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Titans to induct Chris Johnson into Ring of Honor after devastating ALS diagnosis
The Titans' season opener against the Jets will have some extra meaning
Chris Johnson
RB · FA · 34 yrs · exp 12 · East Carolina
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Titans will induct former RB Chris Johnson into franchise's Ring of Honor during season opener
The Tennessee Titans will induct former running back Chris Johnson into their Ring of Honor during their season opener against the New York Jets. Johnson, known as 'CJ2K', is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and the only player in Titans franchise history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. The announcement comes shortly after Johnson revealed his ALS diagnosis, with fellow former NFL players supporting his cause through a revived 'Ice Bucket Challenge'
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Chris Johnson getting a top Titans' honor after ALS diagnosis
The Tennessee Titans ' Ring of Honor includes the names of 13 players from Titans and Houston Oilers history. This September, the Nashville-based franchise will add a 14th. Former Titans running back Chris Johnson will be inducted into the franchise Ring of Honor during the 2026 season opener, the team announced on July 17. Johnson will be honored with a ceremony at halftime of the Titans' Week 1 clash with the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium. "Chris Johnson holds a special place in the hearts of our organization and our fans," Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in statement. "His stats speak for themselves, and he will forever remain a leader in our record books, but the man behind the yardage deserves just as much celebration. We look forward to welcoming him home on Sept. 13 and officially inducting him into the Titans Ring of Honor." CHRIS JOHNSON: Former NFL RB announces ALS diagnosis in 'Good Morning America' appearance "CJ2K" began his career with the Titans as a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft after matching an NFL combine record with a 4.24-second 40-yard dash. Johnson earned his "CJ2K" nickname after rushing for 2,006 yards in 2009 and setting an NFL single-season record with 2,509 scrimmage yards in total. In 95 games with the Titans between 2008 and 2013, Johnson tallied 7,965 rushing yards and scored 58 touchdowns. He spent four more years in the NFL – one with the New York Jets, then three with the Arizona Cardinals – before announcing his retirement in 2018. He signed a one-day contract with the Titans in 2019 to officially retire as a member of the team that drafted him. On June 29, Johnson revealed he had been diagnosed with ALS , also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America." The former NFL running back said he was diagnosed last year, when he was 39, and that the disease had progressed rapidly. Johnson used a speech-generating device controlled with his eyes to convert typed text to speech in his interview with former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan , who is a host on "GMA." "I want people to know I am still me," Johnson said in his interview. "ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn't changed who I am. "If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope, it is worth it." ALS AWARENESS: The viral 'Ice Bucket Challenge' is back. Here's why Games: 95 (93 starts) Rushes: 1,742 Rushing yards: 7,965 Yards per carry: 4.6 Rushing touchdowns: 50 Receptions: 272 Receiving yards: 2,003 Receiving touchdowns: 8 Total scrimmage yards: 9,968 Total yards per touch: 4.9 Games: 130 (111 starts) Rushes: 2,163 Rushing yards: 9,651 Yards per carry: 4.5 Rushing touchdowns: 55 Receptions: 307 Receiving yards: 2,255 Receiving touchdowns: 9 Total scrimmage yards: 11,906 Total yards per touch: 4.8 ALS is short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig's disease. According to the United States National Institute 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 movement and breathing." ALS causes weakness in the muscles that gradually progresses and worsens. ALS eventually progresses to affect muscles needed for speaking, eating and breathing, making it a terminal disease. There is currently no known cure for ALS, but researchers have developed treatments that can slow the speed at which the disease progresses. According to the NIH, most people with ALS die "within 3-to-5 years of symptoms first appearing." One in 10 people suffering from ALS survive 10-plus years. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Johnson getting a top Titans' honor after ALS diagnosis
