Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson announced that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as reported by The Guardian.
The 39-year-old shared the medical update during a television appearance on ABC's Good Morning America.
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Johnson made the announcement while using a speech device during an interview with show co-anchor and fellow former NFL player Michael Strahan.
The diagnosis occurred in 2025 after Johnson noticed a decline in his grip strength.
“There’s no history of ALS in my family,” said Johnson.
“My doctors believe my case is what’s called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen.
That’s one of the reasons this disease can be so shocking. It can happen to someone who never expected it.”
The former athlete explained that he decided to speak publicly to increase public knowledge regarding the progressive condition.
ALS is a motor neurone disease that lacks a known cure, resulting in paralysis and eventual death.
“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.
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I chose to fight.”
Johnson joins a list of multiple contact-sport athletes who have developed the condition, including former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason alongside rugby players Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir, and Lewis Moody.
