Chris Johnson, one of nine players in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season who made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three years with the Tennessee Titans, revealed in a television interview aired Monday that he has ALS.
Johnson, 40, spent 10 seasons in the league and last played in 2017 for the Arizona Cardinals. He said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he was diagnosed with the fatal nervous system disease last year.
“Honestly, I don’t know if you really fully process it,” he said, using his eyes to communicate through a computerized speech-generating device during the interview with Michael Strahan. “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.”
Johnson, a first-round draft pick out of East Carolina in 2008, rushed for 7,965 yards over six seasons with the Titans. The native of Orlando, Florida, had 2,006 yards in 2009 to earn the nickname “CJ2K” and ingratiate himself with the Tennessee fan base.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, in a statement released Monday, said the organization is holding Johnson, his wife and four children close.
“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, which is an acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative condition that affects nerve cell communication with muscles throughout the body. The disease leads to muscle weakness and can cause deterioration of the ability to move, speak and breathe.
Tim Shaw, who had a six-year career as a linebacker in the NFL and was a teammate of Johnson’s with the Titans from 2010-12, was diagnosed in 2014 at age 30 with ALS and is still alive.
Johnson, who also played one season for the New York Jets, first noticed weakness in his right hand and trouble with his grip. He was still working out daily a year ago. Now he can’t hold a cup or speak on his own.
“Your mind stays sharp. People sometimes look at a person with a physical disability and assume you’re still not 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 was joined for the interview by his wife, Brittany, who has become his primary caregiver.
“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 has been participating in experimental treatments with the goal of extending his life and helping the medical field move closer to a cure for the disease.
“If it helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research or gives another family hope,” he said, “then it’s worth it.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