RB · BAL
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Titans to induct Chris Johnson into their Ring of Honor
The Titans will honor Chris Johnson during their first game of the 2026 season. The team announced on Friday that they will induct Johnson into their Ring of Honor during their season opener against the Jets. The announcement comes after Johnson revealed in June that he was diagnosed with ALS last year. Johnson said that he hopes going public with his condition “helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope.” “Chris Johnson holds a special place in the hearts of our organization and our fans,” Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in statement. “His stats speak for themselves, and he will forever remain a leader in our record books, but the man behind the yardage deserves just as much celebration. We look forward to welcoming him home on Sept. 13 and officially inducting him into the Titans Ring of Honor.” Johnson was a Titans first-round pick in 2008 and was named the NFL offensive player of the year after rushing for 2,006 yards in his second season. Johnson remained with the team through 2013 and ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of his six seasons with the team. He ranks fourth in franchise history behind Eddie George, Derrick Henry and Earl Campbell with 7,965 rushing yards
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Study finds former NFL players die from ALS before age 50 at alarmingly high rates
The news that 39-year-old former NFL running back Chris Johnson has ALS has reignited the discussion about the risks of playing football, and recent research puts into focus just how significant the link between playing in the NFL and developing ALS at a young age appears to be. The Concussion & CTE Foundation said today that it has identified 10 NFL players since 1960 who died of ALS before the age of 50. ALS is typically a disease associated with aging, and it is extraordinarily rare in the general population for people to die of the disease before age 50. The same study says that based on population models, there should have been fewer than one NFL player since 1960 who died of ALS before age 50: Mathematically, the expected number would be 0.24 ALS deaths before age 50 out of a sample the size of the 19,824 NFL players whose health records were studied. The study did not name all 10 players who have died of ALS, but some former NFL players who have been publicly identified as dying of ALS before turning 50 include 49ers linebacker Eric Scoggins at age 49, Patriots and Eagles running back Kevin Turner at age 46, Vikings defensive back Orlando Thomas at age 42 and Oilers defensive tackle Glenn Montgomery at age 31. Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, a co-author of the study, said the findings are alarming. “ALS deaths among former NFL players, particularly those who die at younger ages, are occurring far more often than could possibly be expected by chance,” he said. “These findings are deeply concerning and underscore the urgent need to understand how repetitive head impacts and motor neuron disease may be connected. We must translate this knowledge into action by helping former players access specialized neurological care and accelerate research toward treatments and prevention. Every ALS diagnosis is devastating, and this data strengthens our responsibility to act with urgency.” The study actually found some good news for NFL players: On average, they live longer, healthier lives than the general population. They also are less likely to die by suicide than the general population, contradicting a widespread belief that head injuries have led to higher suicide rates in NFL players. But the study also found that NFL players died of neurodegenerative disease at almost four times the expected rate, and that players with longer careers were more likely than players with shorter careers to die of neurodegenerative disease
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Study finds former NFL players die from ALS before age 50 at alarmingly high rates
The news that 39-year-old former NFL running back Chris Johnson has ALS has reignited the discussion about the risks of playing football, and recent research puts into focus just how significant the link between playing in the NFL and developing ALS at a young age appears to be
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The viral 'Ice Bucket Challenge' for ALS awareness is back. Here's why
Former NFL running back Chris Johnson revealed his ALS diagnosis on Monday. On Wednesday, he revived the "Ice Bucket Challenge."
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Matt Hasselbeck says Chris Johnson ALS diagnosis shook him: 'Larger-than-life player'
Retired Titans running back Chris Johnson announced his ALS diagnosis. Now his former coach and teammate are showing support
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Chris Johnson's ALS fight has "injected some hope" in Tim Shaw's ALS fight
Former Titans linebacker Tim Shaw, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2014, was teammates with running back Chris Johnson for three seasons. Johnson revealed on Good Morning America on Monday that he, too, has ALS. Johnson now communicates with a speed-generating machine. “ I’ve got to brag on him ,” Shaw told Paul Kuharsky of paulkuharsky.com by text. “He’s actually injected some hope in me. I’ve been in this fight for 12 years. Like anything else, you get into your routines and beliefs. His great attitude and excitement about treatments have shaken me out of survival mode, and I actually got a couple of treatments two weeks ago, and I’ve joined two clinical trials. So I don’t know if I’ve done anything for him, but he’s done a lot for me.” Johnson joins Shaw, Steve Gleason, Tim Green and OJ Brigance as former NFL players pushing for ALS research and awareness. “I’m very proud of CJ,” Shaw said. “Telling the world is super tough, especially when you’re a private person. Chris and I have been talking for a while. He’s got such a great attitude. He’s got all the motivation of his family, and he has faith in God for his future. So he’s crushing it.” In 2021, a study of all “19,423 NFL athletes who debuted between 1960 and 2019 and played one or more professional game” resulted in a finding that the risks of developing ALS “were nearly four times as high as those of the general population.”
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The link between ALS and football should not be overlooked or downplayed
In choosing to go public with his ALS diagnosis, former NFL running back Chris Johnson chose not to focus on the link between the disease and football. At one level, it didn’t really need to be mentioned. The connection has been established. For example, ALS is one of the specific conditions (along with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, early and moderate dementia, and certain cases of CTE diagnoses after death) that automatically qualified retired players (as of July 7, 2014) for no-questions-asked compensation from the NFL’s unlimited concussion settlement fund. And, in 2021, a study of all “19,423 NFL athletes who debuted between 1960 and 2019 and played 1 or more professional game” resulted in a finding that the risks of developing ALS “were nearly 4 times as high as those of the general population.” At another level, it was more than a bit awkward that the segment on Good Morning America didn’t mention the ties between ALS and football, either during or after the Johnson interview was televised. It came close, a couple of times. Johnson’s wife, Brittany, explained that she believed his initial symptoms (weakness in his right hand) may have been the result of a pinched nerve from playing football. And Michael Strahan’s narration of the piece addressed the belief that Johnson has a case of “sporadic ALS,” which happens with no family history of the illness. Given that, as Strahan said, 90 percent of all ALS cases are sporadic and basically random, the connection to football makes it not quite as random as it would be for someone who didn’t play. Via Sean Keeley of Awful Announcing , Jeff Pearlman teed off on the failure to mention the link between ALS and football. (Here’s Pearlman’s full video .) It absolutely needs to be mentioned. In our initial post regarding Johnson’s diagnosis, I focused solely on the fact that Johnson is suffering from a condition that has robbed him of his physical faculties. But, yes, the link needs to be mentioned. It needs to be known, by anyone and everyone who chooses to play, or to let their children play. In his recent appearance on the Stick To Football , Tom Brady tiptoed around the topic of head injuries. “ It’s not my favorite thing to talk about ,” Brady said. “I think that, like, part of what you sign up for as an athlete is, you’re willing to take more risks than what other people are willing to take.” He’s right; they are. But the full range of risks should be known by everyone who signs up to play, at any and every level. Yes, while playing a game you may suffer concussions — along with all sorts of other injuries, from torn ligaments to broken bones to a ruptured spleen to a serious neck injury causing permanent paralysis or death. It’s also important to realize that the accumulation of concussions and subconcussive blows to the head could cause long-term health issues, like ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and/or dementia. The existential threat to the game arising from the possible restriction of the flow of young players who, over time, will hone the best of the best into NFL-caliber athletes is real, but largely unspoken. While enough young men will continue to choose to play football (and will be permitted to do so by their parents), the quality of the athletes who make it to the highest level of the sport could diminish, over time, if the broader pool of players shrinks. It doesn’t mean other sports are risk-free. If you’ve been watching the World Cup, you’ve seen a constant stream of subconcussive blows to the head (or possibly undiagnosed concussions), every time a player uses his skull to contact the ball. Beyond that, players’ heads are struck by elbows and knees and cleats and other heads. Hockey, rugby, basketball, and baseball are also physical in their own ways, with an ever-present risk for head trauma. And combat sports like the UFC feature a stunning level of brutality, with fighters often taking repeated devastating blows to the he [... truncated ...]
