Former NFL running back Chris Johnson disclosed publicly that he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. Johnson, who played for the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals during his career, told Good Morning America about the diagnosis, according to ESPN.
Johnson was one of the most electrifying players of his era. He set the NFL single-season rushing record in 2009, gaining 2,006 yards for the Titans. He earned the nickname CJ2K that season.
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no known cure.
Johnson's announcement adds his name to a short but growing list of former professional athletes who have received the diagnosis in recent years.
