Chris Johnson, the running back who etched his name into NFL history by rushing for 2,006 yards in a single season, announced he has been diagnosed with ALS. The 39-year-old former Titans star made the revelation during an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, speaking to co-host Michael Strahan through a speech device.
Johnson was diagnosed in 2025 after experiencing a loss of grip strength. He told Strahan that his doctors believe he has sporadic ALS, the form that accounts for the majority of cases and can strike without warning or family history.
"There's no history of ALS in my family," Johnson explained. "My doctors believe my case is what's called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen. That's one of the reasons this disease can be so shocking. It can happen to someone who never expected it."
Johnson's NFL résumé spans a decade of elite performance. He made the Pro Bowl three times and earned NFL offensive player of the year honors in 2009, the year he recorded his monster 2,006-yard rushing season, the seventh-highest single-season total in league history. The former East Carolina standout played for the Titans, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals during his career.
ALS, a motor neuron disease, causes progressive paralysis and has no known cure. The disease has affected several athletes in recent years, including former Saints defensive end Steve Gleason and rugby players Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir, and Lewis Moody.
Johnson said he faced an immediate choice upon learning of his diagnosis. "At first, you're in shock," he said. "Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight."
He emphasized that while his body has changed, his identity and spirit remain intact. "I want people to know that I'm still me," Johnson said. "ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn't changed who I am. I still think the same. I still dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn't cooperate."
Johnson said he is speaking publicly to raise awareness about the disease and to help others understand what living with ALS looks like beyond the physical limitations.
Titans owner Amy Strunk issued a statement honoring Johnson's legacy with the franchise, noting his "leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room" and stating that he has "written him permanently into the story of this franchise."
Author James Rodriguez: "Johnson's willingness to talk about this on national television while using a speech device sends a powerful message to anyone facing a similar diagnosis. This is how you fight."
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