Former Titans star Chris Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis
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Former Titans star Chris Johnson revealed in an emotional interview with "Good Morning America" today that he was diagnosed with ALS.
The big picture: Johnson, 40, told interviewer Michael Strahan, who is also a former NFL standout, he intends to fight the devastating disease with no known cure.
- "Honestly, I don't know if you ever fully process it," Johnson said, speaking with the help of a computerized device. "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."
Flashback: In a sport of super-athletes, Johnson was even more explosive than almost all NFL players. He recorded one of the fastest-ever 40-yard dash times at the scouting combine.
- After the Titans selected him in the first round of the 2008 draft, Johnson rushed for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns in his career.
- He was known for his blazing speed and ripping off explosive long runs.
- "Some people leave a mark on an organization that you just can't put into words," Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "Chris Johnson is one of those people for us. Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey."
Zoom out: The shocking diagnosis is already familiar to the Titans family.
- Johnson's former Titans teammate Tim Shaw was also diagnosed with ALS, and has been living with the disease since 2014.
Zoom in: Nashville has become a hub of ALS advocacy and research, culminating in the state giving a record-setting grant to Vanderbilt's research center earlier this year.
Watch Johnson and his wife Brittany Johnson's full interview