Former NFL star Chris Johnson shockingly revealed Monday that he was diagnosed with ALS last year when he was 39 years old.
Johnson, the former Titans workhorse and one-time Jets running back, shared the news during an appearance on “Good Morning America.”
“There’s no history of ALS in my family,” Johnson, now 40, shared in an interview with Michael Strahan. “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,” he added. “It can happen to someone who never expected it.”
When asked about the diagnosis, Johnson said he would fight through it.
“Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” Johnson said. “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 says that his disease reared its ugly head when he was spending time with his wife, Brittany Johnson, and four kids, as he felt his right hand going a bit weaker than normal.
“At first, it was little things like my grip didn’t feel right, and I wasn’t as strong as I’ve always been.”
The Johnson family revealed that they had expected the issue to be related to his lengthy football career, as he was drafted in the first round in 2008 and had a 10-year NFL career after playing throughout his youth.
“I thought because of football and, you know, his career, that it had to be something with that,” Brittany told Strahan. “Maybe … a pinched nerve or something along those lines, but never ALS.”
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, has an average life expectancy of three to five years, with about 10 percent of those diagnosed surviving for 10 or more years.
From here, Johnson and his wife, Brittany, have chosen to undergo experimental treatments to help advance trials of new options for patients.
“It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined. I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body,” Johnson admitted. “Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she’d make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn’t do that.”
Johnson starred for the Titans for his first six seasons, winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 after running for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns with 50 catches, 503 yards and two additional scores.
The three-time Pro Bowler spent one year with the Jets in 2014 and played three seasons with the Cardinals to end his NFL career, which saw him run for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns.
Johnson says while ALS has changed his body, it hasn’t changed who he is.
“People sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you’re not still the same person inside,” he said. “I still think the same. I still dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn’t cooperate.”
