The Falcons and Saints have been rivals for 50 seasons but Friday night Atlanta owner Arthur Blank said he’s been inspired by a former New Orleans player.

Ex-safety Steve Gleason, who once blocked a punt against Blank’s Falcons in 2006, is fighting ALS, a disease that impacts the lives of more than 6,000 people each year. He is the subject of a new documentary titled “Gleason.”

At a screening Friday night in Atlanta, Blank’s foundation donated $100,000 to The Gleason Initiative Foundation to help provide innovative communication equipment to people with ALS.

“Steve Gleason’s story touched me as a father and recent cancer survivor,” Blank said. “Stories like his bring into focus what is truly important. His story is about a life that was dramatically changed by a disease, and how he has courageously chosen to face it. It’s about family and what is most important in life – more important than any game, any play or any rivalry ever will be.”

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Atlanta Falcons players celebrate with linebacker DeAngelo Malone after an interception during a game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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