On Sept. 25, 2006, the New Orleans Saints were returning to the rebuilt Superdome for the first time after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city and forced the team to spend an entire season out of town.
It was one of the most memorable nights not only in Saints history, but New Orleans history. The Saints were 3.5-point home underdogs but beat the rival Atlanta Falcons 23-3 on Monday Night Football in the home debuts of coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees, running back Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston.
As ESPN re-airs the game starting at 8 p.m. ET Monday (part of its five-week Monday Night Football Classics series), many former Saints, who will be tweeting all day and during the game, will share their memories — including Steve Gleason, whose blocked punt in that game is so revered that a statue of it sits outside the stadium. Fans are getting involved, too.
Here are some of their best tweets, with new ones added throughout the night.
Little known fact:
I blocked 4 punts in 8 years with the @Saints
In 8 years of high school & college football, I blocked a total of zero punts.
As an undrafted free agent, I knew I had to get innovative with any resources at my disposal to have an NFL career. #Rebirth2020 1/4— Steve Gleason – This too shall pass… (@SteveGleason) April 6, 2020
Fortunately, for the first 6 years of my career, the @Saints had a special teams coach, Al Everest, who was my Jedi master. After my rookie year, I would sit in his office for hours seeking any edge I could find. We watched a game where I nearly blocked a punt. #Rebirth2020 2/4
— Steve Gleason – This too shall pass… (@SteveGleason) April 6, 2020
Al told me that if I worked on a technique he had, he could teach me to block punts. He added that if a team blocks a punt they have 93% chance of winning. That was all I had to hear. Al cast a vision, and I committed to transform myself to become a Jedi. #Rebirth2020 3/4
— Steve Gleason – This too shall pass… (@SteveGleason) April 6, 2020
Al Everest died in 2019. I can say that without his guidance, I never make it in the NFL. His knowledge of the strategies and tactics of special teams & his ability to teach these things to players was, well masterful@Lewlew84Michael will agree, I’m sure#Rebirth2020 4/4
— Steve Gleason – This too shall pass… (@SteveGleason) April 6, 2020
Related content:
Triplett: Gleason’s blocked punt symbolized ‘rebirth’ | Gleason ‘nervous’ to relive iconic game
Let’s put on our Black and Gold and reunite to relive a game that has come to symbolize the strength, perseverance and unity of our community. @Saints vs. @AtlantaFalcons tonight on ESPN – 7pm CT. #BlackandGoldMonday #Domecoming pic.twitter.com/xXywZ1GExM
— Mercedes-Benz Superdome (@MBSuperdome) April 6, 2020
Reflections from the Saints and Falcons career scoring leader Morten Andersen (@GreatDane2544) on the Monday night return to the Dome! #BlackAndGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/Hss8tiAMhe
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 6, 2020
Shout out from Curtis Deloatch: the man who scooped, scored and dunked the blocked kick!
(👀 He gives ya something to look out for tonight 👀)#BlackAndGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/E8FnGFOHqR
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 6, 2020
The game was more than just about football. The best part of re-airing this iconic game is that it celebrates the great city, fans, & region…again.
My hope is this can be an inspiration to everyone during this difficult & unfamiliar time.
Tonight 8 pm est on ESPN! ⚜️#rebirth pic.twitter.com/wHfgT02nPp
— Mike Karney (@Karney44) April 6, 2020
This is about the time players drive themselves to the Dome for the game. I think the @Saints setup a special valet for this game. Players would pull up in front of a crowd of people & someone would take their car. I had my own routine for the previous 6 years, so I skipped this
— Steve Gleason – This too shall pass… (@SteveGleason) April 6, 2020
“It felt like we were going to war with the whole city behind us,” – @ReggieBush on the return to the Dome game ⚜️#BlackAndGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/dfyRJN7xSB
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 6, 2020
FANS
My dad has had @Saints season tickets for 31 years.
He has only ever owned ONE jersey. #nowhiteflags #BlackAndGoldMonday @Saints @SteveGleason pic.twitter.com/MT2yg5A15d
— Katy Baines (@KatyBaines1523) April 6, 2020
My boys weren’t around for the game, but they know the story and the legend of @drewbrees, @SteveGleason, and the @Saints rebirth! #BlackAndGoldMonday #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/23qcx9qbI6
— Jay L (@i_am_the_4th) April 6, 2020
@Saints #BlackAndGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/BtlBOMq1I8
— Robert Franco (@RFranco_1_2) April 6, 2020
Happy #BlackAndGoldMonday! ⚜️ Sport your black & gold and tune in tonight at 7 pm CT as @ESPN re-airs New Orleans’ 23-3 win over the @AtlantaFalcons in the first game played at the Dome following Hurricane Katrina. pic.twitter.com/2VdToVERwQ
— McKell Favrot (@McKellFavrot) April 6, 2020
@Saints #BlackAndGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/Knx0jfjFPL
— ⚜Brewdat7️⃣6️⃣⚜ (@StrangeBrew76) April 6, 2020
#BlackAndGoldMonday, Who Dat! pic.twitter.com/TX6pmD8cBb
— Maria Rose (@MariaRoseWhoDat) April 6, 2020
I can take on everything today!#BlackAndGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/UgrGDWIzZq
— Tracy D. NOLAGirl⁷ (@TDDedeaux) April 6, 2020
FANS WITH MASKS
My mom is doing covid right!!! #BlackAndGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/TZGwhycTa2
— Deb Lyons (@DebDrezLyons) April 6, 2020
#blackandgoldmonday I watched that game from another state after being reassigned for work until we reopened in New Orleans. I came back. NOLA proud then, NOLA proud now. pic.twitter.com/VQujg0Bygh
— Michelle Zara (@MichiZara) April 6, 2020
At our French Quarter home ready for @Saints vs @AtlantaFalcons on Monday night! Rockin @Rickthelaureate and @dmcallister26 jerseys. #NeverPunt #NoWhiteFlags Love you @SteveGleason !! #BlackAndGoldMonday #whodatforlife pic.twitter.com/hlYycnyXRe
— Amelie Duplessis (@AmyEDuplessis) April 6, 2020
#BlackAndGoldMonday https://t.co/KeCSaDL3sG
— The ’60s at 60 (@the_60s_at_60) April 6, 2020
@Saints Working at the hospital being essential. Counting down the hours to the big game tonight. Who Dat! #BlackandGoldMonday pic.twitter.com/5Z1GD8IAEM
— Da Boom (@Da_Boom1) April 6, 2020