Former Lions quarterback Chase Daniel couldn't believe his ears after former NFL running back Chris Johnson made the shocking revelation that he was diagnosed with ALS last year at just 39 years old.

“This is absolutely shocking and devastating,” writes the former quarterback in reaction to the news.

Johnson broke the heartbreaking news on Good Morning America, where he used a speech-generating device to record his voice after ALS robbed him of his ability to speak.

“There’s no history of ALS in my family,” Johnson, now 40, shared in an interview with Michael Strahan on ABC's Good Morning America, as published by Mint. “My doctors believe my case is what’s called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen.”

Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS gradually destroys the nerve cells that control muscles, affecting movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing.

Nicknamed "CJ2K," Chris is one of the fastest running backs in the sport's history, but his life changed last year after the diagnosis. As per doctors, there's no cure for ALS.

The former NFL star first noticed weakness in his right hand despite staying active. When he went to the doctor, he received the devastating diagnosis.

When asked about the diagnosis, Johnson said he has not lost hope, and he would fight through it.

“Honestly, I don’t know if you ever fully process it,” Johnson said to Strahan on ABC's Good Morning America, as published by Mint . “At first, you’re in shock. Then you realize you have two choices. You can give up, or you can fight. I chose to fight.”

According to Chris’ doctors, he has sporadic ALS, which is the most common form of the disease, accounting for about 90% of cases with no known family history.

“That’s one of the reasons this disease can be so shocking,” Chris said. “It can happen to someone who never expected it.”

While the disease has been slowly breaking him down, he hasn't lost hope, and one analyst believes he deserves to be inducted into the Ring of Honor.

Analyst pushes for Chris Johnson's Ring of Honor induction

Earning a place in the Titans’ Ring of Honor is the franchise’s ultimate recognition.

As of 2026, only 20 players have been inducted into the exclusive club, with legendary coach and broadcaster Dave McGinnis being the latest name to receive the prestigious honor.

However, Sports Interactive's Bryce W. Lazenby believes Johnson should be added to the list.

“There's no denying that Johnson is one of the best Titans of all time, and he's solely responsible for making many people fans of the team in the first place," said Lazenby. "As a result, I think there's an obvious move Amy Adams Strunk and the Titans should make, sooner rather than later,”

There are very few running backs who ever held as much charm as Chris Johnson. He topped 1000 rushing yards for the Titans in all six of his seasons. On top of that, he had 2,006 yards in 2009, earned three Pro Bowl nods, and won Offensive Player of the Year.

He was monumental for the Titans when they were at the top, and Bryce believes that the franchise should honor his legacy now.

What are your thoughts on this?

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi