ALS has already ripped almost everything from Chris Johnson, the Tennessee Titans icon. But today, with an open letter to his kids published via The Players’ Tribune, he reminded all of us what strength truly looks like. That letter, dropped on Thursday, Sept. 10, shows how his children are the reason he keeps fighting.
The Relentless Battle
Johnson’s journey through ALS is just brutal to hear about. He laid out the last 18 months, starting back in March 2025 when a water bottle on a road trip suddenly felt heavy. That was the first alarming symptom. From there, it was a nightmare of meeting multiple doctors before getting that terrifying possible diagnosis of ALS. The fear he and his wife felt about what was coming? You just can’t imagine it. By June of this year, when he publicly announced his fight on “Good Morning America” with Michael Strahan, Johnson had already lost the ability to speak. Talk about a gut punch.
What Still Matters
He wrote, “Almost every part of my life has changed at this point. You guys see it every day.” But the true power comes from what hasn’t changed for him: “who I am.” Johnson knows his value is so much bigger than what his body can do. It’s about the man he is, the person he chooses to be every single day. He encouraged his four children to forge their own “football journey” and emphasized staying together as a family. He even expressed the hope to witness their big life milestones: graduation, marriage, starting families of their own. Can you even imagine that level of hope and love amidst such a battle?
The former NFL running back and 40-yard dash record-holder ended his incredibly raw letter with so much gratitude. He’s thankful his kids still act normal despite all the adversity. He put it perfectly, saying, “It’s crazy, in those small moments, I can forget everything else that’s going on, because I swear it’s like you don’t even see ALS. You just see me.” That hits hard. It’s a reminder of what truly matters, and it’s a powerful message of resilience from a true legend.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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