Former NFL player Chris Johnson has publicly shared that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) last year. The 40-year-old running back, who played for the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals during his career, revealed his diagnosis in an interview with “Good Morning America” on Monday.
Johnson spoke with journalist Michael Strahan via an eye-controlled speech-generating device, explaining that he has no known family history of ALS. "First, I want people to know I’m still me. ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am," Johnson said. He added that he hopes sharing his story will help at least one person get diagnosed sooner, inspire more research, or offer hope to another family.
Chris Johnson officially retired from professional football in 2018. His wife, Brittany, initially believed his symptoms, which included weakness in his right hand, might have been related to injuries sustained during his NFL career. "Maybe a pinched nerve or something along those lines, but never ALS," she said.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects the nervous system, impacting a person's ability to walk, talk, and breathe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy after an ALS diagnosis is two to five years.
Johnson described his disease as progressing faster than he anticipated, noting that he can no longer perform simple actions he could just over a year ago, such as picking up his daughter to make a wish for her birthday cake. He credited the late actor Eric Dane, who also lived with ALS, with inspiring him to speak out and expressed gratitude to his wife and four children for providing him with "a reason to keep fighting."
"Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it," Johnson stated. "At first you’re in shock, then you realize you have two choices: You can give up, or you could fight. I chose to fight."