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New York Jets News: Aaron Glenn Likes How He and His Team Are Growing
Good morning Gang Green Nation! If you live in the eastern half of the U.S.A., get ready for some serious heat. In the New York metro area we’re looking at multiple days near or above 100 degrees with high humidity. This won’t just be uncomfortable. It will be dangerous for those without air conditioning. Stay safe out there everyone. Here are your links to your New York Jets this glorious last day in June. Jack Bell – Former Jets RB Chris Johnson Discloses ALS Diagnosis Eric Allen – HC Aaron Glenn Likes How He and His Team Are Growing Amanda Vogt – How Sports Other Than Football Shaped Garrett Wilson ’s Creativity ESPN – 2026 NFL rookie updates: Tracking all first-round draft picks Alex Mitchell – Mike Tannenbaum sees reason for Jets hope after promising offseason Geoffrey A Knox – ESPN theory puts Jets rookie Kenyon Sadiq in elite first-year company Justin Melo – Who will lead the New York Jets in sacks in 2026? Justin Melo – Will Kenyon Sadiq or Mason Taylor lead Jets TE’s in snaps this season? Geoffrey A Knox – 6 young Jets players who could unseat veterans in 2026 Geoffrey A Knox – Jets expected to remain patient with Will McDonald extension Nick Wojton – Jets send support to Chris Johnson after sad health revelation USA Today – Former Jets RB Chris Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis Geoffrey A Knox – Jets get the cold shoulder in a recent NFL players ranking Andrew Buller-Russ – New York Jets Rookie’s Special Trait ‘Jumps Out’, But Still ‘Needs Work’ Connor Byrne – Former NFL RB Chris Johnson Announces ALS Diagnosis Sayre Bedinger – NFL Power Rankings: Ranking every AFC East RB duo entering 2026 Pete Prisco – Top 100 NFL players of 2026: Myles Garrett tops rankings as Rams boast three players in top 10 Jordan Dajani – 2026 NFL hot seat rankings: Zac Taylor, Aaron Glenn among head coaches under the most pressure Nick Faria – One Part of Frank Reich’s Resume Is Being Overblown by Jets Jovan Alford – Jets DE Joseph Ossai : New Pass Rusher Will Be Under Pressure to Show Why He’s No. 21 Player in 2026 Efstathios Savvidis – Projecting the Jets’ Next 3 Contract Extensions: Harrison Phillips Could Be Next to Get New Deal Glenn Naughton – What to do at QB2; Will Jets Look to add vet Signal Caller? Justin Fried – The Jets may have finally outgrown Braiden McGregor entering 2026 Jake Elman – Jets projected to make surprising move on former first-round pick Charlie Baduini – Jets roster battle could turn ruthless ahead of training camp Jake Elman – Jets already predicted to move on from underwhelming 2025 draft pick Charlie Baduini – 3 biggest winners (and 3 major losers) of the Jets offseason Here are your missed connections from yesterday
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Details on Chris Johnson's ALS diagnosis, plus NFL coaches on hot seat and Prisco's top quarterbacks
Hello friends, and welcome to the Monday edition of the Pick Six newsletter! The countdown is officially on. If the rumors are true, we're just days away from the biggest NFL event of the summer, which is the wedding between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift that's expected to go down this weekend on either Friday or Saturday. And by the way, I'm starting to think that the rumors are definitely true, because Andy Reid just got fitted for a tux last week . The Chiefs coach generally only wears Tommy Bahama shirts during the offseason, so if he made the decision to put on a tux, you know that something big must be coming up. The only thing bigger than the wedding is Prisco's top 100 ranking. We unveiled the list last week , and today, we're going to do a full breakdown of the list. That's right, we're going all in on Prisco today, so let's stop wasting time and get to the rundown. As always, here's your reminder to tell your friends to sign up for the newsletter . I know I said we're going all in on Prisco, but we're going to start on a more serious note today: Chris Johnson has been diagnosed with ALS. During an interview with 'Good Morning America' on Monday morning , the former Titans running back revealed that he's been dealing with the degenerative disease, which has no known cure, for more than a year. Here's what you need to know about the situation: Johnson was one of the best running backs in the NFL for most of his 10-year career. After being drafted by the Titans with the 24th overall pick in 2008, Johnson spent six seasons in Tennessee and he topped the 1,000-yard mark in all six years. That