Chris Johnson, one of the few NFL players to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season, has revealed he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2025. The 39-year-old former Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals running back made the announcement on ABC's Good Morning America during an interview with co-anchor Michael Strahan, a former NFL player himself.
Diagnosis and Reaction
Using a speech device, Johnson explained that his case is sporadic ALS, with no family history of the disease. “There’s no history of ALS in my family,” he 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 noticed symptoms when he began losing strength in his grip. “Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” he said of the diagnosis. “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.”
Career Highlights
A three-time Pro Bowler, Johnson was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 after rushing for 2,006 yards—the seventh-most in a single season in league history. He played 10 seasons in the NFL, starting with the Titans, who selected him in the first round of the 2008 draft out of East Carolina University. He later played for the Jets and Cardinals.
Raising Awareness
Johnson said he is speaking publicly to raise awareness about ALS. “I want people to know that I’m still me. ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am,” he said. “People sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you’re not still the same person inside. I still think the same. I still dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn’t cooperate.”
ALS, a type of motor neurone disease, causes progressive paralysis and is ultimately fatal. There is no known cure. Several athletes in contact sports have been diagnosed with ALS, including former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and rugby stars Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir, and Lewis Moody.
Tributes
Titans owner Amy Strunk paid tribute to Johnson in a statement, praising his “leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room … the Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise.”
