Former NFL running back Chris Johnson announced he’s battling ALS. In an interview that aired Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the 40-year-old Johnson revealed the diagnosis got here as a “shock.”
“There’s no history of ALS in my family,” Johnson said. “My doctors consider my case is what’s called sporadic ALS, which is definitely how the overwhelming majority of ALS cases occur.”
In response to the Mayo Clinic: “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord. Also generally known as ALS, the disease results in muscle weakness and other symptoms that worsen over time.”
Johnson began experiencing mild symptoms in 2025, saying; “I first noticed weakness in my right hand. At first, it was little things like my grip didn’t feel right and I wasn’t as strong as I’ve at all times been.”
Johnson’s condition has deteriorated so rapidly that he isn’t any longer capable of speak, pick up his 7-year-old daughter and even hold a cup. After Johnson received his diagnosis, his voice was recorded and programmed right into a speech-generating device. He now uses it to talk.
While there’s isn’t any known cure for ALS, Johnson’s participation in a clinical trial has yielded encouraging results, Dr. Merit Cudkowicz told GMA.
“Chris has been on standard of care, which is about three different medications that decelerate the illness,” she said. “But he was also a part of a clinical trial, a therapy that decreases inflammation, and I feel that helped him quite a bit.”
Johnson, who played for the Titans, Cardinals and Jets, was among the many NFL’s most electrifying players during a profession that spanned from 2008-17. Capitalizing on his blazing speed, Johnson begin his profession in Tennessee with six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including a 2,006-yard showing in 2009. Johnson, who earned the nickname “CJ2K,” set what still stands because the all-time record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage that season. He earned Offensive Player of the Yr honors and the second of three Pro Bowl nods for his efforts.
Former NFL linebacker Tim Shaw, who was teammates with Johnson in Tennessee from 2010-12, was diagnosed with ALS in 2014. Reacting to Johnson’s devastating announcement on Monday, Shaw told veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky via text: “I’m very happy with CJ. Telling the world is super tough. Especially if you’re a personal person. Chris and I actually have been talking for some time. He’s got such a fantastic attitude. He’s got all of the motivation of his family. And he has faith in God for his future. So he’s crushing it.”
We at PFR are rooting for Johnson, Shaw and all others affected by ALS.