Former Titans and Cardinals Running Back Chris Johnson Announces ALS Diagnosis

Former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson disclosed in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Johnson, age 40, told co‑anchor Michael Strahan that physicians confirmed the condition in 2025.

“There is no family history of ALS,” said Johnson, who spoke using a speech‑generating device built from recordings of his voice. “My doctors characterize my case as sporadic ALS, which accounts for the majority of diagnoses.”

“That unpredictability is one reason the disease can be so shocking—it can strike anyone, even those who never anticipated it.”

Johnson spent ten seasons in the NFL, carrying the ball for the Titans (2008‑2013), the New York Jets (2014) and the Cardinals (2015‑2017). He earned the nickname CJ2K after rushing for 2,006 yards in 2009, a total that still ranks seventh in league history. That season he also set a new single‑season record for yards from scrimmage with 2,509 and was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk issued a statement praising Johnson’s leadership on the field, his influence in the locker room and his contributions to the Nashville community, saying his legacy is permanently woven into the franchise’s story. She added that the organization will stand by him throughout his journey.

The Cardinals posted on social media that they are “sending strength, love and support” to Johnson, while the Jets and the NFL Players Association also released messages of encouragement.

ALS, short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disorder that disrupts communication between nerve cells and muscles, leading to progressive weakness and loss of the ability to move, speak and breathe.

“Honestly, I’m not sure you ever fully come to terms with it,” he said of the diagnosis. “Initially you’re in shock, then you realize you have two paths: surrender or fight. I chose to fight.”

Former Titans linebacker Tim Shaw, who played six seasons in the NFL and was a teammate of Johnson’s from 2010 to 2012, received an ALS diagnosis in 2014 at age 30 and remains alive.

Johnson, who is participating in a clinical trial as part of his treatment, told Strahan that his first noticeable symptom was a weakening grip. Now he cannot hold a cup or speak without assistance.

“I assumed, given my football background, that the issue had to be related to the sport—perhaps a pinched nerve or something similar—but never ALS,” his wife, Brittany, told Strahan.

Chris Johnson added: “The progression has been far faster than I ever imagined. I want people to grasp how quickly ALS can attack the body. Just over a year ago I was lifting my seven‑year‑old daughter so she could make a birthday wish; today I am unable to do that.”

After beginning his career with six consecutive 1,000‑yard rushing seasons, Johnson never replicated his early success in Tennessee, partly because of a string of injuries.

He said he went public with his diagnosis to raise awareness and to show that he remains the same person he was during his NFL days.

“I want everyone to know that I am still me. ALS has altered what my body can do, but it has not changed who I am inside,” he said. “People often equate physical disability with a loss of self, but my thoughts, dreams and love for my family remain unchanged; my body simply no longer cooperates.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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