Titans Make Classy Chris Johnson Announcement After ALS Diagnosis

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Titans Make Classy Chris Johnson Announcement After ALS Diagnosis

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jul 17, 2026 3:29 PM ET

From 2008 to 2013, running back Chris Johnson ranked among the best running backs in the league and set numerous franchise records for the Tennessee Titans along with the league's all-time single season yards from scrimmage record.

Now at age 39, Johnson is fighting not just for his own life but the lives of others. He recently announced that he's been diagnosed with ALS and is doing everything in his power to raise awareness for the terrible disease.

With Johnson back in the spotlight, the Titans have decided to honor their former star running back. On Friday, the team announced that Johnson will be formally inducted into the team's Ring of Honor. The induction will take place on September 13 during the team's season opener against the New York Jets.

“Chris Johnson holds a special place in the hearts of our organization and our fans,” Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in statement today. “His stats speak for themselves, and he will forever remain a leader in our record books, but the man behind the yardage deserves just as much celebration. We look forward to welcoming him home on Sept. 13 and officially inducting him into the Titans Ring of Honor.”

Speed, records, memories. CJ2K will forever be in our Ring of Honor pic.twitter.com/C4PatZlvK2
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) July 17, 2026

The Fastest Man in the League

Johnson was a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft after a standout career at East Carolina. But what really got peoples' heads turning towards him was his then-record 4.24-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Not every player who runs the fastest 40 time winds up being an NFL star, but Johnson immediately proved that he was an exception. He rushed for over 1,200 yards as a rookie and won Rookie of the Year honors while leading the Titans to the AFC's best record that year.

2009 was the year he cemented himself in history. He ran for 2,006 yards that season, becoming just the sixth man in history to go over 2,000 yards in a year at the time. Johnson also finished the season with an NFL record 2,509 yards from scrimmage - a record that still stands and has rarely been threatened.

Johnson left the Titans in 2014 ranked third in rushing yards in team history. He currently ranks fourth behind Eddie George, Derrick Henry and Earl Campbell.

His induction into the Titans' Ring of Honor will certainly be a tear-bringing moment.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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