Former National Football League (NFL) running back Chris Johnson has disclosed that he is living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for voluntary muscle movement.

The 40-year-old shared his diagnosis during an interview on Good Morning America, approximately one year after doctors confirmed the condition.

Johnson said he chose to speak publicly about his diagnosis to increase awareness of ALS and support continued research into new treatment options.

Who Is Chris Johnson?

Chris Johnson is a former NFL running back best known for his time with the Tennessee Titans. He remains the fastest player in NFL Combine history, recording a 4.24-second 40-yard dash. In 2009, he rushed for 2,006 yards, becoming one of the few players to surpass the 2,000-yard mark in a single season and setting the NFL record for the most yards from scrimmage in a season. His public disclosure of an ALS diagnosis has drawn attention because it follows a career defined by exceptional athletic performance.

Right-Hand Weakness Marked the Earliest Symptom of ALS

According to Johnson, the earliest symptom was weakness in his right hand. At first, he believed the problem was related to his years of playing professional football. However, the weakness persisted, prompting further medical evaluation.

As reported in People, Chris Johnson's doctors said he has sporadic ALS, the most common type of the disease, which develops in individuals without a known family history.

Scientific evidence indicates that nearly 90% of ALS cases occur sporadically, meaning they develop without a known family history, while the remaining cases are linked to inherited genetic mutations.¹

Disease Progression Has Affected Speech and Daily Activities

Johnson said his condition has progressed since the diagnosis. He has lost his natural ability to speak and now communicates using a speech-generating device created from recordings of his own voice made before speech loss.

He also shared that the disease has affected his physical independence, making several everyday tasks increasingly difficult, including lifting his young daughter.

His wife, Brittany Johnson, discussed how their family has adapted to changes brought about by the disease and continues to support his care.

Current ALS Treatment and Clinical Trial Participation

As reported in People, neurologist Dr. Merritt Cudkowicz, who is involved in Johnson's treatment, said he is receiving currently approved disease-modifying therapies for ALS. She also confirmed that he has participated in a clinical trial investigating an anti-inflammatory treatment designed to slow disease progression.

What Is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that damages both upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.^1,2

As these nerve cells gradually degenerate, they lose the ability to transmit signals to muscles, resulting in progressive muscle weakness and wasting.

As the disease advances, patients may experience increasing difficulty with walking, using their hands, speaking, swallowing, and breathing. While ALS primarily affects movement, many patients retain their cognitive function during much of the disease course, although cognitive and behavioral changes can occur in a subset of individuals.¹

Early Symptoms of ALS Can Be Difficult to Recognize

Early manifestations of ALS often resemble more common musculoskeletal or neurological conditions, which may delay diagnosis.¹

Initial symptoms can include:

• Weakness in one hand, arm, or leg

• Muscle twitching (fasciculations)

• Muscle cramps

• Foot drop

• Slurred speech

• Difficulty swallowing

Diagnosis is based on clinical examination together with investigations such as electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, imaging to exclude other neurological disorders, and established diagnostic criteria. ^1,2

Current Treatment Options for ALS

There is currently no cure for ALS. Comprehensive care remains an important component of ALS management and may include respiratory support, nutritional care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and multidisciplinary specialist care to address the patient's changing needs.

Researchers are investigating several experimental approaches that could improve future ALS treatment. Current areas of study include gene therapy, antisense oligonucleotide therapy, stem cell therapy, biomarker-guided precision medicine, and therapies targeting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and abnormal protein accumulation.^1,2

These approaches remain under investigation and are intended to improve diagnosis, slow disease progression, and develop more effective treatments.

Public Disclosure Draws Attention to ALS

By sharing his diagnosis, Johnson has brought public attention to ALS, a rare but serious neurological disease. Although the disease has significantly affected his physical abilities, Johnson said it has not changed his identity.

Despite the diagnosis, Johnson said he decided early that he would continue fighting the disease.

Explaining why he chose to disclose his diagnosis at this time, Johnson said,

His announcement has also highlighted ongoing scientific efforts to improve understanding of the condition and develop more effective therapies for people living with ALS.

References

1. Rizea, Radu Eugen, Antonio-Daniel Corlatescu, Horia Petre Costin, Adrian Dumitru, and Alexandru Vlad Ciurea. 2024. "Understanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Advances" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25, no. 18: 9966. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25189966

2. Wang, Ze, Jiajun Huang, and Di Yun. "Current and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: From Pharmacological Approaches to Gene and Stem Cell Therapies." Frontiers in Neurology 17 (2026): 1729302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2026.1729302

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