Former NFL Running Back Chris Johnson Shared His ALS Diagnosis on Good Morning America
He was a premier running back who regularly made dynamic plays. His running style was electric and made people take notice. However, he made an appearance on a popular morning television show today. Former NFL running back Chris Johnson shared his ALS diagnosis on popular morning television show Good Morning America. It was heartbreaking to hear about how the disease has changed his and his family’s lives. His wife Brittany Johnson appeared with him for the interview with host Michael Strahan.
Johnson was diagnosed with ALS in 2025 at the age of 39, and the disease has rapidly progressed. Just last year he was able to hold up his seven-year-old daughter to blow out the candles on her birthday cake. But he is not able to do that now. According to Johnson his family does not have a history of ALS.
“There’s no history of ALS in my family,” Johnson said in the interview that aired Monday on “GMA.” “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.”
ALS disease is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gehrig was a superstar baseball player who was cut down by the disease in June 1941. ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, it is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. ALS begins with muscle weakness or stiffness and typically follows a predictable path to full paralysis. In his interview Johnson a speech-generating machine triggered by his eyes to speak because the disease has spread so rapidly in his body.
Former NFL Running Back Chris Johnson Shared His ALS Diagnosis on Good Morning America
Owner of the Tennessee Titans Amy Adams Strunk released a statement regarding Johnson’s announcement:
“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.”
A first-round pick of the Titans in the 2008 NFL Draft, Johnson played from 2008-2013 in Tennessee. He also spent a season with the New York Jets and three with the Arizona Cardinals, ending his career after the 2017 campaign. However, he is grateful to have his wife and kids with him now.
“She hasn’t left my side through any of this,” he said of Brittany Johnson. “My kids are also a huge part of why I keep going. 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.”
Our hearts go out to Chris and his family as they cope with this terrible disease. We wish them the best as they contend with such a distressing situation. Keep fighting CJ2K!
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