Former NFL running back Chris Johnson is turning a painful personal diagnosis into a public push for awareness, and he’s doing it by reviving one of the most recognizable viral campaigns of the last decade.
Johnson appeared on “Good Morning America” this week and said he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. ALS progressively affects a person’s ability to move and speak, and Johnson has now joined with several other players to bring back the Ice Bucket Challenge, the old social media phenomenon that once spread everywhere with buckets of ice water dumped over participants’ heads.
The challenge was originally created to raise awareness of ALS and money for research, and it eventually brought in roughly $220 million worldwide. Johnson kicked off his version on Wednesday with a video showing his daughter taking part, and the response came quickly.
NFL legend Marshawn Lynch followed by completing the challenge and showing support. Former Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James then added his own spin, pouring a bucket of money over his head and saying he was donating $9,651 to the cause, a figure that matches Johnson’s NFL career rushing yard total.
Johnson also said he is part of a clinical trial using experimental treatments. Even with the diagnosis, he made clear he doesn’t see himself as changed at the core.
“I want people to know that I’m still me. ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am,” he said.
“People sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you’re not still the same person inside. I still think the same.
I still dream. I still love my family.
My body just doesn’t cooperate.”
In Other News...
Rams Uniform Debate Is Heating Up All Over Again
The Rams uniform conversation is back in the spotlight after another round of changes to the look they unveiled following the 2020 rebrand. The team has already moved away from the gradient numbers, added white pants and brought back the full modern horn design on both primary jerseys, a set of tweaks that was supposed to steady the look after an uneven debut.
Still, the debate around the uniforms has not really gone away. Sports Illustrateds Mike Kadlick put Los Angeles last among the NFLs 32 teams, a harsh verdict for a club that has tried to refine its image rather than overhaul it again, and there is more coming with two alternate uniform sets set to be released before the regular season. For Rams fans, the question is whether those additions finally push the look into place or just keep the argument going. [Read more 🡒]
One Overlooked Rams Lineman Suddenly Feels Worth Watching
Bill Norton has spent his rookie year bouncing on and off the Rams practice squad, the kind of quiet roster churn that usually keeps a young defensive tackle buried in the background. But the 6-foot-6, 336-pound lineman is hard to ignore once you notice him, especially on a defensive front that has not seen many new additions and could use more bodies inside.
Now Norton is back in the mix for another shot heading toward the 2026 season, and his size alone gives him a different kind of appeal than most of the interior defenders around him. The Rams may give him a look at nose tackle, where his versatility could matter most, and that at least puts him in position to turn a forgotten camp name into something more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Will Anderson Is Suddenly Being Mentioned With NFL Royalty
A recent offseason workout clip gave fans a fresh look at two of the leagues most feared edge rushers, with Myles Garrett and Will Anderson working together under pass rush specialist Bradon Jordan. Garrett has already built a reputation as one of the NFLs premier sack artists, while Anderson continued to show why he is quickly becoming one of the most respected young defenders in the game after a full season with the Texans.
The social media reaction was immediate, and it is easy to see why. Anytime Garrett is on the same field with a rising pass rusher like Anderson, the conversation naturally shifts from highlight clips to bigger questions about where Anderson fits among the leagues elite, and whether he is ready to be mentioned in the same breath as the sports established royalty. [Read more 🡒]