Chris Johnson, the former Tennessee Titans running back who became just the sixth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, has revealed he has been diagnosed with ALS. Johnson broke the news Tuesday in an interview with Good Morning America, saying the diagnosis came as a complete shock because there is no family history of the disease.
“No history of ALS in my family,” Johnson said. “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, 39, first noticed something was wrong when his right hand felt weak. His grip was off and he wasn’t as strong as he’d always been. His wife Brittany initially chalked it up to the wear and tear of a 10-year NFL career. She never imagined it could be ALS, the neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Processing the diagnosis hasn’t been easy. “Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” Johnson said. “At first, you’re in shock. Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight.”
The Titans drafted Johnson with the 24th overall pick in 2008. He spent six seasons in Tennessee, but his 2009 campaign is the one that defined his career. Johnson rushed for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. He still holds the record for most scrimmage yards in a season with 2,509.
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement on Johnson’s diagnosis Tuesday, calling him a franchise icon. “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,” the statement read. “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.”
ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to progressive muscle weakness and loss of movement. According to the ALS Association, roughly 90 percent of cases are sporadic, meaning they occur without a known family history or genetic link. There is no cure, but treatments can slow progression and manage symptoms.
Johnson has not detailed his current physical condition beyond the initial hand weakness, but he made clear he’s not ready to stop competing. “I’m going to fight this thing,” he said. “That’s just who I am.”
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