Former Jets running back Chris Johnson says he has been diagnosed with ALS

Former New York Jets running back Chris Johnson used a national TV appearance to disclose that he was diagnosed with ALS last year, and that the condition has spread quickly. In the statement released by the Jets, Johnson framed his reaction in stark terms of personal choice, telling viewers, “You Can Give Up or You Can Fight. I Chose to Fight.”

The announcement matters beyond Johnson’s playing career because ALS is a progressive neurological disease that progressively weakens muscles and affects basic physical functions over time. Johnson’s disclosure puts a former NFL running back’s public platform behind a condition that most fans know only generally, translating private medical reality into an explanation that can reach people who might otherwise never hear it.

According to the Jets’ release, Johnson told audiences that the diagnosis came last year, and that once ALS was identified, it moved rapidly. The way he described the speed of the progression, and the decision he made after learning the news, suggests a period of adjustment that likely involved both medical uncertainty and the need to plan for changing day-to-day life.

Johnson’s comments also serve as a reminder of the small margins that define professional football careers. Even for players who leave the league years earlier, the body can remain the central story, whether through lingering wear and tear from the sport or, in this case, through a disease unrelated to typical football injuries.

While Johnson’s NFL résumé is part of why this announcement reached a national audience, the focus now shifts to living with ALS and how Johnson will navigate treatment, support, and the practical reality of a chronic condition that progresses. His choice to speak publicly indicates he wants the message to be direct, not filtered through the distance that often separates athletes from life after football.

For the Jets, the disclosure is also a moment of connection with a former player who previously suited up for the franchise. The team has not added medical details beyond what Johnson shared, but the decision to publish his statement keeps the Jets’ role in the story tied to awareness and community, rather than football logistics.

The next chapter for Johnson will likely revolve around public engagement, family and caregiver support, and ongoing communication about what life with ALS looks like as the disease continues to evolve. For fans, the practical watch point is whether Johnson’s public messaging grows into sustained advocacy or awareness efforts, and how the football community responds to a diagnosis that reaches far beyond the sport’s season calendar.