The first Titans-only player in Titans-Oilers franchise to get into the Ring of Honor will be Chris Johnson.

The Tennessee Titans announced Friday that legendary running back Chris Johnson will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor during the halftime ceremony of their home opener on Sept. 13 against the New York Jets.

The decision comes in the wake of Johnson’s public revelation that he has been battling an ALS diagnosis, and it’s a relief to hear the Titans making the right call at the right time for one of the most electrifying players in franchise history.

CJ2K’s place on the Titans’ RB Mount Rushmore, cemented

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement honoring Johnson ahead of the 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 September 13th and officially inducting him into the Titans Ring of Honor.”

Based on that statement, it sounds like Johnson will be in attendance despite his limited mobility when Tennessee hosts the Jets at noon CT. He will join 19 previous inductees in the Ring of Honor and will be one of two inductees this year, along with the late Dave McGinnis, a legendary assistant coach and radio analyst for the Titans who will be inducted posthumously.

Johnson was always somebody who belonged in the Titans Ring of Honor. On the merits of his football career alone, he is a no-doubt member of Tennessee’s Mount Rushmore of running backs, which is the greatest Mount Rushmore of running backs that any NFL franchise has. The Titans’ storied history and legacy of running back excellence is greater than any other team in league history, and Chris Johnson was not the least of those on that list.

He also burned the brightest. Johnson, Eddie George, Earl Campbell, and Derrick Henry form that quartet, and CJ’s peak was better than any of theirs. His 2009 season still stands as the NFL record for most yards from scrimmage in a single year. That alone cements his place among the all-time greats at the position.

Johnson’s revelation about his ALS diagnosis, shared during an interview on Good Morning America with Michael Strahan a couple of weeks ago, provided a sobering reminder of how quickly life can change. He is now confined to communicating through a voice machine after the disease robbed him of his ability to use his body.

During his time with the Titans, Johnson earned three Pro Bowl selections and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 during his 2,000-yard rushing season. He finished his Tennessee career with 7,965 rushing yards, ranking 4th in franchise history, and reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark in six consecutive seasons. That kind of consistency is what separates Johnson from so many other backs who flashed but couldn’t sustain excellence. He also ranks 4th in franchise history with 58 total touchdowns.

The Titans’ social media team put out a touching highlight video of some of the best moments from Johnson’s career in anticipation of the announcement. For a fan base that watched CJ2K rewrite the record books in two-tone blue, Sept. 13 will be a day to welcome him home and give him the recognition he has long deserved.