NFL legend Chris Johnson, 40, reveals ALS test and diagnosis after watching Eric Dane interview
Chris Johnson has revealed that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a new interview.
Speaking to Good Morning America about his health, the former NFL running back explained that he was diagnosed with the illness back in 2025, at the age of 39.
"I first noticed weakness in my right hand," he said of his inital symptoms, which his wife Brittany Johnson believed may have been a pinched nerve linked to his football career.
"At first, it was little things like my grip didn't feel right and I wasn't as strong as I've always been," he continued.
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Johnson, who has no history of ALS in his family, was later diagnosed with sporadic ALS, the most common form of the disease, which accounts for around 90 percent of cases.
There is currently no cure for ALS, with current treatments focusing on slowing the onset of the disease and helping patients manage their symptoms. According to ALS Association, the average life expectancy for a person diagnosed with ALS is on average three years, depending on the progression of the illness.
Now 40, Johnson's disease has progressed rapidly within the past year, meaning he can now only communicate through the use of a specialised computer.
"It's continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined," Johnson said of his illness.
"I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago, I was picking up my seven-year-old daughter so she can make a wish with her birthday cake.
"Today, I couldn't do that."
He is also working with Dr Merit Cudkowicz in looking for more experimental treatments for the disease, after seeing an interview with her and Eric Dane last year.
Dane, who was known for his roles in Euphoria and Grey's Anatomy, died at the age of 53 in February this year, after being diagnosed with ALS in April 2025, after first noticing symptoms in his right hand.
"After watching Good Morning America and seeing Dr Merit with Eric Dane, we reached out to her," Johnson explained.
"She was willing to think more creatively, offering experimental treatments that might help and advance research."
"Chris has been on standardised care, which is about three different medications a month to slow down the illness," Cudkowicz said of his treatment plan. "But he was also part of a clinical trial of therapy that decreases inflammation. And I think that helped him a lot."
According to the Mayo Clinic, ALS starts with mild symptoms that may be hard to notice, such as:
- Trouble walking or doing usual daily activities
- Tripping and falling
- Weakness in the legs, feet or ankles
- Hand weakness or clumsiness
- Slurred speech or trouble swallowing
- Muscle cramps and twitching, along with weakness in the arms, shoulders or tongue
- Crying, laughing or yawning at inappropriate times
- Changes in thinking or behavior
Explaining why he'd decided to share his story, Johnson said that he wanted to raise awareness, adding: "If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research or gives another family hope, then it's worth it."
Topics: Health
Brenna Cooper