NFL legends and key figures are banding together to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to support former running back Chris Johnson as he battles the disease
Roger Goodell let out an amusing scream as the ice was dumped on his head
Roger Goodell let out an amusing scream as the ice was dumped on his head(Image: X @NFL)
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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to support former running back Chris Johnson.
Once one of the fastest running backs in NFL history, Johnson was diagnosed with ALS last year at the age of 39 and has already lost the ability to speak. The 2009 Offensive Player of the Year revealed his ALS diagnosis in a major interview on Good Morning America last month.
In the interview with Michael Strahan, Johnson communicated via an eye-controlled speech device while sitting alongside his wife, Brittany. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is the most common form of motor neuron disease and typically begins with slowly progressive symptoms such as muscle stiffness, twitching, weakness, and muscle wasting.
Ever since Johnson shared his ALS diagnosis, supporters have been taking part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, which first went viral in 2014 to raise money for ALS research. The likes of Marshawn Lynch and Adam Jones have taken part, and Friday was Goodell’s turn.
With help from former NFL running backs Emmitt Smith and Thurman Thomas, Goodell had ice dumped over his head. Goodell let out a hilarious scream as the ice was poured onto him, and he challenged the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class to join in on the challenge next.
The video came alongside a $500,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to the Massachusetts General Hospital's Healey and AMG Center for ALS, according to the NFL, which also shared a donation link of a contribution drive launched by Johnson's family in his honor.
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“At just 39 years old, Chris was diagnosed with ALS, a devastating disease that gradually takes away the ability to move, speak, swallow, and eventually breathe,” the fundraiser description reads.
“Together with our family, he has dedicated himself to advancing ALS research by participating in innovative treatment programs and sharing his story in the hope that it will bring greater awareness, inspire more funding, and help accelerate the search for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.”
Johnson retired from professional football in 2017 after a three-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals. He is best known for his six seasons with the Tennessee Titans, during which he earned three Pro Bowl selections and was named Offensive Player of the Year, before joining the New York Jets.
The 40-year-old is one of nine running backs to record at least 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. He will be honored during the Titans’ season opener, with a Ring of Honor induction ceremony at halftime of the clash with the Jets on Sept. 13.