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Former NFL running back Chris Johnson<\/strong> announced he’s battling ALS. In an interview that aired Monday on\u00a0ABC\u2019s \u201cGood Morning America<\/em><\/a>,\u201d the 40-year-old Johnson revealed the diagnosis got here as a \u201cshock.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no history of ALS in my family,\u201d<\/em> Johnson said. \u201cMy doctors consider my case is what\u2019s called sporadic ALS, which is definitely how the overwhelming majority of ALS cases occur.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In response to the Mayo Clinic:<\/a> \u201cAmyotrophic 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Johnson began experiencing mild symptoms in 2025, saying; \u201cI first noticed weakness in my right hand. At first, it was little things like my grip didn\u2019t feel right and I wasn\u2019t as strong as I\u2019ve at all times been.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n While there’s isn’t any known cure for ALS, Johnson\u2019s participation in a clinical trial has yielded encouraging results,<\/em> Dr. Merit Cudkowicz told GMA<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cChris has been on standard of care, which is about three different medications that decelerate the illness,\u201d<\/em> she said. \u201cBut he was also a part of a clinical trial, a therapy that decreases inflammation, and I feel that helped him quite a bit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Johnson, who played for the Titans, Cardinals and Jets, was among the many NFL\u2019s 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 \u201cCJ2K,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n Former NFL linebacker Tim Shaw<\/strong>, who was teammates with Johnson in Tennessee from 2010-12, was diagnosed with ALS in 2014. Reacting to Johnson\u2019s devastating announcement on Monday, Shaw told veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky<\/a> via text: \u201cI\u2019m very happy with CJ. Telling the world is super tough. Especially if you\u2019re a personal person. Chris and I actually have been talking for some time. He\u2019s got such a fantastic attitude. He\u2019s got all of the motivation of his family. And he has faith in God for his future. So he\u2019s crushing it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n We at PFR are rooting for Johnson, Shaw and all others affected by ALS.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Former NFL running back Chris Johnson announced he’s battling ALS. In an interview that aired Monday on\u00a0ABC\u2019s \u201cGood Morning America,\u201d the 40-year-old Johnson revealed the diagnosis got here as a \u201cshock.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s no history of ALS in my family,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cMy doctors consider my case is what\u2019s called sporadic ALS, which is definitely how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":358516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[30439,2237,1183,7251,8962,1998],"class_list":["post-358515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-als","tag-announces","tag-chris","tag-diagnosis","tag-johnson","tag-nfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t