Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who has been diagnosed with ALS, was presented with a Super Bowl ring by coach Sean Payton at a surprise party Monday night.

This Sunday, the Saints will hold a fundraiser for former teammate Steve Gleason, who has ALS. AP Photo/Mike Stewart

The 34-year-old Gleason revealed Sunday that he is battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease; the Saints made him their honorary captain for the game against the Houston Texans. On Monday, besides receiving the ring, Gleason got a key to the city from Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

"At the beginning of the game, I never knew if we were going to win or lose, but I was always certain that I was going to walk out of there with my head held high because I got ready, I had the right people around me and I was going to give it everything I had," Gleason, who retired after the 2008 season, said in a speech Monday. "It's the same now. We're going to give it everything we've got. And I have a calming sense of certainty that we're going to win this thing."

Besides Payton, many of Gleason's former teammates attended the party, including Drew Brees and Scott Fujita.

"This isn't about Steve having ALS," Fujita told the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune. "This is about Steve and his contribution to the (2008) team and the championship. He deserved it."