NFL Alum Chris Johnson Thanks ‘Caregiver' Wife Brittany Amid ALS Diagnosis
Former NFL running back Chris Johnson has opened up about how his ALS battle is affecting the people in his life, including his wife and kids.
Johnson, 39, went public with his diagnosis in a Monday, June 29, appearance on Good Morning America, taking to Instagram later that day to thank his family.
"Thanks again for all your support!" he wrote in the caption, alongside a pair of graphics filled with text describing his situation. "If you would like to donate to ALS research the clickable link is in my bio."
"Last year, I was diagnosed with ALS, and for a while, the only thing I could do was hold on, day by day," he wrote on the graphic. "What you're seeing today wasn't just a story I agreed to tell. It was a real moment in my real life, with real people who love me, care for me and refuse to let me face this alone."
He continued, "Most of all, I want to thank my wife, Brittany. There aren't enough words for what you've done. You've become my caregiver, my advocate, my voice when I need one, and somehow you've continued to hold our family together through all of this. I know this hasn't just changed my life - it has changed yours too. I couldn't fight this without you."
Chris, Brittany and their four kids have long kept their personal lives private, but Brittany appeared on Good Morning America alongside her husband, where she shared how she's supported the family.
"All I could think about was our kids and how young they are," she said. "You're in denial. You want it to be anything else. You want the doctors to be wrong. The life that we previously had is now a thing of the past. But we're still hopeful. We're hopeful that a breakthrough will happen, or that a miracle will happen."
Chris also thanked his kids for taking on an impossible role.
"To my kids…I love you more than you'll ever know," he wrote. "You've stepped into responsibilities no child should ever have to carry. You've helped take care of me, encouraged me on the hard days, and reminded me every day why I refuse to give up. Watching you shoulder a burden that isn't fair has been one of the hardest parts of the journey, but you've done it with so much love. Everything I do is for you."
Chris acknowledged that he is not the first former NFL player to be diagnosed with ALS. Steve Gleason, Kevin Turner and Dwight Clark are among the others to battle the disease.
"While we don't know exactly how my ALS started, there is growing research linking repetitive head trauma to ALS," Chris explained. "Studies have found that NFL players are nearly four times more likely to develop ALS than the general population. I hope the NFL steps up, in vests in research, and continues working to protect players - both now and for generations to come. Together we can push toward better treatments and one day a cure."
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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 9:17 AM.