Tag: Congressional Gold Medal

Watch: Steve Gleason gets standing ovation at Congressional Gold Medal ceremony

New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason received a Congressional Gold Medal for his advocacy of ALS research, as well as a standing ovation.

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New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason made American history on Wednesday, being the first professional football player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his efforts in promoting awareness of ALS, a degenerative neural disease he’s fought since 2011.

Gleason, 42, earned his spot in Saints history with a game-changing blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, in the first game played inside the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. His continued rise in prominence after publicly advocating for research into ALS and raising funds to help others afflicted with it has only grown with time.

Now, he’s in rare company as the recipient of this Congressional Gold Medal. He received it during a ceremony in Statuary Hall at Capitol Hill surrounded by friends, family, and supporters, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his son Baylen as well as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Brees shared his remarks on the occasion following opening statements from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy.

And when Gleason received his award, it was followed up by a standing ovation:

Now that’s special. Afterwards, Brees shared his own thoughts on the ceremony and his relationship with Gleason in a video posted from the official Saints Twitter account:

And here’s what the medal, designed custom for Gleason, looks like:

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Steve Gleason to receive Congressional Gold Medal, Drew Brees to attend

New Orleans Saints living legend Steve Gleason will receive the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

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There aren’t many players in New Orleans Saints history more well-known and better-respected than Steve Gleason. The special teams ace earned an enduring spot in fans’ memories with his blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons, in the first game played in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city and the surrounding the Gulf Coast. It’s not for nothing that he’s the only Saints player immortalized with a bronze statue standing outside the team’s home stadium.

But Gleason has continued to be a big part of New Orleans lore after his playing days were over. He’s remained a common sight on the Saints sideline, is active in community fund-raisers and benefits, and maintains an active social media presence — all while fighting ALS, the neurodegenerative disease that has confined him to a wheelchair, only able to communicate through a cutting-edge text-to-speech computer program.

Despite those challenges and the fatal diagnosis Gleason received back in 2011, he’s continued to advocate for research into ALS and promote awareness of it, doing everything possible to help others afflicted with the disease. Now, he’ll be recognized at a ceremony on Capitol Hill after nearly a decade of those efforts, as the latest recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal. He offered input on the design of his unique medal, which can be seen here.

And he won’t be alone. Gleason’s former teammate and longtime friend Drew Brees will be in attendance (on his 41st birthday) to support him in the iconic Statuary Hall, surrounded by memorials to other figures in American history. It’s well-deserved recognition for Gleason, his family, and their friends, and we’re looking forward to viewing this latest chapter in his story.

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