The Tennessee Titans will celebrate one of their most celebrated players by inducting running back Chris Johnson into their Ring of Honor at halftime of their regular-season opener on September 13.
The team made the announcement Friday, just weeks after Johnson revealed on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on June 29 that he had been diagnosed with ALS — a fatal disease affecting the nervous system — one year earlier.
“Chris Johnson holds a special place in the hearts of our organization and our fans,” said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. “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.”
Johnson was selected by the Titans with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and spent six of his ten professional seasons in Tennessee. During that time, he rushed for 7,965 yards and scored 58 total touchdowns — both figures ranking fourth in franchise history alongside legends like Earl Campbell, Eddie George, and Derrick Henry.
Johnson earned his famous nickname “CJ2K” during the 2009 season, when he racked up 2,006 rushing yards, making him just the sixth player in NFL history to reach the 2,000-yard mark. He joined an elite group that includes O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, and Jamal Lewis. That same season, Johnson also set an NFL single-season record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage — a record that still stands today.
His remarkable 2009 performance earned him The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award.
The induction ceremony will take place during halftime of the Titans’ season opener against the New York Jets — the same team Johnson played for during the 2014 season. He will become the 20th member of the Titans’ Ring of Honor. Former radio analyst and assistant coach Dave McGinnis will also be inducted posthumously later in the season.
