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.
