Former NFL running back Chris Johnson, known for his speed and 2009 Offensive Player of the Year award, has revealed the initial symptom that alerted him to his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis.

Johnson, who received his diagnosis last year at age 39, shared in a recent interview that he first noticed a weakening in his right hand. "Little things, like my grip didn't feel right, and I wasn't as strong as I've always been," he said.

He and his wife, Brittany, initially suspected his symptoms were related to his demanding football career. "I thought because of football and, you know, his career, that it had to be something with that. Maybe… a pinched nerve or something along those lines, but never ALS," Brittany Johnson stated.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurological disorder that affects motor neurons. Johnson, now 40, has experienced rapid progression of the disease, which has left him unable to speak. He now uses a voice-generating machine triggered by his eye movements.

"It's continued to progress much faster than I imagined," Johnson explained. "I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago I was picking up my seven-year-old daughter so she could make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn't do that."

Johnson, who retired from the NFL in 2017, had no prior family history of the disease. Doctors believe his case to be sporadic ALS, the most common form, which occurs randomly.

"It can happen to someone who never expected it," Johnson said. "I don't know if you can ever fully process it. 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."

Despite the physical challenges, Johnson emphasized that his identity remains unchanged. "First, I want people to know that I'm still me," he stated. "ALS has changed what my body can do but it hasn't changed who I am."

His wife has remained a constant support since the diagnosis. "Brittany has hasn't left my side," Johnson shared. He also cited his four children as a primary motivation for continuing to fight the disease.

Johnson decided to share his story to raise awareness and potentially aid others. "Because if sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research or gives another family hope, then it's worth it," he said. Doctors recorded his voice to preserve his natural sound for the speech-generating device.