Electric running back Chris Johnson played just one season for the New York Jets and will always be remembered as a Tennessee Titans legend.

Yet, on this day, all of that stuff hardly matters.

While sitting down with Michael Strahan on “Good Morning America,” the man affecitionately known as CJ2K revealed his ALS diagnosis.

“First, I want people to know that I’m still me,” Johnson opened. “ALS has changed what my body can do, but it hasn’t changed who I am.”

Johnson, 40, spoke to Strahan using a speech-generating device that is triggered by his eyes. He revealed doctors diagnosed him with ALS last year (2025), at the age of 39.

The once-certain “fastest player in the NFL” made it known that this public interview was conducted with a point behind it.

“If sharing my story helps even one person get diagnosed sooner, inspires more research, or gives another family hope, then it’s worth it,” Johnson communicated.

Chris Johnson’s lone Jets season

The average New York Jets fan rarely thinks of Chris Johnson as a fondly remembered former player. That’s hardly a slight against him, either, as it’s rather a matter of circumstance.

By the time 2014 rolled around, then-head coach Rex Ryan was ready to enter his sixth season. At this point, Rex was firmly coaching for his job, despite coaching the 2013 Jets to a respectable 8-8 record.

Then-general manager John Idzik signed Johnson to a two-year, $8 million contract that carried a $2 million signing bonus and another $1 million in statistical-based incentives. Alongside the more workhorse-esque Chris Ivory, Johnson figured to be a nice complement.

Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out that way.

Johnson finished 2014 with 663 yards and a touchdown on 155 carries (4.3 yards per carry). He also chipped in with 151 and a score through the air (24 receptions).

Big names couldn’t save the day

This squad signaled the end of a Jets era.

By no means was Chris Johnson a part of the problem, but he was one of several who oozed a certain style of player that just couldn’t save the day for Woody Johnson’s football team.

After the 8-8 season in 2013, with rookie quarterback Geno Smith, the Jets decided to go big-name hunting. After tailing off with the Titans, Johnson was one of the big names to hop aboard.

Another big name was Michael Vick, who also joined the team that season. Let’s also not forget about Percy Harvin, whose Jets career was almost as quick as CJ2K’s 40-yard dash time.

2008

Although best wishes are obviously in order, Chris Johnson’s name is perhaps most synonymous as an opponent.

In 2008, when the surging Brett Favre-led Jets took on the undefeated Tennessee Titans (10-0), Johnson was in the prime of his career.

The 7-3 Jets invaded Nashville to dominate the Titans, 34-13. New York limited Johnson to just 46 yards on 10 attempts, and completely shut down LenDale White (-1 yards).

Leon Washington scampering on the ground to put a nail in the coffin still dances in fans heads today.

Sure, that season was Eric Mangini’s last, and it ended it bitter disappointement, but had Favre not injured his bicep, nobody’s knows what could have happened.

Johnson, as part of a nasty one-two punch with White, burst onto the scene with 1,228 rushing yards in his rookie season. He made history the folllowing season (2009) by becoming the sixth player in history to eclipse the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season.

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, hardly any of this matters right now.

The way things unfold throughout the years is a matter of perspective. Sometimes, a general consensus emerges, whereas other times, looking back at yesteryear provides more nuance.

As it relates to Chris Johnson’s brief New York Jets career, a consensus is certainly alive. He came to town as one of several big names as part of a hired-gun group at the tail-end of the Rex Ryan era.

His prime had past him by, and Jets fans watched him produce well below his early pro days.

Yet, as the rules of comparmentalization are drawn, the brevity of his Jets tenure means nothing when well-wishing is involved. Those who took the time to watch Chris Johnson’s Monday morning interview unanimously agree with that sentiment.