Chris Johnson ALS Highlights NFL Risk Study

Study Reveals Alarming ALS Toll

News that former NFL running back Chris Johnson, now 39, has been diagnosed with ALS has intensified the debate over football’s long‑term health risks. Recent research quantifies the danger, showing that former players develop ALS far more often than the general population. The findings come from a study tracking the health of 19,824 NFL athletes since 1960.

10 Cases, Far Below Expectation

The Concussion & CTE Foundation reports that 10 former NFL players have died of ALS before turning 50. By comparison, statistical models predict fewer than one such death in that group, with an expected count of just 0.24. The stark discrepancy underscores a serious public‑health issue within professional football.

• Eric Scoggins – 49ers linebacker, died at 49
• Kevin Turner – Patriots and Eagles running back, died at 46
• Orlando Thomas – Vikings defensive back, died at 42
• Glenn Montgomery – Oilers defensive tackle, died at 31

Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, a co‑author of the study, called the numbers “alarming.” He warned that ALS deaths, especially at younger ages, are occurring far more often than chance would allow. The data, he said, demands urgent action to improve neurological care for former players and to accelerate research into treatments and prevention.

Positive Findings and Ongoing Risks

Despite the grim ALS data, the same research shows NFL players, on average, live longer and healthier than the general public. They also face a lower suicide rate, contradicting a common belief about head injuries and mental health. However, the study found that neurodegenerative disease mortality is nearly four times higher than expected, and risk climbs with career length.

These mixed results suggest that while football still offers longevity benefits, the cumulative impact of head trauma cannot be ignored. The next step is to translate the findings into concrete support systems for former athletes. As more research emerges, the focus will be on early detection, specialized care, and ultimately, preventing ALS and related conditions.