Former Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson’s recent ALS diagnosis has sparked emotional reactions from across the NFL. A Dallas Cowboys legend was among those who shared a heartfelt prayer for Johnson and his family. 

"God bless him. God bless him and his family," Irvin said in a YouTube video on June 30.

The former NFL legend and Hall of Famer spoke about Johnson's recent Good Morning America interview with host Michael Strahan, regarding his diagnosis.

"Let me address this and just say all of us are praying for the interview that Michael Strahan did with Chris Johnson - CJ 2K," Irvin said in the video posted on his official YouTube handle. "We saw him on Good Morning America. And that was - for those of you who did not see it - he has ALS now. And he was using the computer to talk, and he was sharing some hard things."

During the interview, Johnson used eye movements to operate a speech-generating machine that uses his voice to speak. He was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2025.

"It's just hard to hear and listen to," Irvin said. "Like that, everything - his mind is there. He's full. He's there. He thinks, he feels everything. It's just that he can't move his body like he wants to. And it made me think, that's difficult. That's hard."

Johnson finished his NFL career logging 2,163 carries for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns.

His historic 2009 season with the Titans, where he logged a career high of 358 carries for 2,006 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, even earned him the "CJ2K" nickname.

According to Jacob Camenker and Jack McKessy of USA Today, Johnson also ranks as the sixth RB in league history to run for 2,000 yards in a single season.

Irvin praised Johnson for speaking publicly about his diagnosis and said he would keep Johnson and his family in his prayers as they navigate the difficult journey ahead.

Chris Johnson vows to keep fighting ALS

During his recent interview on Good Morning America with Michael Strahan, Johnson used a speech-generating device for the interview. He explained that he wanted to raise awareness regarding ALS and help in advancing research regarding the illness.

"Because if sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research or gives another family hope, then it's worth it," Johnson said.

He shared that his family is the main reason he keeps fighting the illness rather than giving up without finding a cure.

“She [His wife Brittany] hasn’t left my side through any of this,” Johnson added during the interview. “My kids are also a huge part of why I keep going. Every day, I wake up wanting more time with them, to make more memories, and to just be their dad. They give me a reason to keep fighting.”

Johnson also stated that after the disease began progressing, he was left with two options. And rather than give up and lose hope, the former NFL athlete decided to keep fighting.

Despite the rapid progression of ALS, Johnson remains determined to cherish every moment with his family and continue raising awareness about the disease.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit