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Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson announced that he has been diagnosed with ALS in an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday, June 29th.
Johnson opened up about his battle with motor neuron disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, during a sit-down interview with the show’s host, former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. Johnson said she was diagnosed last year at age 39.
“There is no history of ALS in my family,” Johnson said in an interview. “My doctors believe that my case is what is called sporadic ALS, and in fact this is what causes the vast majority of ALS cases.
“That’s one of the reasons this disease is so shocking. It can happen to people when you least expect it.”
Johnson, 40, played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Titans, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. The East Carolina product is best known for his time at Tennessee, where in 2009 he became the sixth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
During that historic season, the speedy Johnson rushed for 2,006 yards and set an NFL record for scrimmage yards with 2,509. His efforts earned him the nickname “CJ2K.”
Johnson was named a first-team All-Pro after his historic season. He also appeared in the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons with the Titans and currently ranks fourth overall on the team’s all-time rushing list behind Eddie George, Derrick Henry and Earl Campbell.
Johnson finished his NFL career with 2,163 carries for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns. He last played in the 2017 season with the Cardinals.
“Honestly, I don’t know if you’ll ever fully handle it,” Johnson said of the ALS diagnosis. “At first you’re shocked. Then you realize you have two options: give up or fight. I chose to fight.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the degenerative disease “affects motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movements and breathing.” ALS causes muscle weakness that gradually progresses and worsens. ALS eventually progresses to a terminal disease that affects the muscles needed to speak, eat, and breathe.
There is currently no known cure for ALS, but researchers have developed treatments that slow the progression of the disease. According to the NIH, most people with ALS die “within three to five years after symptoms first appear.” One in 10 people with ALS survives for more than 10 years.
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Slank released a statement on Monday, June 29, regarding Johnson’s ALS diagnosis. Storck emphasized Johnson’s impact on the Tennessee organization during his six seasons with the team.
“Some people leave an indescribable mark on an organization, and Chris Johnson is one of those people for us,” the statement said. “His impact in the locker room and in the Nashville community, as well as his leadership on the field, forever etched him into the story of this franchise.
“While it is extremely difficult to learn of this passing, we will support Chris every step of the way. We stand by him and his family and join his fans around the world in expressing our love for him.”
- Lou Gehrig: An athlete nicknamed ALS. Gehrig, a first baseman for the New York Yankees, was diagnosed in 1939, retired from baseball within days of his diagnosis, and died in 1941.
- Catfish Hunter: Hunter pitched for MLB’s Athletics and Yankees from 1965 to 1979. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, eight years after retiring. Hunter was diagnosed with ALS in 1998 and passed away in 1999.
- OJ Brigance: The former linebacker played five years in the CFL and seven years in the NFL in the 1990s and early 2000s. Brigance was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and serves in an advisory role in the Ravens’ front office.
- Steve Gleason: Gleason is a former NFL safety who played for the New Orleans Saints from 2000 to 2007. He announced his ALS diagnosis in 2011. Since then, he has been an outspoken advocate for ALS awareness and published a memoir in 2024 about his experiences living with the disease.
- Tim Green: Green was a former edge rusher for the Atlanta Falcons from 1986 to 1993. After his playing career, he worked as a broadcaster, author, and lawyer. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2016, but did not disclose his diagnosis until 2018. He started a podcast using AI voice cloning technology in 2024.
- Dwight Clark: Clark played as a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987. He announced in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with ALS, saying he “suspected” his career as a soccer player played a role in his diagnosis. He passed away in 2018.
