Chris Johnson, one of only nine players in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, has announced he is living with ALS. The former Tennessee Titans standout made the revelation during a television interview that aired Monday morning.
The 40-year-old, who spent a decade in the NFL and last suited up for the Arizona Cardinals in 2017, appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to share that doctors diagnosed him with the fatal nervous system disease last year. Unable to speak on his own, Johnson communicated through a computerized speech-generating device during the sit-down with Michael Strahan.
“Honestly, I don’t know if you really 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.”
Selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of East Carolina, Johnson went on to accumulate 7,965 rushing yards across six seasons with the Titans. The Orlando, Florida native posted 2,006 yards on the ground in 2009, earning him the nickname “CJ2K” and making him a beloved figure among Tennessee fans. He also earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons with the team.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk issued a statement Monday expressing the organization’s support for Johnson and his family.
“Some people leave a mark on an organization that you just can’t put into words. 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,” Adams Strunk said. “Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey.”
ALS — short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease — is a neurodegenerative illness that disrupts how nerve cells communicate with the body’s muscles. Over time, the disease causes increasing muscle weakness and can rob a person of the ability to move, speak, and breathe.
Johnson is not the only former Titan to face the disease. Tim Shaw, a linebacker who shared the locker room with Johnson from 2010 to 2012 during a six-year NFL career, received his own ALS diagnosis in 2014 at age 30 and remains alive today.
Johnson, who also had a stint with the New York Jets, first began noticing weakness in his right hand and difficulty maintaining his grip. A year ago, he was still exercising every day. Today, he is unable to hold a cup or speak without assistance.
“Your mind stays sharp. People sometimes look at a person with a physical disability and assume you’re not still the same person inside,” Johnson said. “I still think the same. I still dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn’t cooperate.”
Johnson’s wife, Brittany, joined him for the interview. She has stepped into the role of his primary caregiver throughout his illness.
“She hasn’t left my side through any of this. My kids are also a huge part of why I keep going,” Johnson said. “Every day I wake up wanting more time with them to make more memories and just be their dad. They give me a reason to keep fighting.”
Johnson and his wife have four children together. He is currently taking part in experimental treatments aimed at prolonging his life and contributing to the broader medical effort to find a cure for ALS.
“If it helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research or gives another family hope,” he said, “then it’s worth it.”
