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Ex-Saints DB Steve Gleason Receives Ovation at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony

Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press

Former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason was honored with a Congressional Gold Medal Wednesday, and the 42-year-old ALS advocate was met with a roaring standing ovation:

Gleason became the first football player to ever receive the honor, per Jeff Duncan of The Athletic, and his medal features him wearing his No. 37 Saints jersey:

Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncan_

The great Steve Gleason receives the Congressional Gold Medal at Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capital, becoming the first football player to ever receive the honor. https://t.co/Xf2aD4SVQq

Gleason was immortalized in 2012 with a statue in front of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome depicting his legendary blocked punt from the Saints' first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.