Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson announced in an interview broadcast on June 29, 2026, that he has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
The 40-year-old former athlete shared on "Good Morning America" that he received the medical diagnosis last year at the age of 39 after noticing muscle weakness in his right hand during his daily workout routines.
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"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."
Johnson stated that his physical symptoms initially felt like minor strength issues, which his wife initially suspected to be a pinched nerve resulting from his professional football career.
"At first, it was little things like my grip didn't feel right and I wasn't as strong as I've always been," Johnson said.
According to the broadcast report, the disease has since advanced rapidly, requiring the former running back to use an eye-tracking computer to communicate.
"It's continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined. 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.
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Today, I couldn't do that," Johnson said.