includes a 2009 season where he rushed for 2,006 yards, which still stands as the seventh-best rushing season in NFL history. The speedy Johnson ran a 4.24 40-yard dash at the 2008 combine, which set the record for fastest 40 ever at the event and it was a mark that stood until 2017. To this day, it's still the fourth-fastest 40 in the history of the combine . If you want to hear everything Johnson had to say about his unfortunate diagnosis, we've got more coverage on him here . Now, let's get to Prisco's list. There are a total of 18 quarterbacks on Prisco's top 100 list, but there's a clear drop-off point for Prisco: There are five quarterbacks ranked in his top 10, but after that, there's no other QB in his top 40. Basically, Prisco seems to feel that there are five quarterbacks who stand way above the rest. With that in mind, let's check out the top 10 quarterback on Prisco's top 100 list. (The number on the left is the player's ranking at quarterback. The number on the right is the player's overall ranking on the top 100 list.) 1. Rams QB Matthew Stafford (2) 2. Bills QB Josh Allen (3) 3. Bengals QB Joe Burrow (5) 4. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (7) 5. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (10) 6. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (43) 7. Packers QB Jordan Love (51) 8. Lions QB Jared Goff (57) 9. Patriots QB Drake Maye (61) 10. Chargers QB Justin Herbert (63) Biggest snub: Daniel Jones. From Tyler Sullivan, "People forget that the resurrection of Daniel Jones in Indianapolis was one of the top stories of the first half of last season. Through the opening 10 games, the Colts were 8-2 and averaged 32.1 points per game." Prisco ranked a total of 18 quarterbacks on his top 100 list and if you want to see everyone who made the cut, Sullivan's got the full story here . One of the biggest surprises of Prisco's top 100 ranking is that he has ZERO running backs ranked in the top 15. This is a huge reversal from last year , when Prisco had TWO running backs in his top 15, including Saquon Barkley, who was ranked as the third best player overall. This year, Barkley isn't even ranked as one of the top five running backs. So where did Barkley end up? That's a great question, glad I asked. Let's check out Prisco's full ranking of running backs, which includes Barkley barely making the top 50: 1. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson (17) 2. 49ers RB Christian McCa [... truncated ...]
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Titans legend Chris Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis
Former Titans running back Chris Johnson spent six years with the Titans where he dazzled fans and lit up the field with his scorching speed. No one will ever forget his 2009 season where he rushed for 2,006 yards earned his CJ2K nickname after becoming one of the only players in league history to cross that threshold. But now, the former Tennessee standout is facing a new and even more difficult path than even the rigors of the NFL could give him. On Monday morning, Johnson made an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America where he told co-anchor (and former NFL star, himself) Michael Strahan that he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. “There’s no history of ALS in my family,” said Johnson, who was aided by a speech-generating device during the interview. “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.” After spending six seasons with the Titans and rushing for 7,965 yards and 50 touchdowns, Johnson spent the final four seasons of his career with the Jets (2014) and the Cardinals (2015-2017). He ended his NFL tenure with 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns to go with 2,255 receiving yards and nine more scores. Following the airing of the interview, encouragement and love poured out over social media. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement on Johnson’s impact within the franchise during and after his time with the team, followed by messages from the Cardinals, Jets, and NFL Player’s Association. ALS is a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells that controls the muscles throughout the body. After baseball player Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with the disease in 1939, ALS has since also been known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. As of 2026, there is no known cure. “Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” he said of the diagnosis. “At first, you’re in shock. Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight.”
