Whom do you look up to whenever there’s an adversity in your life? Well, in most cases, it’s our families and close ones who stand up for each other. And New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and the NFL are doing just that. By standing up for their community after New Year’s Day tragedy in New Orleans that claimed 14 lives and injured dozens.

When the world was celebrating the onset of 2025, almost 15 families on Bourbon Street lost their loved ones. So, on the back of such a horror incident that shook the foundation of New Year’s Eve celebrations all over the US, Gayle Benson and the NFL Foundation have come together to pledge $1M in relief funds to each one of the families affected on January 1st. Expressing her deepest condolences, Benson said, “Our community has experienced an unimaginable tragedy, and our collective hearts are broken as we mourn for the victims and survivors on the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans.”

Well, she didn’t just condemn the horror incident that took place in her community. Benson further added, “Our focus has always been on providing aid quickly and effectively, and we are grateful for the collaboration with both the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) and United Way to ensure that these funds reach those who need them most.” Besides Gayle Benson and the Saints Foundation, the NFL Foundation is donating $500,000. This takes the total amount to $1M, which would at least help those families navigate through a tough time.

Now, this isn’t the first time Gayle Benson has chosen to advocate for her community. During the pandemic, her community assistance fund offered up to $1.9M in relief to all her franchise workers. She has also donated more than $4M to GNOF, thereby demonstrating her active participation in the New Orleans community. Well, Benson isn’t the only one who has since stood up to help those affected in New Orleans. Former Steelers WR Antonio Brown also started a GoFundMe to help those affected families out there.

Antonio Brown pops up as an unlikely relief fund operator for the New Orleans community

Whenever the name Antonio Brown comes up, most of us instantly associate it with controversy. Now, you can’t really blame the NFL community for that. Since hanging up his cleats, Brown has somewhat turned into a controversial figure for his questionable #CTESPN posts on X. But this time, Brown has done something that could make even his haters appreciate his gesture. Brown has come forward to start a GoFundMe for all those families affected at Bourbon Street, “I will work with GoFundMe to make sure any dollar raised is split between the 14 families who lost their loved ones on January 1st.”

Anyone who has closely followed Brown’s headlines since retiring would definitely be surprised with his latest move. The former Bucs WR had just filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in May. And within a year or so, him starting a GoFundMe is indeed surprising. But whatever Brown is trying to do would at least help those unfortunate families. So, instead of thinking or questioning how Antonio came up with this idea. Let’s just appreciate him for once, shall we?