to the Vanderbilt ALS Research Center in honor of Johnson, who publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis earlier this summer.
“All right, I got challenged by Steve Gleason to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in honor of Chris Johnson,” Brees said in his video before having ice water poured over him. “I’m also going to make a donation to the Vanderbilt ALS Research Center in your honor, Chris. God bless you. We’re all with you. We’re all thinking about you and praying for you.”
The gesture highlights the tight-knit solidarity within the NFL community, particularly among former Saints players. Gleason, who has been battling ALS since 2011, remains one of the most prominent advocates for ALS awareness and patient support through his Team Gleason foundation. By participating, Brees helps maintain public awareness and direct funding toward the neurodegenerative disease and the specialized clinical research conducted at Vanderbilt University.