Chris Johnson Opens Up About His Diagnosis
Former NFL running back Chris Johnson has revealed that he is living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has significantly affected his ability to speak and move. The former Tennessee Titans star shared his diagnosis in an emotional interview, explaining that he hopes telling his story will raise awareness about the disease while reminding people that ALS has changed his body, but not who he is as a person.
Johnson said he was diagnosed in 2025 after noticing weakness in his grip. At first, he believed the symptoms were related to the wear and tear of a decade-long NFL career, but medical testing ultimately confirmed he had sporadic ALS, the most common form of the disease. Unlike hereditary ALS, sporadic ALS develops without a known family history and accounts for the vast majority of cases.
Living With ALS
Because ALS has affected his ability to speak, Johnson now communicates using a speech generating device created from recordings of his own voice. He described the diagnosis as life-changing and admitted that the news initially left him in shock.
“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.”
Johnson explained that the disease has progressed rapidly. One of the most difficult moments, he said, was realizing he could no longer pick up his young daughter during her birthday celebration, something he had been able to do just a year earlier. Despite losing much of his physical strength, he emphasized that his personality, dreams, and love for his family remain unchanged.
“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 is currently participating in a clinical trial and hopes increased awareness will encourage more funding for ALS research and eventually lead to better treatments and, one day, a cure.
An NFL Career Defined by Speed
Johnson built one of the most explosive careers of any running back in NFL history. Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of East Carolina University, he quickly became one of the league’s most dynamic offensive players.
His greatest season came in 2009 when he rushed for 2,006 yards, becoming just the sixth player in NFL history to surpass the 2,000-yard rushing mark. That same year, he was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year and set the league’s single-season record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage, a record that still stands today.
Over 10 NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals, Johnson accumulated 9,651 rushing yards, scored 55 rushing touchdowns, and earned three Pro Bowl selections. His remarkable speed earned him the nickname “CJ2K,” a reference to his historic 2,000-yard rushing season.
Support From the Football Community
Following Johnson’s announcement, support poured in from across the NFL. The Tennessee Titans honored one of the franchise’s greatest players by praising his toughness both on and off the field. The New York Jets also expressed their support, joining teammates, coaches, former players, and fans who have rallied around Johnson since he publicly revealed his diagnosis.
His announcement has also renewed attention on ALS, a disease that has impacted several well-known NFL players over the years, including Steve Gleason, Steve McMichael, and Tim Shaw. Their advocacy has helped increase public awareness while supporting research into a disease that currently has no cure.
Raising Awareness Beyond Football
By sharing his diagnosis publicly, Johnson hopes to shine a light on the realities of living with ALS while encouraging others facing difficult diagnoses to continue fighting. Although his football career will always be remembered for breathtaking speed and record-breaking performances, Johnson now hopes his courage away from the field will inspire just as many people as his accomplishments on it.
