Chris Johnson diagnosed with ALS. Everything we know about disease, Titans RB

Chris Johnson shocked the Tennessee Titans community on June 29 when he announced he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, during a morning news segment on "Good Morning America."

>He joins Tim Shaw as former Tennessee Titans diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease progressively acts on a person's brain where they lose connection with their muscles, taking their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe. The disease has already affected Johnson's speech.

>There is no cure for the disease, which is fatal.

What causes ALS?There is no exact answer to what causes ALS, according to the ALS Association. There are factors that have been linked to ALS, including genetics, environmental exposures and occupational choices, according to the association.

Chris Johnson cannot speak due to ALS. How does he talk?Johnson said he has lost the ability to speak and now uses a speech-generating computer device controlled by his eyes. He recorded his voice for the device before he lost his ability to speak so that it is his voice that is heard when he talks now.

What is Chris Johnson's ageJohnson is 40. He was born Sept. 23, 1985. He said he was diagnosed in 2025 with ALS.

Chris Johnson's childrenChris Johnson and his wife, Brittany Johnson, have four children, including teenage twin sons.

Chris Johnson's statsJohnson, who starred at East Carolina in college, had 2,163 carries for 9,651 rushing yards and 55 rushing TDs in 130 career NFL games. He played for the Tennessee Titans (2008-13) and New York Jets (2014) before wrapping up his career with the Arizona Cardinals (2015-17).

>Johnson rushed for 1,000 or more yards every season with the Titans, including 2,006 yards in 2009. He totaled 7,895 rushing yards in Tennessee.

Other NFL players with ALSJohnson is the second Tennessee Titans player to have announced an ALS diagnosis, joining Shaw. Shaw played three seasons (2010-12) with the Titans and has battled ALS for 12 years.

>Other former NFL players with ALS include:

O.J. Brigance: The former linebacker played five years in the CFL and seven years in the NFL across the 1990s and early 2000s. Brigance, 56, was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and serves in a front office advisory role for the Ravens. • >Steve Gleason: Gleason, 49, is a former NFL safety who played for the New Orleans Saints from 2000 to 2007. He publicly announced his ALS diagnosis in 2011. He has been an outspoken advocate for ALS awareness since then and released a memoir about his experience living with the disease in 2024. • >Tim Green: Green, 62, is a former edge rusher for the Atlanta Falcons who played from 1986 to 1993. After his playing career, he was a broadcaster, author and lawyer. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2016 but did not announce his diagnosis until 2018. He started a podcast in 2024 that uses AI voice-cloning technology. • >Dwight Clark: Clark was a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987. He announced his ALS diagnosis in 2017 and said he "suspect[ed]" his football career played a part in his diagnosis. He was 61 when died on June 4, 2018.Contributing: Jacob Camenker and Jack McKessy, USA Today

>Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on X @Kreager.

>This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chris Johnson diagnosed with ALS. Everything we know about disease, Titans RB