Eric Dane Dead at 53: Everything the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Said About His ALS Battle
Chris Johnson is detailing his private health battle.
The former NFL player shared that he was diagnosed with ALS—also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease—last year at the age of 39.
“There’s no history of ALS in my family,” Johnson told Michael Strahan in an interview with Good Morning America that aired June 29. “My doctors believe my case is what’s called sporadic ALS, which is actually how the vast majority of ALS cases happen.”
“That’s one of the reasons this disease can be so shocking,” he added. “It can happen to someone who never expected it.”
The three-time Pro Bowl running back—who retired from professional football in 2018——recalled that he was living life as normal with his wife Brittany Johnson and their four children when he started noticing “weakness” in his right hand.
“At first it was little things, like my grip didn’t feel right,” he recalled, “and I wasn’t as strong as I’ve always been.”