Chris Johnson, the former Tennessee Titans running back, announced Monday that he was diagnosed with ALS last year. The 40-year-old shared details of his condition during a Good Morning America interview.
Johnson said the diagnosis came as a complete shock. He first noticed weakness in his right hand and initially attributed it to his NFL career. The disease has progressed rapidly, forcing him to use a speech-generating device.
"Honestly, I don't know if you ever fully process it," Johnson said. "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 was drafted by the Titans in 2008 and rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons, including a 2,006-yard campaign in 2009. He set the 40-yard dash record at the combine that stood until 2017.
The degenerative disease has no known cure. Johnson emphasized how quickly ALS can affect the body, noting he could no longer lift his young daughter as he did just over a year ago.
