Former NFL Star Chris Johnson Reveals ALS Diagnosis, Joins Experimental Clinical Trial
Key Insights
Former NFL running back Chris Johnson (search), 40, revealed he was diagnosed with sporadic ALS last year and now uses a speech-generating device to communicate.
Johnson's disease has progressed rapidly; he went from picking up his daughter to losing that ability within just over a year.
He is working with neurologist Dr. Merit Cudkowicz (search) and participating in an experimental clinical trial that decreases inflammation.
Former NFL running back Chris Johnson (search), who holds the NFL's single-season record for yards from scrimmage, revealed Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (search), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Johnson, 40, was diagnosed last year at age 39 and now communicates using a speech-generating device triggered by his eyes.
"First, I want people to know that I'm still me," Johnson said in an interview with GMA host and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. "ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn't changed who I am."
A Rapidly Progressive Course
Johnson's ALS journey began when he initially felt weakness in his right hand. His wife, Brittany, who sat beside him during the interview, said she initially suspected something related to his football career. "I thought, because of football and his career, that it had to be something with that," Brittany said. "Maybe a pinched nerve, or something along those lines, but never ALS."
Following a series of tests, doctors delivered the diagnosis. Johnson has no family history of the disease, making his case what physicians classify as sporadic ALS — the most common form of the condition. "There's no history of ALS in my family," Johnson said. "My doctors believe my case is what's called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen."
The disease has progressed with alarming speed. "It's continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined," Johnson said. "I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she'd make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn't do that."
Pursuing Experimental Treatment
After watching neurologist Dr. Merit Cudkowicz (search), a prominent ALS researcher, on television, Johnson reached out to her. That connection led Johnson onto experimental treatments, which Dr. Cudkowicz said included a clinical trial that decreases inflammation and was very helpful. Doctors initially told Johnson about a medication that could extend his life for a few months and advised the family to get their affairs in order. "It was hard hearing that," Johnson said.
A Storied NFL Career
Johnson played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans (search) (2008–2013), New York Jets (2014), and Arizona Cardinals (2015–2017). Drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of East Carolina, Johnson rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons, missing just one game in that span.
His peak came in 2009, when he rushed for 2,006 yards and caught 50 passes for 503 yards, amassing a record 2,509 yards from scrimmage — a mark that still stands as the NFL record. The performance earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors and the nickname CJ2K. Johnson retired from the NFL in 2018 and was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
Living with ALS
Johnson emphasized that while ALS progressively destroys motor neurons — the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement — cognitive function remains intact. "People sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you're not still the same person inside," Johnson said. "I still think the same; I still dream; I still love my family. My body just doesn't cooperate."
He credited his wife's unwavering support and his children as his primary motivation. "She hasn't left my side through any of this," Johnson said of Brittany. "My kids are also a huge part of why I keep going. Every day, I wake up wanting more time with them, to make more memories and to just be their dad. They give me a reason to keep fighting."
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement saying, "Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey… His leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room and the Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise."
Johnson said he is working with doctors to continue pursuing a cure. "Honestly, I don't know if you ever fully process it," he said. "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."