NFL Films The Timeline Reflects on Re-Opening of the Superdome

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'Rebirth in New Orleans' Premieres Wednesday, September 21 at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network​

"For me, the statue is a symbol of the commitment of the people in the region who chose to return and rebuild." – Steve Gleason

The second season of NFL Network's Emmy-nominated documentary series The Timeline from NFL Films continues Wednesday, September 21 at 8:00 PM ET with Rebirth in New Orleans, telling the story of the re-opening of the Superdome in 2006 and how Steve Gleason's blocked punt significantly impacted the people and city of New Orleans.

Narrated by actor Clarke Peters (HBO's Treme and The Wire), Rebirth in New Orleans reflects on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and how the Saints and the city of New Orleans recovered together. The one-hour show features sitdown interviews with Saints players such as Drew Brees, Scott Fujita and Steve Gleason, Saints head coach Sean Payton, and New Orleans citizens, each telling their own stories of the re-opening of the Superdome and how the events of that day have greatly impacted their lives.

Among the topics discussed in Rebirth in New Orleans are:

The incredible connection the city of New Orleans has with the Saints

The role the Superdome played during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and personal stories from those who took shelter there during the storm

Accelerating the initial re-opening plans to ensure the Superdome was ready for the 2006 NFL season

Saints head coach Sean Payton holding a practice in the Superdome before the Monday Night Football game against the Atlanta Falcons and showing a video documenting the previous 13 months following Hurricane Katrina

holding a practice in the Superdome before the Monday Night Football game against the Atlanta Falcons and showing a video documenting the previous 13 months following Hurricane Katrina Steve Gleason's blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons

Rebirth in New Orleans includes interviews with the following people and more:

Drew Brees – Saints quarterback

Sean Payton – Saints head coach

Steve Gleason – Former Saints player

Deuce McAllister – Former Saints running back

Scott Fujita – Former Saints linebacker

Tony Kornheiser – Former Monday Night Football broadcaster

Doug Thornton – GM of the Superdome

Leroy Mitchell – Whistle Monster

Mickey Loomis – Saints general manager

Edwina Handsome – Superdome usher

Michael DeMocker – Photographer

Provided below are some select quotes from Rebirth in New Orleans:

- "I remember taking the drive over and usually I have the music blaring and I have my pump-up playlist – I had no music on, I had the windows down because I wanted to smell New Orleans on the drive in." – Scott Fujita

- "During the National Anthem minutes before kickoff, I vividly remember looking across the field and seeing the Falcons, and looking up at the crowd in the Dome and thinking it is impossible for us to lose tonight." – Steve Gleason

- "I remember saying to the group, 'Get a good look at this place tonight because you'll probably never be back here again. It may be gone forever.' Certainly the next day when I flew out, it was just a devastating moment. Our city, our place of work, the place we love so much – the Superdome – I thought it was over." – Doug Thornton

- "It constitutes our rebirth. It constituted for us that we were down but we were not out. That statue is a reminder for us that we can withstand anything." – Edwina Handsome

- "This is a shared experience in the body politic of the entire country and you don't want to trump it by trying to believe that you can say something more important than what you are watching." – Tony Kornheiser on Steve Gleason's blocked punt

- "For me, the statue is a symbol of the commitment of the people in the region who chose to return and rebuild. Their commitment and strength was far greater than any of the players on the field. As a team, we were a representation of them." – Steve Gleason

This year, the expanded 10-episode season of The Timeline airs on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network, chronicling seminal moments that formed the NFL's storied past, shape the present and, in some cases, set the stage for the future.

Provided below is a broadcast schedule for the upcoming episodes of The Timeline:

Night of the Living Steelers (Wednesday, September 28 at 8:00 PM ET) – The moment when lovable losers became the most-feared team in the NFL



– The moment when lovable losers became the most-feared team in the NFL Peyton Manning's Summer School (Wednesday, October 12 at 8:00 PM ET) – The story of how Peyton Manning prepared for his record-setting 2013 season with exclusive, never before seen access of Manning that spring and summer

Each episode of The Timeline – as well as all NFL Network programming – is streamed live on the NFL Mobile from Verizon app (NFL.com/mobile) and via Watch NFL Network on tablet (NFL Mobile and Watch NFL Network apps), PC (NFL.com/watch), Xbox One and Xbox 360(NFL on Xbox app) and other connected TV devices (NFL app on Apple TV and Playstation 4).

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