Former NFL star Chris Johnson opens up about life with ALS: ‘I’m still a husband and a dad’
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The former Titans running back shares how the disease has changed his mobility and communication while his family helps navigate daily life.
Chris Johnson, the former Tennessee Titans running back known as “CJ2K,” is sharing an intimate look at his life nearly 17 months after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at age 39.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Johnson described the reality of living with a disease that has taken away his ability to speak and significantly limited his mobility. He now uses an electric wheelchair and controls a speech-generating device with his eyes. Johnson maintains that the diagnosis has not changed his sense of who he is. “I’m still a husband and a dad.”
His wife, Brittany, has become his primary caregiver, supported by relatives and other loved ones. Johnson requires breathing support, assistance with eating and changing, and help managing the severe muscle tension associated with ALS. “ALS doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed… it affects the whole family,” Johnson said. “Brittany’s life changed, too. The kids’ lives changed.”
Johnson said one of the most difficult parts of the disease is remaining mentally present while losing the physical abilities he relied on throughout his life. “Having your mind still completely there, while your body stops doing things you’ve done your entire life.” Despite those limitations, Johnson said he still jokes, makes decisions, follows conversations and wants to remain involved in his family’s life. “ALS may change what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am at my core.”
His children have also become part of his day-to-day care. During the PEOPLE photo shoot, his twin sons, CJ and Kaden, helped stretch their father’s legs to ease muscle tension. Johnson said his greatest motivation is being there for his children as they grow up and for his wife.
Johnson spent a decade in the NFL and established himself as one of the league’s most explosive running backs. The Titans selected him in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Johnson eventually made three Pro Bowls during his career before retiring in 2018. Johnson’s twin sons remain interested in football, and their father’s diagnosis has not led him to tell them to abandon the sport.