Steve Gleason awarded Congressional Gold Medal

Ask a Saints fan, any Saints fan where they were when Steve Gleason gave new life to the City of New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast region decimated by Hurricane Katrina and they’ll know where they were.

In that moment of rebirth, an even greater human story was beginning to take form through football: the story of Steve Gleason and his courageous fight with ALS.

Today that story takes on new meaning in the nation’s capital more than nine years after his diagnosis.

Gleason is now the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. A Saints hero turned American hero, the 42-year-old Gleason has been living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease since 2011 and continues to help those who struggle with ALS and other debilitating diseases.

He’s the first NFL player to ever receive the Congressional Gold Medal, capping off a seven year career in New Orleans with that blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons in 2006.

A symbol of hope then in the Superdome and a symbol of hope now in Statuary Hall, Gleason accepts the award on behalf of all families struggling with adversity, sense of humor and all. “While sharing ones weaknesses may not be common practice for people, especially for politicians in an election year – wink, wink – sharing my weaknesses was entirely critical for me to play eight years in the NFL. And it has been unquestionably critical to my survival and purpose for the past nine years, living with a disease as dreadfully beautiful as ALS. I feel that this honor represents some joy and encouragement and even triumph for the tens of thousands of extraordinary families currently enduring life with ALS.”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees said, “Steve, you’re an inspiration. You’re a source of strength to so many, especially me. A true American hero.”