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NFL legend Marshall Faulk revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but has remained in a “good place” after doctors caught it early.
Faulk, 53, announced the diagnosis this week on an episode of “Caring Neurologist” with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar and has been dealing with the disease, which is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that impacts the body’s movement, for roughly 18 months.
His first signs of Parkinson’s appeared while playing golf, Faulk revealed on the podcast, telling his doctor during a physical after having the issue when he wasn’t on the golf course.
“I was like, ‘Wow, is that something?’” Faulk said. “‘Is that normal?’ And the doctor was — he literally was like, ‘You need to go get checked.’”
Faulk’s life has remained relatively unchanged, but the seven-time Pro Bowler still experiences rigidity in his hands.
“The little tremors that I get, you know, they are what they are,” Faulk said. “I just pay attention to my gait, you know, while I walk, when I’m working out, my ability to balance. It’s still where it is.”
The Rams great said he is more active and sleeping more since his treatment began, and he described himself as “one of the lucky ones” with his diagnosis coming early.
Faulk’s positivity comes from the fact that the disease can be managed through treatment, comparing it to recovering from an injury, as he did during his career in the NFL.
He added that he wants to be an advocate for people seeking help when they experience the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Faulk does not seem to have shared his diagnosis extensively with his family, saying that he hasn’t “really had the conversation with them about it.”
“If it comes a time to where my lifestyle changes, then I will,” Faulk said. “Then that conversation could be had. I’m functioning. I’m good. You know, I just think I caught it early. I’m in a good place.”
Faulk became the head coach at Southern University on Dec. 1, 2025, after serving as running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders.
He spent 12 years in the NFL after the Colts selected him second overall in the 1994 NFL Draft.
He went on to have a Hall of Fame career that included 12,279 yards rushing, 6,875 yards receiving and 136 total touchdowns.
Faulk was traded to the Rams in 1999 and helped lead the “Greatest Show on Turf” to a Super Bowl title while in St. Louis
He was named a three-time All-Pro during his career and won the NFL MVP in 2000.