Chris Johnson’s wife shares powerful video showing ‘the best dad in the world’ navigating ALS reality one year ago
Monday night Chris Johnson’s wife Brittany posted a video on Instagram that stopped me in my tracks seeing the Tennessee Titans legend just be “dad” in his early ALS battle.
The Chris Johnson ALS story has consumed Tennessee Titans fans and the entire NFL community for more than a week.
The Ice Bucket Challenge videos have resurfaced, the highlight reels have circulated, and current and former NFL players have rallied in support of Johnson and ALS research. All of it matters. But one moment from last week cut deeper than the rest.
During Johnson’s appearance on Good Morning America, the former Titans running back talked about being able to hold and pick up his daughter for her 7th birthday a year ago to blow out the candles on her birthday cake.
He can’t do that anymore. Johnson shared that detail through his speech generation machine, using his eyes and a computer to control AI that plays back his own recorded voice. That technology represents a positive development in ALS support, giving patients the ability to communicate in a voice their families recognize.
Then, on Monday night, Johnson’s wife Brittany posted a video on Instagram that stopped me in my tracks.
“One year” ago video shows us CJ2K the dad
The video was from a year ago. It opened with Johnson consoling his daughter after she lost at her track meet.
Brittany’s post read:
“One year.
That’s all the time between this video and where we are today.
In this reel, Chris is comforting Honey after a tough loss at her track meet, reminding her to keep believing in herself, shopping for fireworks with her for the Fourth of July, and happily playing along with her dreams of becoming a YouTuber. It captures exactly who he is, the kind of dad who always shows up, always encourages, and always puts his kids first.
Looking back now, it’s heartbreaking to see how quickly ALS can take away so many of the things most of us never think twice about.”
You could tell instantly this was filmed after his ALS diagnosis. His voice had started to change. His previously explosive, athletic frame showed visible atrophy as he leaned over to comfort her with the kind of words every parent reaches for: you can’t win them all, you did your best.
The video continued into the Fourth of July weekend in 2025. Johnson took his daughter on a shopping spree for fireworks. And that’s where something shifted.
We saw a different Chris Johnson than we’ve ever seen publicly before.
We saw dad.
His 7-year-old daughter called him “the best dad in the world.” Johnson was clearly feeling the effects of ALS, but the smile on his face and in his eyes watching his daughter light up over that shopping spree told you everything. He was soaking in every second of that time with her, and you could feel it through the screen.
Brittany’s message and the support pouring in
Brittany included a long message with the post about the support the Johnson family has received. She shouted out Pat McAfee for the donations he committed to, along with the wave of Ice Bucket Challenge participation that has followed the public announcement of Johnson’s diagnosis. It seems like Chris and Brittany are going to do a lot of meaningful work with this platform, and hopefully the reemergence of the Ice Bucket Challenge continues to drive real progress in ALS research.
“To every single person who has participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, thank you. You’re doing more than bringing back a movement you’re helping shine a light on a disease that desperately needs more research, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure.
But awareness alone isn’t enough. We need continued support.
A huge thank you to Pat McAfee, who has so generously pledged to donate $250 for each of the next 1,000 people who complete the Ice Bucket Challenge up to $250,000 for ALS research. What an incredible way to turn awareness into action.
Please keep the challenge going. Participate & #cj2kicebucketchallenge , nominate others, and if you’re able, consider making a donation. Every challenge, every share, and every dollar moves us closer to better treatments and one day, a cure.
From our family, thank you for standing with Chris and every family fighting ALS. 💙”
But, the video itself is what lingers.
We’ve seen the fast Chris Johnson. The touchdown scorer. The fun-loving football player who became one of the most electric runners in NFL history during his time in Tennessee. We hadn’t seen Chris Johnson, the dad, like this before. I’m glad Brittany shared it.