Former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson has announced he is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease – a progressive neurological disorder that attacks the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, gradually affecting movement, speech, swallowing and breathing. There is currently no cure.
The 40-year-old athlete disclosed his medical condition during an interview with Michael Strahan on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Johnson stated that his diagnosis came last year after undergoing extensive medical testing when unexplained weakness began affecting his right hand. Johnson said doctors determined he has sporadic ALS, the most common form of the disease, despite having no family history of the illness.
Johnson, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards during his memorable 2009 season with the Titans and earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, said the disease has advanced far more quickly than he expected, depriving him of his ability to speak naturally or hold basic objects. He now communicates via an eye-tracking, computerized speech-generation device that utilizes a digital recording of his own voice made shortly after his medical testing. Despite the swift progression of the fatal nervous system disease, Johnson expressed a firm resolve to confront the illness and noted that he is actively participating in experimental clinical trials, while emphasizing that his outlook remains unchanged: “First, I want people to know I’m still me.” He added, “ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am.” Johnson also said, “You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight.”
Johnson credited his wife, Brittany, and their four children as his central motivation to continue exploring cutting-edge medical avenues, adding, “If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope, then it’s worth it.”
The Titans, where he spent the prime of his career after being selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, released a statement via controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk: “Some people leave a mark on an organization that you just can’t put into words. Chris Johnson is one of those people for us. His leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room and Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise. Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey. We are holding him and his family close, and join our fans around the world in expressing our love for Chris.”
Johnson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, played 10 seasons in the league after being selected by Tennessee in the first round of the 2008 draft, later spending time with the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 2017 season. He accumulated 9,651 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns over his career, highlighted by a 2,006-yard performance in 2009 that earned him the moniker “CJ2K.”
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