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Chris Johnson ALS diagnosis reveal draws support from Patrick Mahomes, NFL world
Tributes, love and support have been rolling in for Chris Johnson. Johnson, the former NFL running back who spent time with the Tennessee Titans , New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals , announced he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease – during a June 29 interview with Michael Strahan on "Good Morning America." "There's no history of ALS in my family," Johnson said in the interview . "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." Nicknamed "CJ2K" for his 2,006-rushing yard performance during the 2009 season, Johnson earned the Offensive Player of the Year award for his efforts with the Titans that season. He accounted for an NFL-record 2,509 total scrimmage yards, adding 16 rushing and receiving touchdowns. Johnson recorded more than 1,000 rushing yards in each of his six seasons with the Titans. Across the NFL and sports worlds, many sent well-wishes, thoughts, support and positivity to Johnson following his announcement. ALS is short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig's disease. According to the United States National Institute 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 movement and breathing." ALS causes weakness in the muscles that gradually progresses and worsens. ALS eventually progresses to affect muscles needed for speaking, eating and breathing, making it a terminal disease. There is currently no known cure for ALS, but researchers have developed treatments that can slow the speed at which the disease progresses. According to the NIH, most people with ALS die "within 3-to-5 years of symptoms first appearing." One in 10 people suffering from ALS survive 10-plus years. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Johnson ALS diagnosis reveal draws support from Patrick Mahomes, NFL world
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Former NFL star Chris Johnson diagnosed with ALS: ‘You can give up, or you can fight’
Chris Johnson, one of the few players to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single NFL season, says he has been diagnosed with ALS. The 39-year-old made the announcement during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America. He spoke to the show’s co-anchor Michael Strahan, a former NFL player himself, using a speech device. “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.” Johnson was a three-time Pro Bowler during his 10-season NFL career and was named the league’s offensive player of the year in 2009 when he rushed for 2,006 yards, the seventh-most in history. He played for the Tennessee Titans , New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. He was a first-round pick for the Titans in 2008 after a standout college career at East Carolina. ALS, a type of motor neurone disease, causes paralysis and eventually death; there is no known cure. A number of athletes in contact sports have developed the disease including former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and rugby stars Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir and Lewis Moody. Johnson said he was diagnosed in 2025 after noticing he was losing strength in his grip. “Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” he said of the diagnosis. “At first, you’re in shock. Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight.” Johnson said he was talking about his diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease. “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 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.” Titans owner Amy Strunk paid tribute to Johnson in a statement, complimenting his “leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room … the Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise.”
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Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk expresses full support for Chris Johnson
Former Titans running back Chris Johnson revealed on Monday that he has been fighting ALS for more than a year. After Johnson’s interview with Michael Strahan was televised by Good Morning America , Johnson’s former team issued a strong statement of support for him. “Some people leave a mark on an organization that you just can’t put into words,” Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said. “Chris Johnson is one of those people for us. His leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room and Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise . “Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey. “We are holding him and his family close, and join our fans around the world in expressing our love for Chris.” Johnson went public in order to provide hope for others who are suffering from ALS and their families. One way to support Johnson would be to donate to ALS research efforts. There are multiple groups that are actively supporting ALS research efforts. We’re in the process of identifying the best ones that can be promoted here, for those who would like to donate
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Former NFL running back Chris Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis
