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Former NFL speedster running back Chris Johnson (40) revealed heartbreaking news on Good Morning America.
The former NFL running back spoke with Michael Strahan on Good Morning America and revealed that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive neurogenerative disorder for which there is no cure.
When Johnson was 39, he noticed weakness in his hand while living an active life with his wife and kids and working out regularly. He shares four children with his wife, Brittany, and is in the prime of his life. Now, he must face a battle that is much tougher than any defense on the gridiron.
Johnson was one of the fastest running backs ever to play the game and went by the nickname CJ2K.
When speaking to Strahan, he would say, "At first, it was little things like my grip didn't feel right, and I wasn't as strong as I'd always been," he recalled when diagnosed in 2025.
"I want people to know that I'm still me," Chris told Strahan in a pre-taped interview that aired June 29. "ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn't changed who I am."
He now has a speech-generating computer to speak with using his eyes since the disease has progressed so rapidly. Before Johnson lost his ability to speak, doctors recorded his voice so that it could be used to relay Chris' voice, not AI.
"It's continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined," he said. "I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she could make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn't do that."
"If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope, then it's worth it."
Despite ALS, Chris Johnson remains hopeful, credits his family's strength, and advocates for ALS.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Former NFL RB reveals rapid ALS, uses speech generator to speak
Continue reading...
The former NFL running back spoke with Michael Strahan on Good Morning America and revealed that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive neurogenerative disorder for which there is no cure.
When Johnson was 39, he noticed weakness in his hand while living an active life with his wife and kids and working out regularly. He shares four children with his wife, Brittany, and is in the prime of his life. Now, he must face a battle that is much tougher than any defense on the gridiron.
Johnson was one of the fastest running backs ever to play the game and went by the nickname CJ2K.
When speaking to Strahan, he would say, "At first, it was little things like my grip didn't feel right, and I wasn't as strong as I'd always been," he recalled when diagnosed in 2025.
"I want people to know that I'm still me," Chris told Strahan in a pre-taped interview that aired June 29. "ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn't changed who I am."
He now has a speech-generating computer to speak with using his eyes since the disease has progressed so rapidly. Before Johnson lost his ability to speak, doctors recorded his voice so that it could be used to relay Chris' voice, not AI.
"It's continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined," he said. "I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she could make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn't do that."
"If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope, then it's worth it."
Despite ALS, Chris Johnson remains hopeful, credits his family's strength, and advocates for ALS.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Former NFL RB reveals rapid ALS, uses speech generator to speak
Continue reading...
