Former New Orleans Saints quarterback and recently inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees answered the call from one franchise legend to another. Brees accepted Steve Gleason's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in support of former NFL running back Chris Johnson, who publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis earlier this summer. Before having ice water poured over him, Brees announced that he would also donate to the Vanderbilt ALS Research Center in Johnson's honor.
“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 posted to his official Instagram account. “I accept that challenge. 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.”
Johnson, best known for his illustrious career with the Tennessee Titans, earning the nickname CJ2K, revealed in June that he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. He has since helped revive the Ice Bucket Challenge, which generates awareness and funding for ALS research.
Gleason participated in the challenge in July before nominating Brees and several others. Current Saints QB Tyler Shough was also challenged and quickly took part, passing it along to teammates Juwan Johnson and Cam Jordan, as well as head coach Kellen Moore.
The original Ice Bucket Challenge became a worldwide movement in the mid-2010s and raised hundreds of millions globally. More than a decade later, Johnson's diagnosis has brought the NFL community back together. Brees is the latest Saints player to show his support.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Drew Brees joins Saints’ support for ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
