Former NFL star and ALS advocate Steve Gleason received the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony earlier this month at the U.S. Capitol.
Gleason was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease — in 2011. Since then, he’s become a leading advocate for people living with the paralyzing neuromuscular disease.
He will be the first NFL player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. Previous honorees include Thomas Edison, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson.
When the honor was announced Gleason said, “The list of past winners is filled with enlightened and powerful giants of humanity. It’s ridiculously overwhelming.”
Gleason said he’ll accept the Congressional Gold Medal “for all the families who have been diagnosed with ALS, as well as anyone struggling to overcome life’s inevitable adversities.”
Last year, President Donald Trump signed the bill awarding the honor to Gleason, after the legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, spearheaded efforts to recognize Gleason’s ALS advocacy and unveiled sketches last fall of the design that Gleason worked with the Congressional Gold Medal Committee to create for the medal.
One side shows the image of Gleason, fist pumped in the air, No. 37 across his chest. The back features a forest-lined stream with a mountain in the background and the words “Keep Exploring.”