Marshall Faulk reveals Parkinson's disease diagnosis

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Southern University football coach Marshall Faulk announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The 53-year-old Super Bowl champion shared his diagnosis during an appearance on "The Caring Neurologist" podcast.

Faulk stated that medication has helped manage his symptoms, which he described as primarily hand rigidity and "little tremors." He has been dealing with the disease for approximately a year and a half and believes his treatment has prevented the rigidity from worsening.

Initially, Faulk dismissed the hand rigidity he experienced while golfing as normal nerves. However, the persistence of the symptoms even when not competing prompted him to seek medical advice. "The doctor was literally like, 'You need to go get checked,'" Faulk recounted.

Faulk expressed a desire for his public disclosure to help others facing similar health challenges. He cited an interaction with Muhammad Ali, who also lived with Parkinson's, as an influence on his perspective, noting that Ali remained sharp and "all there." This encounter shaped Faulk's view, leading him to approach his diagnosis without believing his life was over, comparing it to managing other physical ailments he has experienced throughout his career.

Faulk, the former Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams running back, was selected second overall in the 1994 NFL Draft. He was a key player in the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV victory during the 1999 season and was named NFL MVP the following year. Faulk, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, last played in the NFL in 2005. He was named head coach at Southern University in November 2025.