Marshall Faulk said he has been living with Parkinson’s disease for about 18 months, and he chose to share that fight publicly with a message built around one point: don’t wait to get checked out.
The Southern University head coach discussed his diagnosis on The Caring Neurologist podcast with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar, an episode released Wednesday, Oct.
- Faulk, 53, said he first noticed something was off while doing one of his favorite things - playing golf.
"I just thought it was normal nerves when putting and stuff like that," Faulk said. "But it started to be times where I wasn't playing, I mean, where I was playing, but I wasn't in a match, and it would still do that."
What began as something he could brush off as nerves became harder to ignore once the symptoms showed up outside pressure-packed moments. Faulk said he took the issue to a doctor, who pushed him toward further evaluation.
That led to the diagnosis he now manages through medication, more physical activity and better sleep. Faulk said those changes have made a major difference.
"And since I've started on the medication, I don't really have a lot of issues," he said.
He also described his reaction to the diagnosis as measured rather than panicked.
"I didn't look at it like I got a diagnosis, it was something bad that I was, you know, life was going to end," Faulk said. "Now, if you don't take care of it, there's an opportunity for that to be, but you have to take care of it."
Faulk said his day-to-day life has remained largely the same, and he considers himself fortunate that the condition was caught early. He also used the podcast appearance to push others to pay attention to changes in their own health and to seek medical help instead of brushing symptoms aside.
That included urging listeners to "go beyond your resources" when looking for care, even if that means searching beyond their immediate area. He said people should not assume specialized treatment is out of reach financially.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and can cause tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement and balance problems. The course of the illness varies from person to person. While there is no cure, medications and other therapies can help manage symptoms and support quality of life.
The podcast also pointed listeners to the Parkinson’s Foundation helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for information on the disease, treatment options and specialist referrals.
Faulk’s disclosure comes while he is in his first season leading Southern’s football program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Southern hired him on Dec. 1, 2025, after he spent a season as running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders.
The New Orleans native took over a Jaguars team that finished 2-10 overall and 1-7 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play in 2025. Southern is now 3-4 overall and 1-2 in SWAC competition.
The Jaguars’ next game is set for Saturday, Oct. 24, against Texas Southern at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Southern closes the regular season Nov. 28 against Grambling State in the 53rd Bayou Classic at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Before coaching, Faulk built a Hall of Fame career as one of the most versatile running backs the NFL has ever seen. A former San Diego State standout, he was taken second overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1994 NFL Draft.
He spent 12 seasons with the Colts and St. Louis Rams, became a centerpiece of the Rams’ "Greatest Show on Turf" attack, helped St.
Louis win Super Bowl XXXIV and won NFL Most Valuable Player honors after the 2000 season. Faulk retired after the 2005 season as one of the league’s most productive dual-threat backs.
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