Chris Johnson Is Battling ALS, And What Started In His Hand Has Left Him Speechless
Okay, Seattle, you gotta sit down for this one. This isn't about Lumen Field heroics or another Mariner walk-off, but it's about a fighter, a warrior, and it's gut-wrenching. Former NFL superstar Chris Johnson, the guy who ran for over 11,000 total offensive yards in his career, just revealed he’s battling ALS. Lou Gehrig's disease, you know? He was diagnosed last year, at just 39 years old. Think about that: 39, and this devastating news hits. It’s a shocker, man.
The Hand Weakness That Rocked His World
Johnson told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan that last year, he was in the prime of his life. Working out daily, living life with his wife, Brittany, and their four kids. Then, he noticed it: a weird weakness in his right hand. Little things, he said, like his grip felt off. He just wasn't as strong as he always had been. His wife, Brittany, even thought it was probably just an old football injury, maybe a pinched nerve, from all those years grinding it out on the field. Who wouldn't think that? But nobody, absolutely nobody, expected it to be ALS. Johnson said there’s no history of it in his family. His doctors believe it's "sporadic ALS," which is actually how most cases pop up. Just blindsides you.
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Choosing to Fight When the World Stops
Getting that diagnosis? Johnson called it a "shock." He told Strahan the doctor said a medication might extend his life by a few months and they should "get our affairs in order." Man, can you even imagine hearing that? But Johnson, true to the warrior spirit we know from these guys, chose to fight. He said you have two choices: give up or fight. He picked fight. His journey changed after he saw an interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer and the late actor Eric Dane, who passed away from ALS in February. That interview featured Dr. Merit Cudkowicz, a neurologist and leading ALS researcher. Johnson reached out to her, and she was willing to think "more creatively," offering experimental treatments to help him and advance research. Dr. Cudkowicz said Johnson has been on standard care, three medications to slow the illness, and was also part of a clinical trial for a therapy that decreases inflammation, which she believes helped him a lot. Still, the disease has moved so fast that Johnson now uses a speech-generating device just to talk. His voice was recorded soon after the diagnosis. It’s a constant, brutal battle.
This is the kind of stuff that puts everything else into perspective, isn't it? Chris Johnson is showing us what real toughness looks like. ALS is a degenerative neurological disorder that eventually leads to paralysis, taking away your ability to move, speak, swallow, or even breathe. No known cure, but guys like Chris are out there fighting for every single day. His courage, his choice to fight, and his openness about this brutal disease are truly inspiring. Our thoughts are with Chris and his family as he keeps battling this unbelievably tough opponent. Keep fighting, man. Keep fighting.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.