The Nearly 4X Higher Risk For NFL Players That Nobody's Talking About Right Now

Alright, listen up, 12s. We’re all about the gridiron, the bone-jarring hits, and the fight for every yard. But sometimes, you gotta pull your head out of the game and look at the real stakes. Former NFL running back Chris Johnson just went public with his ALS diagnosis, and while he chose to keep the focus off the link between the brutal sport we love and this devastating disease, the fact that a major network like Good Morning America straight up *ignored* that connection during his interview? That’s where I gotta draw the line. We can’t let that slide.

The Hard Truth They Don't Want You To See

Let's cut through the noise. The connection between playing football and ALS isn’t some shadowy rumor, it’s an undeniable, established fact. And you know who else knows it? The NFL itself. How? Because since July 7, 2014, ALS has been designated as one of the specific, no-questions-asked conditions that *automatically* qualifies retired players for compensation from the league’s massive, unlimited concussion settlement fund. Think about that for a second. The league isn't just handing out cash for fun or charity. They've recognized this link as so undeniably clear, so directly tied to the game, that they're cutting checks without needing to debate it. That specific action, that decision to include ALS in their most serious compensation structure, speaks volumes. It tells you everything you need to know about the inherent dangers of the sport our Emerald City cheers for every Sunday.

Numbers Don't Lie, But Silence Does

And if the legal settlement isn’t enough to hammer the point home, the cold, hard science certainly should be. A massive 2021 study, the kind that digs deep, looked at *every single* NFL athlete, all 19,4

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23 of them, who first stepped onto a professional field between 1960 and 2019 and played at least one game. The results? A gut punch. They found that the risks of developing ALS for these gridiron warriors were nearly *four times as high* as those for the general population. Let that sink in: nearly FOUR TIMES! That’s not a small difference; that’s a staggering, terrifying statistic that should have every single person connected to this league, from the commissioner down to every single fan screaming at Lumen Field, sitting up and demanding answers. Even Chris Johnson’s own wife, Brittany, when his initial symptoms like weakness in his right hand appeared, just assumed it was a pinched nerve from *playing football*. The dots are right there, clear as day. So why, when a national segment on Good Morning America is discussing this player’s diagnosis, did they avoid mentioning the ties to the sport, even when they got agonizingly close? That silence is deafening, and frankly, it’s unacceptable. So, what's our takeaway, Seattle? What does this mean for us, the passionate 12s who live and breathe every single snap? It means we need to stay vigilant. We need to remember that these athletes, whether it’s a veteran like Cooper Kupp or our QB Sam Darnold, are putting their bodies on the line, game after game. When news like Chris Johnson’s diagnosis comes out, we absolutely cannot allow the tough, uncomfortable questions about player safety and long-term health to be swept under the rug. We demand transparency and accountability for our players. This isn’t just about one former player; it’s about acknowledging the very real, very serious health risks that come with the game. Let's make sure the league, and the media who cover it, never overlook these critical facts again. We owe it to every single player who ever wore a helmet.

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