Steve Gleason is widely remembered as a former New Orleans Saints player, but his life after football has made his story much bigger than his NFL career. After being diagnosed with ALS, Gleason turned his personal fight into a mission to help other people living with the disease. Through his foundation, advocacy work and technology efforts, he has become one of the most recognizable voices in the ALS community.
At the center of his life are his wife, Michel Varisco Gleason, and their two children, Rivers and Gray.
Steve and Michel are parents to a son, Rivers Gleason, and a daughter, Gray Varisco Gleason. Their family story has been featured in documentaries, interviews and public appearances, giving people a glimpse into how they have continued building a family while dealing with the enormous challenges created by ALS.
Who Are Steve Gleason’s Children?
Steve Gleason and Michel Varisco Gleason have two children, Rivers and Gray.
Their son Rivers was born in 2011, only months after Steve publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with ALS. His arrival came during a period when Steve and Michel were adjusting to a completely different future than the one they had originally imagined.
Their daughter Gray was born several years later, on October 16, 2018, in New Orleans. Her arrival brought another important moment to the Gleason family and made Rivers a big brother.
Both children have played an important role in Steve’s life and in the story he has shared publicly about living with ALS.
Rivers Gleason Was Born After Steve’s ALS Diagnosis
Rivers Gleason was born in 2011, around nine months after Steve publicly announced his ALS diagnosis.
Steve and Michel had conceived Rivers through in vitro fertilization. His birth happened at a particularly emotional point in Steve’s life because he was already coming to terms with the possibility that ALS could dramatically shorten his future.
Instead of allowing that fear to define his relationship with his newborn son, Steve began documenting his experiences.
That personal project eventually became much more than a collection of family videos.
Rivers Inspired the Documentary Gleason
One of the most important parts of Steve Gleason’s story is the documentary Gleason, released in 2016.
The project originally began as a video journal for Rivers. Steve wanted to leave something behind for his young son in case he was not alive to watch him grow up.
The idea was deeply personal. Steve knew that his son might someday have questions about his father, his illness and the family life they shared during those early years.
By recording everyday moments, Steve hoped Rivers would one day be able to understand who his father was and how much he loved him.
The project eventually developed into a much larger documentary that followed Steve, Michel and their family as they faced the realities of ALS.
Rather than focusing only on the medical side of the disease, the film showed the emotional and personal side of Steve’s journey. Fatherhood became one of its most powerful themes.
Gray Varisco Gleason Joined the Family in 2018
Steve and Michel later welcomed their second child, Gray Varisco Gleason.
Gray was born on October 16, 2018, in New Orleans. Like Rivers, she was conceived through in vitro fertilization.
The family had kept much of the pregnancy relatively private before announcing Gray’s arrival. Her birth was a joyful moment for Steve, Michel and Rivers.
Rivers was especially excited about becoming a big brother. The arrival of Gray gave the family another new chapter at a time when Steve’s health challenges remained a major part of everyday life.
For Steve, becoming a father for the second time also reinforced something he had already learned after Rivers was born: parenthood could bring both enormous happiness and difficult emotions.
Steve Gleason Has Spoken Honestly About Fatherhood
Steve has been open about how much being a father means to him.
ALS has gradually taken away much of his ability to move, and he eventually became dependent on technology to communicate. He has also explained that his condition has sometimes made him question what he can contribute as a parent.
Despite those limitations, Steve has continued to focus on being involved in Rivers and Gray’s lives.
Technology has been especially important for the family.
Through eye-tracking communication systems and other assistive technology, Steve has been able to communicate even as ALS has affected his ability to control his muscles.
This has allowed him to remain connected to his children in ways that might otherwise have become much more difficult.
Why Technology Matters to Steve’s Family
Technology is a major part of Steve Gleason’s life today.
His experience with ALS showed him how important communication and independence can be for people living with progressive neurological diseases. That realization became one of the reasons he established the Team Gleason Foundation.
The organization works to help people with ALS access technology, equipment and other resources that can improve their quality of life.
For Steve personally, these tools are not simply medical equipment. They are also a way to remain present in his children’s lives.
Communication technology has allowed him to express his thoughts, make decisions and interact with his family despite the physical limitations caused by ALS.
Steve and Michel’s Relationship
Steve Gleason and Michel Varisco’s relationship began in New Orleans, during Steve’s years as a Saints player.
The couple eventually married in 2008.
At the time, neither could have known how dramatically their lives would change in the years ahead. Steve retired from professional football that same year, and his ALS diagnosis came several years later.
Their marriage has been tested by circumstances that few couples could easily imagine. Yet Michel has remained an important part of Steve’s journey and their family life.
Together, they have raised Rivers and Gray while adapting to the daily challenges associated with Steve’s illness.
Steve’s Role as a Father Has Changed, Not Disappeared
One of the strongest messages from Steve’s story is that physical limitations do not necessarily erase a person’s role within a family.
Steve has acknowledged that he can no longer do many of the things other fathers might take for granted. Simple physical gestures can become difficult or impossible.
But being a parent involves much more than physical activity.
Steve continues to communicate with his children, share experiences with them and remain emotionally connected to their lives.
His story also highlights how families can adapt when illness changes their circumstances.
Instead of measuring fatherhood only by what he can physically do, Steve has focused on being emotionally present and finding new ways to participate.
Steve Gleason’s Work Beyond His Family
Although Rivers and Gray are at the heart of Steve’s personal story, his work has also affected thousands of other families.
Through Team Gleason, he has pushed for greater access to technology and resources for people living with ALS.
His advocacy has helped bring attention to the challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly the importance of communication technology.
In 2020, Steve was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions and advocacy. The honor recognized his impact beyond his football career and his continuing efforts on behalf of people living with ALS.
The Gleason Family’s Story Continues
Steve Gleason’s story is not simply about a former NFL player battling a serious disease. It is also about a husband and father finding new ways to live, communicate and stay connected to his family.
His son Rivers was the original reason he began documenting his life, and that personal project eventually became a powerful documentary watched by audiences around the world.
Years later, the arrival of Gray added another chapter to the family story.
Rivers and Gray have grown up with an experience that is different from that of many children. Their father has faced extraordinary physical challenges, but he has also made it clear that his commitment to being their father remains one of the most important parts of his life.
For Steve and Michel, family has remained a source of strength through uncertainty.
The story of Rivers and Gray also shows why Steve’s journey has resonated with so many people. His greatest legacy may not be limited to what he accomplished on an NFL field. It may also be found in the relationship he continues to build with his children and in the example he has set for families facing difficult circumstances.
Today, Rivers and Gray remain an important part of Steve Gleason’s life, while his work continues to raise awareness about ALS and the power of technology to help people stay connected with the people they love.