Chris Johnson Has ALS, and The NFL's Silence Is Screaming Loud Right Now

Alright 12s, stop whatever you're doing. This isn't about the Mariners' early season grind or the Seahawks' new look under Coach Macdonald. This is bigger. Former NFL running back Chris Johnson recently went public with an ALS diagnosis, and it's a gut punch. While Johnson himself chose to keep the focus off the obvious, we can't ignore the elephant in the room. The link between this brutal disease and the game we all love? It's been established, plain as day.

The Undeniable Connection to the Game

Think about it. We've seen too many stories, too many legends facing these battles long after their playing days are over. ALS isn't just a tragic illness, it's one of those specific conditions that automatically qualifies retired NFL players for compensation from the league's unlimited concussion settlement fund. Yeah, you heard that right. Since July 7, 2014, if you're a former player and you get an ALS diagnosis, you're in for compensation. No questions asked. That alone tells you everything about what the league already acknowledges behind closed doors. They know.

The Grim Numbers Don't Lie

And if you needed more proof, a massive 2021 study looked at a huge sample: 19,423 NFL athletes, every single one who debuted between 1960 and 2019 and played at least one professional game. The findings? Absolutely chilling. The risk of developing ALS for these guys wa

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s nearly *four times* as high as that of the general population. FOUR TIMES. How do you look at that number and not see the connection? It's right there in black and white, people. This isn't some fringe theory, this is data.

The Awkward Silence in the Room

What really gets you is the reaction, or lack thereof, in certain circles. Johnson's interview on Good Morning America? It was more than a little awkward that the segment didn't even bring up the ties between ALS and football. Not during the interview, not after. His wife, Brittany, even suggested his initial symptoms, like the weakness in his right hand, could have been from a pinched nerve due to playing football. You'd think with everything we know, with all the studies and the settlement fund, there'd be no way to gloss over this. But here we are. This isn't just about Chris Johnson, though our hearts absolutely go out to him and his family as they face this brutal battle. This is about every single player, past and present, who puts their body on the line for the game we cheer for every Sunday at Lumen Field. It's about the long-term cost of playing football, a cost that seems to keep stacking up in devastating ways for too many. We, as passionate fans of the game and the 12s, need to keep this conversation front and center. Because if we don't demand accountability and continued research, who will truly advocate for the heroes we watch perform? Let's keep these players in our thoughts.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.