Former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson revealed he has been diagnosed with ALS in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America” that aired Monday.
Johnson, 39, told GMA co-host Michael Strahan that he was diagnosed with the disease in 2025.
“There is no history of ALS in my family,” said Johnson, who used a speech-generating device based on recordings of his voice to speak. “My doctors believe that my case is what is called sporadic ALS, which is how the vast majority of ALS cases occur.
“…This is one of the reasons why this disease can be so shocking. It can happen to someone who never expected it.”
Johnson played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Titans (2008-13), New York Jets (2014) and Cardinals (2015-17). He earned the nickname CJ2K after rushing for 2,006 yards in 2009, which still ranks seventh in NFL history. He broke the NFL record for most yards from scrimmage that season (2,509) and was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement about Johnson’s diagnosis, noting that the former running back’s “leadership on the field and his influence in the locker room and Nashville community have forever etched him into the history of this franchise.” Strunk said the Titans will support Johnson throughout his journey.
Chris Johnson told “Good Morning America” that he hopes his case will raise awareness about ALS and the need for research. Michael Reeves/Getty Images
ALS is a progressive disease that affects the nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. It became known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the star baseball player was diagnosed in 1939. There is currently no cure for it.
“Honestly, I don’t know if you can ever fully comprehend it,” he said of the diagnosis. “At first you are shocked. Then you realize that you have two choices. You can give up or you can fight. I chose to fight.”
Johnson, who is taking part in a clinical trial as part of his treatment, told Strahan he first started noticing symptoms when his grip weakened.
“I thought because of football and, you know, his career, there had to be something to it,” his wife, Brittany, told Strahan. “Maybe… a pinched nerve or something, but not ALS.”
Chris Johnson said: “He continues to progress much faster than I could have imagined. I want people to understand how quickly ALS can affect your body. A little over a year ago I was picking up my 7 year old daughter to make a wish with her birthday cake. I couldn’t do it today.”
After starting his career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons, Johnson was never able to achieve the same level of success at Tennessee, due in part to a series of injuries.
Johnson said he went public with his diagnosis to gain public attention and also to let people know he is the same person he was in his NFL career.
“I want people to know that I’m still me. ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am,” he said. “People sometimes look at a physical disability and assume that inside you are not the same person. I still think the same thing. I’m still dreaming. I still love my family. My body just won’t comply.”