Former NFL star Chris Johnson, diagnosed with ALS, has penned an emotional public letter to his children, reflecting on the potential link between his football career and his devastating illness, while still expressing gratitude for his journey.
Former NFL star Chris Johnson, famously known as 'CJ2K' for his 2,000-yard rushing season, has publicly addressed his ALS diagnosis in a letter to his four children published by The Players Tribune. Diagnosed a year prior and now relying on a computerized speech-generating device, Johnson has visited numerous ALS clinics and notes neurologists' reactions to his football background. He acknowledges a study indicating former NFL players are nearly four times more likely to develop ALS, prompting him to wonder about a connection to his career. Despite the progression of the fatal nervous system disease, Johnson expresses no regret for his NFL journey, viewing it as a platform for advocacy. He encourages his sons in their own football pursuits, highlighting the game's improved safety. Johnson initially grappled with shame over his diagnosis but now regrets not sharing it sooner, realizing the potential for greater awareness and impact on the disease, which affects nerve cell communication with muscles, leading to muscle weakness and loss of ability to move, speak, and breathe.
