Chris Johnson to Be Inducted Into Titans Ring of Honor Weeks After Revealing ALS Diagnosis
Chris Johnson’s historic run in Tennessee will be permanently honored this fall. The Titans announced Friday that the franchise’s all-time rushing great will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor during halftime of the season opener against the New York Jets on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Nissan Stadium.
The announcement lands just weeks after Johnson, 40, revealed he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a progressive condition that breaks down nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement, gradually stripping away a person’s ability to move, speak and eventually breathe.
Titans Owner Honors “The Man Behind the Yardage”
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk framed the induction as overdue recognition, according to the team’s official announcement.
“Chris Johnson holds a special place in the hearts of our organization and our fans. His stats speak for themselves, and he will forever remain a leader in our record books, but the man behind the yardage deserves just as much celebration. We look forward to welcoming him home on Sept. 13 and officially inducting him into the Titans Ring of Honor,” Strunk said.
Based on that statement, Johnson is expected to attend the ceremony in person despite the mobility challenges that have come with his diagnosis.
CJ2K’s Run to the Franchise Record Books
Tennessee took Johnson in the first round of the 2008 draft, and he wasted no time making an impact. He made the Pro Bowl and finished as Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up that season. Then came 2009, the year that defined his career.
Johnson led the NFL with 2,006 rushing yards, becoming just the sixth player in league history to clear the 2,000-yard mark. He added 503 receiving yards, pushing his yards from scrimmage to 2,509 — still an NFL record. That season earned him the nickname “CJ2K,” first-team All-Pro honors and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award.
The numbers below show why Tennessee is finally putting him in the Ring of Honor.
| Category | Titans Career (2008–2013) | Full NFL Career (2008–2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards | 7,965 | 9,651 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 50 | Part of 64 total TDs |
| Yards From Scrimmage | — | 11,906 |
| Games Played | 95 | 130 |
| Pro Bowl Selections | 3 | 3 |
Johnson left Tennessee after the 2013 season and closed out his career with stints alongside the Jets and Cardinals. He’ll become the 20th member of the Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor, joining franchise cornerstones like former owner Bud Adams, running backs Earl Campbell and Eddie George, and his former head coach, Jeff Fisher.
Johnson’s ALS Diagnosis and Its Toll
Johnson first disclosed his diagnosis last month in an interview with Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, revealing he learned he had ALS in 2025. He now relies on a speech-generating device controlled by his eyes to communicate.
He described the disease’s speed in blunt terms.
“It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined. I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body,” Johnson said.
He also pointed to a specific, painful marker of how fast things have changed. Just over a year earlier, he’d been able to pick up his 7-year-old daughter so she could blow out her birthday candles. Now, he said, that’s no longer possible.
The diagnosis has rippled through the football world. Current and former players have revived the long-dormant ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in a show of support, aiming to push new donations toward ALS research.
Johnson won’t be the only name added to the Ring of Honor this year. The Titans previously announced that former radio analyst and assistant coach Dave McGinnis will be inducted posthumously at a separate home game later in the season, according to the team’s report.
Tennessee opens its 2026 season at home against the Jets on Sept. 13, with kickoff and broadcast details to be announced closer to the date.