What This Story Is About
Chris Johnson’s brother Dereck is speaking publicly for the first time about the family’s experience since Chris revealed his ALS diagnosis, describing the difficulty of keeping it secret and the wave of community support that followed.
Why It Matters
The Johnson family’s account puts a personal face on ALS awareness at a moment when the Ice Bucket Challenge is surging in Chris’s honor and the Tennessee Titans have announced his induction into their Ring of Honor.
What Happens Next
Dereck Johnson and his family plan to attend the first Titans home game, where Chris is expected to be honored as part of the Ring of Honor induction.
For Context
A man named William Ray, who had Chris’s old phone number, saved voicemails intended for Chris and held onto them for the family — leading to an in-person meeting with Dereck during this interview.
Catch Up
Chris Johnson, a former Tennessee Titans running back, publicly announced his ALS diagnosis, prompting an outpouring of support from fans, athletes, and celebrities across the country.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Chris Johnson’s brother Dereck says the support from the community following Chris’s public ALS diagnosis has been overwhelming — and that it is what keeps the family going.
Dereck Johnson said the family had known about the diagnosis for some time before it became public, but they were not able to share the news.
“It’s been rough because we wasn’t able to tell anybody,” Dereck said. “So we had to keep it, you know, secret. You know, we all know how the public can portray things. And we had to protect bro, and our family situation.”
He said the weight of keeping the secret affected everyone close to Chris.
“And it’s been rough, you know, my mom, my dad, my entire family,” he said. “So, like I said, we couldn’t tell anybody. So that was hurtful for us initially.”
Dereck said he did not know Chris would go public with the diagnosis until the day before the announcement.
“I didn’t know till the day before. Which shocked me. Because I didn’t know he was going to do it,” he said.
What followed was a response he did not anticipate.
“And the support we’ve been receiving has been great. Like from everybody, everywhere,” Dereck said. “The soccer team, the wrestling. The support from everybody, we accept all the love and everything that people have did.”
He also noted the spread of the Ice Bucket Challenge in connection with Chris’s diagnosis.
“The Ice Bucket Challenge has really blown up. It’s really huge,” Dereck said.
Dereck said he tries to repost every Ice Bucket Challenge video he sees — from regular people to celebrities. He acknowledged the effort carries a dual meaning.
“It is double-sided because ALS need funding, right? So you can’t ask for funding. People are just gonna do it if they want to do it. And I do appreciate everybody that do fund it, but it’s double-sided, but... everything is love, man.”
Who Chris Johnson is off the field
Dereck described his brother as someone defined by more than his on-field accomplishments.
“Loving, caring, you know, nice,” he said. “We was raised by great parents, and he’s just down to earth. He’s down to earth, man. And everybody loves him, of course. So, that’s who he is, man. And he’s strong. He held everything together.”
For the first time, Dereck met William Ray — the man who had Chris’s old phone number and saved voicemails for the family. Dereck said his sister in Detroit was the first to send him a screenshot of Ray’s story.
“It’s crazy that he had my brother’s old number,” Dereck said. “And what he already did before, I was like, ‘I gotta meet you. We gotta meet in person.’”
He said the bond formed quickly.
“I mean, I gained a new brother,” Ray said.
Titans’ Ring of Honor
During the interview, Dereck learned that Chris had been announced for induction into the Tennessee Titans’ Ring of Honor.
“I didn’t know the effect of what my brother did. I didn’t know,” he said. “So the Ring of Honor, I had to look it up to see what it meant, and I got a list of people that’s in a Ring of Honor. And I was just looking at the list. I was like, it’s pretty cool.”
Dereck said his sister has already called about attending the first home game for the ceremony.
“I don’t have a choice,” he said. “She was like, we gotta come down for the first home game.”
When asked what people can do to help, Dereck said the ask is simple.
“Continue to show love, compassion and just value somebody with a great heart. And continue the Ice Bucket Challenge or continue to donate. Just show love, man. That’s just what we need.”
Dereck said that love and support is what keeps the family moving forward and keeps Chris fighting.
“Don’t take life for granted. You never know what it’s going to throw at you. You never know who it’s going to bring you close to,” Dereck said.
“Cherish every day. Because ALS is something that nobody knows where it comes from. It can happen to me. It can happen to you. It can happen to anybody,” he added.
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