Former NFL star Chris Johnson, who played for the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals, has been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that affects the brain and muscles. Johnson’s former teammate, Ryan Fitzpatrick, reflected on the news, saying it was a tough thing to deal with, especially considering the frustrations of Johnson’s mind being there but his body starting to fail him.
ALS and Football
Johnson said in a social media post that there is growing research showing a link between repetitive head trauma and ALS, and studies have shown that NFL players are four times as likely to develop ALS as the general population. Fitzpatrick, who played with Johnson for a season, said that when it comes to football, he would do it all over again, despite the risks.
Fitzpatrick also talked about the difficulties of dealing with ALS, having seen it firsthand with a friend from high school who was diagnosed with the disease. He expressed his support for Johnson and his family, saying that they are all hoping for the best for him.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
