Former NFL running back Chris Johnson announced he has been diagnosed with ALS during a Monday, June 29 interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” saying he was diagnosed last year at age 39 and that doctors believe his case is sporadic. He reflected on the sh
Chris Johnson’s admission didn’t arrive with hesitation—it landed like a jolt.
In a Monday, June 29 interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the former Tennessee Titans running back told viewers he has ALS, a motor neuron disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He described being diagnosed last year at 39, and he said there is no history of ALS in his family.
“There’s no history of ALS in my family,” Johnson said in the interview. “My doctors believe my case is what’s called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen.”
The way Johnson framed it was personal and stark: this is the kind of diagnosis that can reach someone who never expected it.
That expectation was shaped by a football career that, for years, made his name synonymous with speed and production. Johnson played 10 NFL seasons with the Titans, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. Known for his time in Tennessee. he became in 2009 just the sixth running back in NFL history to run for 2. 000 yards in a season.
During that breakthrough year, Johnson ran for 2,006 rushing yards while logging an NFL-record 2,509 scrimmage yards. He earned the nickname “CJ2K.” After that season. he was named an All-Pro first teamer and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons with the Titans. He currently ranks fourth overall on the team’s all-time rushing list behind Eddie George, Derrick Henry and Earl Campbell.
Johnson finished his NFL career with 2,163 carries for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns. His last season was in 2017 with the Cardinals.
In the interview, Johnson also spoke about what it took to confront the news. “Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” he said regarding his ALS 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.”
His conversation took place in a sit-down on “GMA” with former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, who works as a host for the program.
ALS. short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. is described by the United States National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as a condition that affects motor neurons—the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing. The degenerative disease causes weakness in the muscles that gradually progresses and worsens. It eventually affects muscles needed for speaking, eating and breathing, and is identified as terminal.
There is currently no known cure for ALS. Researchers have developed treatments that can slow the speed at which the disease progresses. The NIH says most people with ALS die “within 3-to-5 years of symptoms first appearing.” It also says one in 10 people suffering from ALS survive 10-plus years.
Johnson’s diagnosis prompted an immediate response from the team that shaped a major part of his legacy. Amy Adams Strunk, the controlling owner of the Titans, released a statement on Monday, June 29 addressing Johnson’s ALS diagnosis.
Strunk underlined the influence Johnson made on the Tennessee franchise during his six seasons with the team. “Some people leave a mark on an organization that you just can’t put into words. Chris Johnson is one of those people for us,” the statement reads. “His leadership on the field. in addition to his impact in the locker room and Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise.”.
The statement added: “Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey. We are holding him and his family close, and join our fans around the world in expressing our love for Chris.”
Johnson’s NFL story will now sit alongside the fight he says he has chosen. His “GMA” appearance also serves as a reminder of what ALS can take, and how quickly it can arrive—even for someone with no family history.
Chris Johnson ALS Lou Gehrig's disease Good Morning America NFL Tennessee Titans Michael Strahan motor neuron disease