Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson revealed he is facing a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurological disease commonly known as ALS.

Johnson opened up about the diagnosis during a sit-down with Michael Strahan on ABC’s "Good Morning America." The 39-year-old revealed that he learned he had the progressive neurological disease in 2025. Since there is no history of the illness in his family, doctors told him it is a case of sporadic ALS, which is actually how most people end up contracting it.

During the interview, Johnson used a special speech device that ran on recordings of his own voice. He talked about how shocking the news was, especially because it can happen to anyone out of nowhere.

Football fans remember Johnson for his incredible 10-year NFL career, playing for the Titans, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals. He famously earned the nickname CJ2K back in 2009 when he rushed for 2,006 yards. He was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year that season after setting a league record with 2,509 total yards from scrimmage.

Following the news, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement letting Johnson know the organization has his back. She praised his leadership in the locker room and everything he did for the Nashville community during his time with the team.

ALS is a disease that attacks the nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. It became widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease back in 1939, and scientists are still searching for a cure.

Johnson is currently taking part in a clinical trial for his treatment. He said he first realized something was wrong when his grip started to weaken. His wife, Brittany Johnson, said they initially thought it was just an old football injury or a pinched nerve.

The progression has been incredibly fast. Johnson shared a heartbreaking reality of how quickly the disease moves, noting that just a year ago he could lift his 7-year-old daughter, but he can no longer do that today.

Even with the physical hurdles, Johnson wanted to share his story to raise awareness and let everyone know he is still the exact same person inside. He said the disease changes what his body can do, but it can never change his mind, his dreams or his love for his family.