Former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson revealed that he has been diagnosed with sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, at the age of 39.Johnson announced the news Monday during an interview on Good Morning America, saying: “First, I want people to know that I am still me, ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am.”He was first diagnosed in 2025 with ALS, the progressive neurodegenerative disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, which stops the brain from sending signals to muscles, eventually leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and respiratory failure.
“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.Johnson told GMA he was at the prime of his life, working out daily and running errands with his children, until ALS changed everything. “I first noticed weakness in my right hand,” Johnson said. “At first it was little things like my grip didn’t feel right and I wasn’t as strong as I always have been.”Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson participates in an NFL football training camp, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
