Chris Johnson announces ALS diagnosis in 'Good Morning America' appearance

Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson announced an ALS diagnosis in a Monday, June 29 interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Johnson revealed his battle with the motor neuron disease, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in a sit-down interview with former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, who works as a host for the program. Johnson said he was diagnosed last year, when he was 39 years old.

"There's no history of ALS in my family," Johnson said in the interview. "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."

Johnson, 40, played 10 NFL seasons with the Titans, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. The East Carolina product was best-known for his time in Tennessee and in 2009 became just the sixth running back in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in a season.

During that historic season, the speedy Johnson ran for 2,006 rushing yards while logging an NFL-record 2,509 scrimmage yards. He also earned the nickname "CJ2K" for his efforts.

Johnson was named an All-Pro first teamer following his historic season. He also made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons with the Titans and currently ranks fourth overall on the team's all-time rushing list behind Eddie George, Derrick Henry and Earl Campbell.

Johnson finished his NFL career having logged 2,163 carries for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns. He last played during the 2017 season with the Cardinals.

"Honestly, I don't know if you ever fully process it," Johnson said regarding his ALS diagnosis. "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."

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

What is ALS?

ALS is short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig's disease.

According to the United States National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke the degenerative disease "affects motor neurons ... the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing." ALS causes weakness in the muscles that gradually progresses and worsens. ALS eventually progresses to affect muscles needed for speaking, eating and breathing, making it a terminal disease.

There is currently no known cure for ALS, but researchers have developed treatments that can slow the speed at which the disease progresses. According to the NIH, most people with ALS die "within 3-to-5 years of symptoms first appearing." One in 10 people suffering from ALS survive 10-plus years.

Titans owner releases statement on Chris Johnson's ALS battle

Amy Adams Strunk, the controlling owner of the Titans, released a statement on Monday, June 29 addressing Johnson's ALS diagnosis. Strunk underlined the influence Johnson made on the Tennessee franchise during his six seasons with the team.

"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," the statement reads. "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."

Notable athletes with ALS

• Lou Gehrig: The athlete for whom ALS is nicknamed. Gehrig – a New York Yankees first baseman – was diagnosed in 1939, retired from baseball within days after his diagnosis and died in 1941.
• Catfish Hunter: Hunter was a pitcher in MLB for the Athletics and Yankees from 1965 to 1979. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, eight years after his retirement. Hunter was diagnosed with ALS in 1998 and died in 1999.
• O.J. Brigance: The former linebacker played five years in the CFL and seven years in the NFL across the 1990s and early 2000s. Brigance was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and serves in a front office advisory role for the Ravens.
• Steve Gleason: Gleason is a former NFL safety who played for the New Orleans Saints from 2000 to 2007. He publicly announced his ALS diagnosis in 2011. He has been an outspoken advocate for ALS awareness since then and released a memoir about his experience living with the disease in 2024.
• Tim Green: Green is a former edge rusher for the Atlanta Falcons who played from 1986 to 1993. After his playing career, he was a broadcaster, author and lawyer. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2016 but did not announce his diagnosis until 2018. He started a podcast in 2024 that uses AI voice cloning technology.
• Dwight Clark: Clark was a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers between 1979-1987. He announced his ALS diagnosis in 2017 and said he "suspect[ed]" his football career played a part in his diagnosis. He died in 2018.