Chris Johnson Had Common First Symptom Before ALS Diagnosis at 39

Nov 28, 2010; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) on the sidelines against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium. The Texans defeated the Titans 20-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports© Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Chris Johnson Had Common First Symptom Before ALS Diagnosis at 39

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated Jun 29, 2026 1:01 PM ET

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Former NFL All-Pro running back Chris Johnson has revealed his ALS diagnosis at 39 years old.

Johnson, who starred for the Tennessee Titans, revealed his diagnosis in an interview with Michael Strahan of "Good Morning America."

"There's no history of ALS in my family," Johnson said in the interview that aired Monday on "GMA." "My doctors believe my case is what's called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen."

He added: "That's one of the reasons this disease can be so shocking. It can happen to someone who never expected it."

Johnson, the NFL's 2009 Offensive Player of the Year, was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disease that slowly destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord over time, when he was 39 years old in 2025.

The former NFL star noticed some common first symptoms before his diagnosis.

Johnson opens up about first symptoms

Johnson said that he first noticed that his grip strength wasn't what it should be. Johnson noticed "little things, like my grip didn't feel right, and I wasn't as strong as I've always been."

Initially, Johnson and his wife believed that it was connected to his NFL-playing career.

"I thought because of football and, you know, his career, that it had to be something with that," he said.

"Maybe … a pinched nerve or something along those lines, but never ALS."

Johnson was ultimately in the prime of his life before receiving the diagnosis.

"We hoped it was something else, but after thorough testing, they finally came down with a diagnosis of ALS," he said.

Our thoughts continue to be with Johnson and his friends and family members during this difficult time.

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

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