METAIRIE, La. -- Steve Gleason will become the first NFL player and just the eighth individual athlete ever to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, which is considered the highest honor that Congress can award to a civilian.
Gleason, a former special teams standout with the New Orleans Saints, has become a renowned advocate for those with ALS and other neuromuscular disorders since he was diagnosed himself with the debilitating disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2011.
The House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation Thursday to award the Gold Medal to Gleason after the Senate also unanimously endorsed the award in June.