Chris Johnson , a former first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans and Pro Bowl running back, revealed he has been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Johnson told "Good Morning America" that he was officially diagnosed last year. Johnson is 40 years old. "There's no history of ALS in my family," Johnson told co-anchor Michael Strahan in an interview aired on Monday." "My doctors believe my case is what's called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen." Johnson noted that he was feeling good last year and was working out daily, while spending time with his wife and four children. However, he started to feel weakness in his right hand, and while his wife, Brittany Johnson, thought it could be a football-related injury like a pinched nerve, it was ALS taking shape. "I first noticed weakness in my right hand," he said. "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 the news of his diagnosis came as a "shock." He relayed that the doctor who delivered the diagnosis said a medication could extend his life by a few months and that he and his wife should "get our affairs in order." There is no known cure for ALS. "Honestly, I don't know if you ever fully process it," Johnson said. "At first, you're in shock. Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight." FULL INTERVIEW: Former NFL running back Chris Johnson reveals his ALS diagnosis at 39. pic.twitter.com/5Pb8YAQ5x0 Johnson entered the NFL as the 24th overall pick of the Titans during the 2008 draft out of East Carolina. The Florida native burst onto the scene, totaling 1,488 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns as rookie. In 2009, Johnson became the sixth of just nine players to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. He also broke Marshall Faulk's single-season record for scrimmage yards with 2,509. That earned him the nickname "CJ2K" and Johnson was also named Offensive Player of the Year that season. "Some people leave a mark on an organization that you just can't put into words," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "Chris Johnson is one of those people for us. His leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room and Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise. "Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey. We are holding him and his family close, and join our fans around the world in expressing our love for Chris." Johnson last played in the NFL in 2017 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals . For his career, the back totaled 9,651 rushing yards and 55 rushing touchdowns, while adding 2,255 yards receiving and nine receiving touchdowns on 307 catches
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Former Titans RB Chris Johnson reveals that he's fighting ALS
Last February, former NFL running back Chris Johnson made the rounds in the days before the Super Bowl. He was fine. Today, he’s battling ALS. To the point at which he can no longer speak. Johnson revealed his condition in an interview with Michael Strahan on ABC’s Good Morning America . “First, I want people to know I’m still me,” Johnson said. “ALS has changed what my body can do. But it hasn’t changed who I am.” Johnson speaks with the assistance of a device controlled by his eyes. Shortly after his diagnosis, Johnson’s voice was recorded so that the machine-generated speech sounds like him. He said it started when he noticed weakness in his right hand. “At first it was little things, like my grip didn’t feel right,” Johnson said. “And I wasn’t as strong as I’ve always been.” Johnson’s wife, Brittany, said she thought it was simply a pinched nerve from his football career. Testing continued. Once Johnson was diagnosed with ALS, the outlook was grim. “They told us about a medication that might extend life by a few months,” Johnson said regarding the initial message he received from his doctors. “Then they told us to get our affairs in order. It was hard hearing that, but after watching Good Morning America and seeing Dr. Merit [Cudkowicz] with Eric Dane, we reached out to her. She was willing to think more creatively, offering experimental treatments that might help in advance research.” Johnson’s condition is regarded as a case of “sporadic ALS,” which occurs randomly in people with no known family history of the disease. More than 90 percent of all ALS cases fall into that category. He has gone public with the goal of helping others. “If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope, then it’s worth it,” Johnson said. He said the disease has progressed faster than he ever imagined it would. “I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body,” Johnson said. “Just over a year ago, I was picking up my seven-year-old daughter, so she’d make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn’t do that.” He wants people to realize that patients with ALS remain who they used to be. “Your mind stays sharp,” Johnson said. “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.” Johnson was one of the best offensive players in the NFL. A first-round pick in 2008, he rushed for 2,006 yards in his second NFL season. That year, he set a record with more than 2,500 yards from scrimmage, and he was named the NFL’s offensive player of the year. (He said on PFT Live in February 2025 that reaching 2,500 total yards was his proudest accomplishment .) Johnson completed his 10-year career in 2017 after a year with the Jets and three seasons with the Cardinals, He gained nearly 12,000 yards from scrimmage. Currently, Johnson is fighting a much different battle. But he remains as determined today as he was when he played. “Right now, there isn’t a cure, but we’re seeing more research, more clinical trials, and more promising ideas than ever before,” Johnson said. “Seeing how hard these doctors and researchers are working gives me hope. “As long as they’re fighting for people with ALS, I’m going to keep fighting, too.” We wish him the very best as he continues the fight. Here’s hoping that ongoing research eventually will lead to a cure for ALS
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.