Radio host Dan Le Batard has criticized Michael Strahan for his interview with former NFL player Chris Johnson, who recently revealed his diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Le Batard argued on his show Tuesday that Strahan, a former NFL star himself, failed to ask football-related questions during the "Good Morning America" segment where Johnson disclosed his condition.
"Michael Strahan has a responsibility in that instance to ask some sort of football-related question, and he did not do it, and he came under no criticism from anybody except (journalist) Jeff Pearlman because we don’t actually want to know," Le Batard stated, suggesting the public finds the reality of athletes' long-term health struggles uncomfortable.
Le Batard referenced Pearlman's prior comments, which cited a study indicating NFL players are four times more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than the general population, with playing longer increasing that risk. Pearlman suggested Strahan should have inquired whether Johnson regretted his football career or would still choose to play knowing the potential consequences.
Le Batard described these as "reasonable criticism" and questioned the omission of such questions. "To be critical of not asking what, to me, is the elephant in the room question because the only reason Chris Johnson is on there is not because he has the disease, it’s because he played football," Le Batard said. "They’re not interviewing random people with ALS, they’re interviewing this person. To neglect that question is an omission that I don’t know why the omission is there, and I’m curious."
Le Batard also pondered how Johnson might answer the question of whether he would play football again, knowing his current condition. He noted that many former players, even those facing health issues, often express a willingness to repeat their careers, but he was particularly interested in Johnson's perspective given the severity and early onset of his ALS diagnosis.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no known cure, and the condition is fatal. Johnson, 40, played 10 seasons in the NFL from 2008 to 2017, notably earning the nickname "CJ2K" for his 2,006 rushing yards in the 2009 season. He accumulated 9,561 career rushing yards and 55 rushing touchdowns.