Five Years After Katrina: The NFL Plays Hard, Works Hard

When the NFL Player Care Foundation was looking for a house to rebuild in New Orleans' Gentilly neighborhood they wanted a challenge. You know how athletes are. They hate it when anything is easy.

What they got was Tom Thomas' house on Mexico Street. Tom had lived in the house for more than 60 years while he worked as a longshoreman on the Mississippi. He took pride in living in one of the first planned African-American suburbs in New Orleans. He took almost as much pride in his incredible vegetable garden.

During Hurricane Katrina his home was completely submerged in water. He lost everything and had no insurance. When FEMA finally paid him emergency funds, someone stole Tom's identity and that cash was paid to the wrong person. He was ineligible to apply for even Road Home assistance. Tom's house had to be rebuilt from the studs up (left).

That was a challenge fit for the NFL. This week, on the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, over a dozen former NFL players, among them New Orleans Saints alums, Mike McKenzie (right), Tyrone Hughes, Tyrone Legette and Rickey Jackson.

Since retiring from the league 12 years ago, Legette (above) has been working as a contractor in New Orleans. When Player Care, Rebuilding Together and Sears came knocking he jumped at the chance to get involved in the Fifty for Five campaign (That's rebuilding 50 houses in just 5 days).

"The community has been hit pretty hard and as far as the rebuilding it has been pretty slow," Legette said. "Once one community is being developed they spearhead the other communities to get involved and start it as well."

Fifty for Five has recruited affiliates from around the Rebuilding Together national network, local volunteers, major corporate sponsors, including presenting sponsor Sears Holdings, celebrities, and community leaders to assist in the renovation of 50 homes in the Gentilly neighborhood. More than 1,000 volunteers have been on site throughout the week for the rebuild.

By Sunday Tom Thomas will have a home fit for king that was built by a couple of Saints.

Photos by Jo Piazza