Steve Gleason | New Orleans Saints | NewOrleansSaints.com

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Saints Man of the Year Cam Jordan attended Answer ALS and Team Gleason's Game Changer Gala on March 12 at Hyatt Regency in New Orleans. The event, which raised $2.5 million for ALS research, was hosted by actor/comedian Chris Tucker and featured performances by Nathaniel Ratliff and the Night Sweat, Macklemore, Lord Huron, Irma Thomas and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

In honor of his birthday, we celebrate with a look at legend Steven Gleason and his years on and off the field with the New Orleans Saints.

New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason is receiving the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in Washington, D.C. We asked photographer Ted Jackson to spend Monday, Dec. 16 with Steve and his family as they went about a normal day, capped off by attending the Saints' game against the Colts in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Saints legend Steve Gleason hosted a Life Skills Football Clinic at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Saturday, June 8, 2019. The group wrapped up the day by taking part in the Crack Cancer Challenge to raise cancer awareness

As Steve Gleason is awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow, we take a look back at the best photos of Steve through the years.

Saints legend Steve Gleason hosted a Life Skills Football Clinic at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

Several New Orleans Saints join Steve Gleason at his 41st birthday party at Fulton Alley, where he was also announced as the winner of the 2018 Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership award on February 22, 2018.

We're spreading the Gleason love in celebration of Steve's 40th birthday.

Saints players, and Steve Gleason, chimed in on social media after the win over Carolina.

Photos of Steve Gleason with the New Orleans Saints. AP Photos.

Steve Gleason announces "Answer ALS" a collaborative initiative to raise funds for ALS research on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Photos by Alex Restrepo (New Orleans Saints photos)

Steve Gleason introduced Pearl Jam at the 2013 VooDoo Music + Arts Experience on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the City Park's Festival Grounds. Photos taken by Alex Restrepo (New Orleans Saints photos)

Photos taken at Gleason Gras, a fundraiser at Champions Square to raise money for former Saint Steve Gleason. Photos taken by Alex Restrepo.

Photos of former Saint Steve Gleason and his family at the Saints-Texans game on Sept. 25, 2011. Photos taken by Michael C. Hebert.

New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason receives the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor at the United States Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 15

New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason accepted the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in the Statuary Room of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees delivers stirring speech at the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for Saints legend Steve Gleason on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason is on the sideline for the Saints' 2019 home opener in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Saints legend Steve Gleason hosted a Life Skills Football Clinic at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Saturday, June 8, 2019.

Steve Gleason watches Saints from sidelines during NFC Championship Game

"Good Morning Football" talks with United States Senator Bill Cassidy about former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason receiving the Congressional Gold Medal.

New Orleans Saints join Steve Gleason at his 41st birthday celebration as he is announced by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame to be the recipient of the 2018 Dave Dixon Sports Leadership award on February 22, 2018.

Join Steve Gleason and Cille Norman, both A.L.S. patients at Ochsner, as they discuss their experience and share their story at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in December 2017.

Steve Gleason and Drew Brees lead the Who Dat chant prior to the Saints' game versus the Atlanta Falcons.

Watch all of the Saints blocked punts returned for touchdowns in team history starting with Steve Gleason, then Michael Mauti and finally Justin Hardee

The story of music and football, two of New Orleans great loves, come together for the return of the Saints to New Orleans and the Superdome on September 25, 2006. Re-live the amazing pregame show and Irma Thomas' national anthem with commentary as well as the immortal punt block with Steve Gleason.

The story of former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS will open in theaters on July 29.

September 25, 2006, vs. Atlanta Falcons at Louisiana Superdome - In the reopening of the Superdome following the damage it suffered a year earlier due to Hurricane Katrina, S Steve Gleason blocks a punt in the first quarter that is recovered by CB Curtis DeLoatch for a touchdown to spark a 23-3 Saints win.

Saints coaches and players attend the premiere of the Steve Gleason Documentary. Video by Ashley Amoss (New Orleans Saints Video)

The New Orleans Saints recreate Steve Gleason's famed blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons in 2006, this time once again against the Falcons in Week 6 with Gleason himself looking on from the stands.

New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis celebrates the rebirth of the New Orleans Saints a decade ago with a blocked punt from an unlikely player.

September 25, 2006- In the Saints' return to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, Steve Gleason heroically blocked the Falcons' punt attempt, resulting in the first touchdown of the night.

Before the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers faced off in Week 8, Packers safety Morgan Burnett stopped by to meet Steve Gleason. The former safety whose battle with ALS has inspired many in the NFL community.

See former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason block a punt in the Saints first game back in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason and thousands of Saints fans who had just finished running in the Saints Kickoff 5K set the world record for amount people participating in a #ALSIceBucketChallenge in one setting at Champions Square on Saturday, September 6, 2014. Video by Justin Stout. (New Orleans Saints video)

The journey continues into the dark as Team Gleason makes its way to Sanctuary Lodge. Find out how the journey ended and see if the team had any trouble climbing during the night.

Team Gleason begins its climb to Sanctuary Lodge on Machu Picchu. Check out the adventure that ensued, which included a chair breaking and a group being dropped off near a cliff.

Take a look at Steve Gleason's path from Gonzaga Prep High School to the New Orleans Saints. Also, check out the inspirational story of a girl who climbed Machu Picchu before Gleason and did it in his honor.

In 2011, Steve Gleason went public with his diagnosis, but he also shared some good news that he was having a baby boy. Get an inside look into Gleason's family and see how he prepared for his climb to Machu Picchu.

Gleason honored at Wrigley Field on inaugural MLB league-wide event

Gleason is first former NFL player to receive the award

Gleason spent seven years with New Orleans Saints

Gleason Gras + Fun Run presented by Dave & Buster's, in association with the Saints Fantennial benefitting the Team Gleason Foundation 

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy made the announcement Thursday

Congress passes legislation to give Gleason highest civilian honor it can bestow

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness for ALS and to support the Team Gleason Foundation

'Just his approach to everyday life affects people'

Senator Cassidy: 'Steve Gleason was a hero for Saints fans and now he is a hero for all Americans'

Gleason: 'I'm home with the family watching the Pelicans'

Gleason was surprised with the news at his 41st birthday party

Steve Gleason answered a number of fan questions on Twitter Tuesday

Recounting the events leading up to the Superdome's re-opening game

"Gleason" hits select theaters on Friday

Check out the Top 10 greatest Saints plays of the last 50 seasons.

The Steve Gleason documentary hits select theaters July 29th

Gleason's block and Mauti's block two defining plays in series

Obama called Gleason's famous blocked punt "One of the most iconic moments in sports history"

Steve Gleason commits to raising more ice buckets, to help more people

Gleason is the third member of the Saints franchise to receive the honor from the PFWA, joining kicker Tom Dempsey (1972) and current quarterback Drew Brees (2007)

The George Halas Award goes to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed

Academy Award winner Seth Gordon to produce the feature-length documentary

NBC profiled Steve Gleason on their pregame show Sunday

A number of New Orleans Saints players and coaches have joined the campaign

A $500 Million Effort to End ALS In Our Lifetime