NFL Star Chris Johnson Opens Up About His ALS Diagnosis — And His Fight to Keep Going

Who Is Chris Johnson?

Chris Johnson is a former NFL (National Football League) star. He was a running back — that’s the player who carries the ball and tries to run past the other team. He was so good that he was picked in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times (the Pro Bowl is like an all-star game for the best players in the league). Over his career, he ran for more than 11,000 yards before retiring in 2017.

What Is ALS?

ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. You might also hear it called Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after a famous baseball player who had it.

Here’s the simplest way to understand it:

• ALS is a disease that attacks the nerves in your brain and spinal cord that control your muscles.
• Over time, those nerves stop working, and your muscles get weaker and weaker.
• Eventually, a person with ALS can lose the ability to move, speak, swallow, and even breathe on their own.
• According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), most people with ALS pass away from respiratory failure (meaning their lungs stop working) within 3 to 5 years of their first symptoms.
• About 1 in 10 people with ALS live 10 years or more.

Important Point: Right now, there is no known cure for ALS. Some treatments can slow it down and help people feel better, but the disease cannot yet be stopped or reversed.

How Chris Johnson Found Out He Had ALS

Chris Johnson was diagnosed with ALS last year, at age 39. Here’s how it all unfolded:

1. He noticed something was wrong with his right hand. At first, it was small things — his grip didn’t feel right, and he wasn’t as strong as he used to be.
2. His wife, Brittany, thought it was from football. After years of playing in the NFL, it seemed logical that it might be a pinched nerve or some other football-related injury. ALS was the last thing on their minds.
3. Doctors diagnosed him with what’s called "sporadic ALS." This means there’s no family history of the disease. In fact, the vast majority of ALS cases are sporadic — they happen without any clear reason or genetic link.
4. The diagnosis was a total shock. Johnson said the doctor told him a medication might extend his life by a few months and advised him and his wife to "get our affairs in order."

"Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it. 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." — Chris Johnson

How ALS Has Affected His Life

ALS has moved very fast in Chris Johnson’s case. Here’s what’s changed:

• He now uses a speech-generating device to talk. Soon after his diagnosis, his voice was recorded so the device sounds just like him.
• He can no longer do simple things he used to do without thinking — like picking up his 7-year-old daughter or holding a cup.
• Just over a year ago, he was working out every day and living an active life with his wife and four children. Today, the disease has taken away much of his physical ability.

"It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined. I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body." — Chris Johnson

A Turning Point: Finding a New Doctor

Chris Johnson’s journey changed when he saw an interview on Good Morning America featuring actor Eric Dane (who sadly passed away from ALS in February) and his doctor, Dr. Merit Cudkowicz.

Here’s what happened next:

1. The Johnsons reached out to Dr. Cudkowicz. She’s a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and the executive director of the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute — basically, one of the top ALS experts in the world.
2. She offered experimental treatments that weren’t part of standard care.
3. Chris joined a clinical trial for a therapy that reduces inflammation. Dr. Cudkowicz believes this has helped him significantly.
4. He’s also on three standard medications that are known to slow down ALS.

"After watching ‘Good Morning America’ and seeing Dr. Merit with Eric Dane, we reached out to her. She was willing to think more creatively, offering experimental treatments that might help and advance research. That changed the course of our fight." — Chris Johnson

The People Keeping Him Going

Through all of this, Chris Johnson says his family is his biggest source of strength:

• His wife, Brittany, has stayed by his side through everything. She says caregiving is tough, but she has no doubt it’s what she’s meant to do.
• His four children give him a reason to keep fighting every single day.

"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." — Chris Johnson

Why He’s Sharing His Story

Chris and Brittany Johnson decided to go public with his diagnosis for a few important reasons:

• To raise awareness about ALS and how quickly it can progress.
• To push for more research and better treatments.
• To emphasize the importance of early detection.

A fund has been set up in Chris Johnson’s honor at the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, which is led by Dr. Cudkowicz, to support ALS research.

"I can’t even hold a cup if I try, and that’s despite being diagnosed relatively early and doing everything we can, including participating in multiple experimental treatments. That’s why early detection, more research, and better treatments are so important. We have to give people a better chance than what’s available today." — Chris Johnson

He Wants You to Know: He’s Still Chris

Even though ALS has changed what his body can do, Chris Johnson wants everyone to know that he’s still the same person inside.

"I want people to know that I’m still me. ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am. People sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you’re not still the same person inside. I still think the same. I still dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn’t cooperate." — Chris Johnson

Summary

• Chris Johnson, a former NFL star and three-time Pro Bowler, was diagnosed with ALS at age 39.
• ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a progressive neurological disease that attacks the nerves controlling muscles, eventually leading to paralysis and loss of the ability to speak, swallow, and breathe.
• His case is sporadic ALS, meaning there’s no family history — this is actually how most ALS cases occur.
• The disease has progressed rapidly, and he now uses a speech-generating device and has lost significant physical function.
• After connecting with Dr. Merit Cudkowicz, a leading ALS researcher at Harvard, he began experimental treatments through a clinical trial that his doctor believes have helped.
• His wife and children are his biggest motivation to keep fighting.
• The Johnsons are sharing their story to raise awareness, push for more research, and emphasize the importance of early detection.
• A research fund has been established in his honor at the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What does ALS stand for?
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s a disease that damages the nerves that control your muscles, making them weaker over time.

2. Is ALS hereditary?
Most cases — including Chris Johnson’s — are sporadic, meaning they happen without any family history. Only about 5–10% of cases are inherited (passed down through families).

3. Is there a cure for ALS?
Not yet. There is no known cure for ALS right now. However, some medications and treatments can slow down the progression of the disease and help improve quality of life. Researchers around the world are working hard to find better treatments and, hopefully, a cure.

4. How fast does ALS progress?
It varies from person to person. On average, most people with ALS live 3 to 5 years after symptoms first appear, though about 10% live 10 years or more. In Chris Johnson’s case, the disease has progressed very quickly — within just over a year, he’s lost significant physical function.

5. How can I help support ALS research?
You can support organizations like the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, the ALS Association, or other research-focused groups through donations, fundraising, or simply by spreading awareness. Every bit of support helps bring us closer to better treatments and a cure.