The Tennessee Titans announced Friday that they will induct former running back Chris Johnson into the team's Ring of Honor during halftime of their season opener on September 13. The announcement comes a month after Johnson revealed he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Johnson, who played for the Titans from 2008 to 2013, expressed his determination to fight 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," Johnson said in an interview with "Good Morning America."
During his six seasons with the Titans, Johnson, a 2008 first-round pick, consistently surpassed 1,000 rushing yards annually. He amassed 7,965 rushing yards in total with the franchise, ranking him fourth in team history. His most notable season was in 2009, where he earned the nickname "CJ2K" by rushing for 2,006 yards and was named Offensive Player of the Year.
"Chris Johnson holds a special place in the hearts of our organization and fans," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "His stats speak for themselves, and he will forever remain a leader in our record books, but the man behind the yardage deserves just as much celebration. We look forward to welcoming him home on Sept. 13 and officially inducting him into the Titans Ring of Honor."
After his tenure with the Titans, Johnson played for the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals. He rushed for 663 yards with the Jets in 2014 before spending the 2015-2017 seasons with the Cardinals. Johnson is the 20th player to be inducted into the Titans Ring of Honor. He has previously expressed his affection for Nashville, stating, "I love Tennessee. I come back all the time. The city embraced me, the fans loved me. Everyone around the city — and the whole state, for that matter — embraced me. Nashville, and Tennessee, will always be my second home. It will always be a place I come to."