Awful Announcing Faults GMA for Omitting 4x ALS Risk in Chris Johnson Coverage
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 30
Awful Announcing Faults GMA for Omitting 4x ALS Risk in Chris Johnson Coverage
2 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jun 30
Summary
Awful Announcing said Good Morning America failed to mention football’s established ALS link when covering former NFL running back Chris Johnson’s diagnosis.
A 2021 study of 19,423 NFL players found ALS risk was nearly four times that of the general population, and ALS has qualified retirees for NFL concussion-settlement compensation since 2014.
The segment noted Johnson’s hand weakness and described his illness as sporadic ALS, which accounts for about 90% of cases, but did not address how football exposure could affect that risk.
Jeff Pearlman and the article argued the omission matters because players and parents should understand long-term neurological risks alongside concussions and other injuries when deciding whether to play football.