Former Saints Greats Giving Back Through Charity Fan Cruise

Many New Orleans Saints players have been extremely active within their community over the decades, both during their career and after their playing days are over. 

Nowhere has this been more evident than during the Original Geaux Black and Gold Celebrity Charity Fan Cruise. The cruise just concluded its 11th year with a trip leaving New Orleans to Cozumel, Mexico.

This is an incredible fan-friendly event and sponsored by an amazing charity called Get Checked or Check Out, with the trip run through Seven Seas Travel.

Get Checked or Check Out was co-founded by Cherine DeWalt and works closely with several former New Orleans Saints players.

 

Get Checked or Check Out helps improve the lives by building community awareness, advocating from Mental Health to Dental Health to include Cancer , Diabetes and Heart Health related diagnosis, and maximizing service effectiveness by linking families with the resources they need.  

Their mission is to focus on the Total Person – Spirit, Mind and Body – through development programs that strengthen our families.  These lead to a sustained, Healthier Community!

They not only want the patient and their families to understand their challenge but that there is help and various resources here to assist, that may sometimes even cure the One thing that we all feared with the proper Treatment Plan.  Starting with Education, Patient Navigation (to research non-traditional treatment plans such as Clinical Trials) Early diagnosis, and screenings, just to name a few...

It's through Annual Fundraisers such as the Geaux Black & Gold Celebrity Fan Cruise that allow them to raise the Funds to do these type of initiatives that support the local Community!  Please visit Geaux Black and Gold Celebrity Fan Cruise to get more details on cruise details and other ways to support this outstanding cause.

Here are the five former New Orleans Saints players that were on this year's cruise and are heavily involved with the Get Checked or Check Out cause.

Delvin Breaux 

 

Delvin was a cornerback for the Saints from 2015 to 2017. His 2015 campaign was particularly strong with a team-high 3 interceptions and 19 passes broken up, sixth in the NFL.  

Also a three-time all-star in the Canadian Football League, Breaux was a standout for the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats for several seasons. Unfortunately, a broken leg, poor diagnosis from team medical staff on the leg, and complications from the injury ended Breaux's career with the Saints just as it was taking off.

A published author, Delvin's book titled 'Un-Breaux-Ken' outlines his childhood and amazing recovery from a broken neck back to the football field. 

A native of New Orleans, Delvin runs several youth football camps in the area in addition to his involvement with Get Checked or Check Out. 

 

Tyrone Hughes 

 

Tyrone was a cornerback and elite return specialist for the Saints from 1993 to 1996. He had four interceptions and returned two of his three fumble recoveries for touchdowns. Hughes led the NFL in kickoff return yardage for three consecutive seasons and punt return yardage once.

Tyrone returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns during his New Orleans career. During a 1994 game against the Rams, he set NFL records for kickoff return yards (304) and combined return yards (347) while returning two kicks for scores. His 1996 return total of 1,943 yards was an NFL single-season record. 

In 2015, Tyrone was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. He remains second in franchise history in both kickoff and punt return yards, holds the longest punt return in team history, with his five combined kick and punt return touchdowns tops in franchise history. 

A native of New Orleans, Tyrone remains extremely active in several area functions including Get Checked or Check Out. 

Michael Lewis 

A Saints wide receiver and elite kick returner from 2001 to 2006, Lewis' story from Arena and NFL Europe player to delivery driver to NFL star is well-known. He chronicles that and more in his book 'The Beer Man - They Said I Couldn't Do It'.

Michael took the NFL by storm in 2002, leading the league in both kickoff and punt return yardage as well as all-purpose yards. His 2,432 return yards that year set an NFL single-season record. For his career, Lewis had 28 receptions for 553 yards and a score. He added 4 more touchdowns as a returner, totaling 7,385 yards.

Perhaps it was fitting that Michael Lewis was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2015 along with Tyrone Hughes. Lewis surpassed Hughes as the franchise's all-time leader in kickoff and punt return yardage, with no other player close to either in that category. 

Raised in the New Orleans area, Lewis is now a very active youth coach in the Houston region.

Courtney Roby 

 

Courtney was a standout kick returner and wide receiver for New Orleans from 2008 to 2012. He was an integral part of the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship squad and was voted the team's special teams MVP that season. 

In 2009, Roby ranked third in the NFL in kickoff return average and returned one for a touchdown. A key kick return during the 2010 NFL Championship Game was critical to the New Orleans victory. During that title game and the Super Bowl win, Roby averaged over 27 yards on kickoff returns.

Underused as a receiver during his time with New Orleans, Courtney was also one of the league's best in kick coverage in addition to his valuable return skills. He has the highest kickoff return average in franchise history for a player with at least 75 attempts. 

Courtney is residing in the Indianapolis area since his retirement, but still is a very active part of Get Checked or Check Out. He also plays a very active role in the scholastic sports career of his two daughters. 

Pierre Thomas 

 

Undrafted in 2007, Pierre forged an outstanding career as a Saint until 2014. He ranks sixth on the team's all-time rushing list and for career rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he's second behind only Alvin Kamara for receptions and receiving yards by a running back. 

One of the best running backs in NFL history on screen passes, Thomas usually saved his biggest plays for the biggest games. He was invaluable to the Saints as a runner, a receiver, and even when pressed into special teams duties. 

Thomas had 6,353 yards from scrimmage and 41 touchdowns in eight years with New Orleans. He added several more big plays in the postseason, especially during the 2010 NFC Championship game and Super Bowl XLIV victory with 224 combined all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. 

Pierre was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2018. Even while living in Chicago, he is still involved with various activities that benefit New Orleans fans.

 

The 2025 Original Geaux Black and Gold Celebrity Charity Fan Cruise included a meet & greet, multiple Q & A sessions with those Saints greats, and a highly competitive putt-putt tournament with each player as captain of a team with fans as teammates. 

What set this event apart from others is that the players weren't only available during specific sessions. Delvin Breaux, Tyrone Hughes, Michael Lewis, Courtney Roby, and Pierre Thomas along with their families were mixed in and interacted with fans during the entire cruise. 

What also made this event special was the fans on the cruise. It truly was an amazing experience fun for adults and kids, making it truly feel like a family reunion.