Chris Johnson, the former Tennessee Titans star known across the league as “CJ2K,” revealed on Good Morning America that he has ALS at 39.
Johnson said the disease has advanced to the point that he needed a speech generation device for the interview with Michael Strahan. Speaking with his wife, Brittany, beside him, Johnson described the moment he learned the diagnosis: "Honestly, I don't know if you ever fully process it," Johnson said in an interview alongside his wife, Brittany.
"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."
He also said there is no history of ALS in his family.
The Titans responded with support from owner Amy Adams Strunk, who posted a statement on social media praising Johnson’s leadership inside the Tennessee locker room and his influence throughout the Nashville community. Strunk said the organization will "support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey."
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As motor neurons die, everyday functions such as walking, chewing and breathing become harder, and the illness typically keeps advancing until death. There is no known cure.
Johnson’s place in Titans history is already secure. The former first-round pick out of East Carolina arrived with a then-record 4.24 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and lived up to the hype. He spent six of his 10 NFL seasons in Tennessee, finishing fourth in franchise history in rushing yards and second in rushing yards per game, trailing only Hall of Famer Earl Campbell.
His production was massive: just under 10,000 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns with the Titans. And his second season remains the kind of year that still jumps off the page, when he joined the small group of just nine players ever to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
Now, Johnson begins a very different fight, one that will have the full backing of the Titans and plenty of support from the fan base he gave so many unforgettable moments to during his career.
In Other News...
Eric Morris Sent A Clear Message With Oklahoma States Media Days Group
The Big 12s release of its expected attendees for football media days offered a small but telling glimpse into how Eric Morris wants to present Oklahoma State heading into the summer spotlight. When the league gathers July 7 and 8 in Frisco, Texas, the Cowboys will be fronted by Morris and a four-man group that includes quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins, defensive end Jaleel Johnson and linebacker Ethan Wesloski, a mix that points to offense, defense and leadership all getting some airtime.
There is also a clear thread running through the group. Three of those four players were with Morris last season at North Texas, while Johnson is the lone holdover from Stillwater, a setup that makes the Cowboys delegation feel less like a random sampling and more like a statement about continuity and familiarity. The event will be shown live on ESPNU and ESPN2, so the first public look at Morris version of Oklahoma State should come with plenty of attention attached. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Lutzs Rebuilt Roster Comes With One Huge NCAA Catch
Steve Lutzs offseason rebuild at Oklahoma State is already carrying an extra layer of roster management, because the NCAAs changing eligibility landscape is arriving right alongside it. The Cowboys have pieced together a new recruiting and transfer class for 2026-27, but the bigger question now is how the sports new 5-for-5 framework will sort out the players already in the program and the newcomers who are trying to fit into it.
The rule, which is set to remove most redshirts and give athletes five years to play five seasons, will begin affecting current players starting in fall 2027, with eligibility reviews coming sooner for some cases. For Oklahoma State, that means a few players could wind up with more college basketball ahead of them, while others are still waiting on NCAA decisions that could change how the roster looks long before the first ball is tipped. [Read more 🡒]
Every 2026 Opponent Is A Reminder Of Oklahoma State's Reset
The reset in Stillwater has been obvious since Eric Morris arrived after Mike Gundys firing, and so has the size of the job in front of him. Morris brought several former North Texas players with him, but the larger challenge is turning around a program that has gone 4-20 over the past two seasons and now has a 2026 schedule loaded with reminders of how far the Cowboys have fallen.
Recent matchups against those opponents tell the story well enough. Oklahoma State was beaten at West Virginia and by UCF in its last meeting, and it also endured lopsided losses at Colorado, Iowa State and Oregon while the league slide kept growing. Even the home stretch offered little relief, which is why every date on the 2026 slate feels less like a fresh start than another test of whether Morris can get the Cowboys pointed back in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]