Former NFL running back Chris Johnson announced his diagnosis with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) during a broadcast interview on Monday, June 29, 2026.
The 40-year-old former star shared the medical update with co-anchor Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, noting that he originally received the diagnosis last year.
"If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope, it's worth it," Johnson said.
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 90% of ALS cases are sporadic, meaning they lack an inherited genetic link.
Doctors believe Johnson has this form due to his lack of family history.
"Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she could make a wish for her birthday cake," Johnson recalled.
The disease progressed rapidly, forcing Johnson to use an assistive communication device operated by eye-movement sensors during the television appearance.
He initially noticed symptoms through weakness and a diminished grip in his right hand.
"First, 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," Johnson said.
Johnson explained that physical limitations often lead to false assumptions about cognitive abilities. "Your mind stays sharp.
People sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you're not still the same person inside.
I still think the same, I still dream, I still love my family. My body just doesn't cooperate," he said.
The former first-round draft pick played 10 NFL seasons for the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals, rushing for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns.
He is one of nine players to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, achieving the feat in 2009.
His wife, Brittany Johnson, appeared alongside him during the interview to discuss the emotional impact on their family of four children.
"All I could think about was our kids and how young they are," she said.
She stated that while their previous life has changed, the family remains hopeful.
Johnson joins a legacy of public figures raising awareness for the disease, which became globally recognized after New York Yankees player Lou Gehrig was diagnosed in the 1930s.
