Former NFL RB Chris Johnson, known
as CJ2K for his 2,000 yards for Titans in '09, reveals he has ALS
[June 30, 2026]
Chris Johnson, one of nine players in NFL history to rush for
more than 2,000 yards in a season who made the Pro Bowl in each of
his first three years with the Tennessee Titans, revealed in a
television interview aired Monday that he has ALS.
Johnson, 40, spent 10 seasons in the league and last played in 2017
for the Arizona Cardinals. He said on ABC's “ Good Morning America ”
that he was diagnosed with the fatal nervous system disease last
year.
“Honestly, I don’t know if you really fully process it,” he said,
using his eyes to communicate through a computerized
speech-generating device during the interview with Michael Strahan.
“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, a first-round draft pick out of East Carolina in 2008,
rushed for 7,965 yards over six seasons with the Titans. The native
of Orlando, Florida, had 2,006 yards in 2009 to earn the nickname
“CJ2K” and ingratiate himself with the Tennessee fan base.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, in a statement released Monday, said
the organization is holding Johnson, his wife and four children
close.
“Some people leave a mark on an organization that you just can’t put
into words. Chris Johnson is one of those people for us. His
leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker
room and Nashville community have written him permanently into the
story of this franchise," Adams Strunk said. “Learning this news is
extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way
throughout his journey."
ALS, which is an acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is
commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative
condition that affects nerve cell communication with muscles
throughout the body. The disease leads to muscle weakness and can
cause deterioration of the ability to move, speak and breathe.
Tim Shaw, who had a six-year career as a linebacker in the NFL and
was a teammate of Johnson's with the Titans from 2010-12, was
diagnosed in 2014 at age 30 with ALS and is still alive.
Johnson, who also played one season for the New York Jets, first
noticed weakness in his right hand and trouble with his grip. He was
still working out daily a year ago. Now he can't hold a cup or speak
on his own.
[to top of second column] |
Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson visits the field
during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York
Jets, Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker
IV, file)
“Your mind stays sharp. People sometimes look at a
person with a physical disability and assume you’re not still the
same person inside,” Johnson said. “I still think the same. I still
dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn’t cooperate.”
Johnson was joined for the interview by his wife, Brittany, who has
become his primary caregiver.
“She hasn’t left my side through any of this. My kids are also a
huge part of why I keep going,” Johnson said. “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.”
Johnson has been participating in experimental treatments with the
goal of extending his life and helping the medical field move closer
to a cure for the disease.
“If it helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more
research or gives another family hope,” he said, “then it's worth
it.”
Johnson didn’t discuss his playing career in the interview. In a
later post on his Instagram account he acknowledged the unknown
about how he developed the disease but referenced research that has
linked repetitive head trauma to ALS. That includes a 2021 study
that found NFL players were nearly four times more likely to develop
the disease than the general male population.
“I hope the NFL steps up, invests in research, and continues working
to protect players — both now and for generations to come,” Johnson
said. “Together, we can push toward better treatments and, one day,
a cure.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
