Marshall Faulk, NFL Hall of Famer, opens up about being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 53

NFL legend Marshall Faulk, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and current Southern University head coach, has shared that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 53.

He discussed it on the October 21, 2026, episode of The Caring Neurologist podcast with Dr Sandeep Thakkar. He said that he has been dealing with the disease for about 18 months. Faulk first noticed rigidity or stiffness in his hand while golfing and initially dismissed it as normal nerves from putting.

When the symptoms appeared outside golfing, his doctor advised further testing, which led to the diagnosis. Faulk added that the medication has helped manage the condition. He still experiences “little tremors” and hand rigidity, and monitors his gait and balance during workouts. He added that he has been functioning well and is currently in “a good place.”

Continue reading for more details.

NFL legend Marshall Faulk opens up about his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease

NFL legend Marshall Faulk has said that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is a nervous system movement disorder that worsens over time.

According to a report in People magazine, the Pro Football Hall of Famer shared the news on an episode of The Caring Neurologist, hosted by Dr Sandeep Thakkar. He said:

“I just thought it was normal nerves when putting and stuff like that. But it started to be times where ... I was playing, but I wasn't in a match, and it would still do that. And I was like, ‘Wow, is that something -- is that normal?’ And the doctor was -- he literally was like, ‘You need to go get checked.’”

Marshall Faulk considers himself lucky because of the early detection of his disease. He emphasized that catching the condition in its initial stages gives patients a much better chance at preserving their quality of life. He noted that he discussed symptoms with other former NFL players who experienced similar symptoms but assumed they were just general football-related aches.

He said:

“I spoke with a couple of guys who played NFL football, and they told me about some of the symptoms and things that they had that they thought (were) just football-related, that it didn’t relate to Parkinson’s in any manner. They wish, in those early stages, if they had maybe just (known) a little earlier, they would be in better shape.”

Giving an example of the boxing legend Muhammad Ali, Marshall Faulk said that despite his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, he was “all there.” He also brought up actor Michael J. Fox, who has been living with it since 1991. Fox kept his diagnosis private for several years before sharing it publicly in 1998.

When Faulk was asked if he had discussed the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease with his friends and family, he said that he had not had a conversation about it with his family or friends. He said that he would when the time comes, when “my lifestyle changes.”

Trending

Marshall Faulk was selected second overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts out of San Diego State. He earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and was the first player to win both that award and Pro Bowl MVP in the same season.

He starred for the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams, where he won a Super Bowl and MVP as part of the Greatest Show on Turf. He finished with over 19,000 career yards from scrimmage and 136 touchdowns, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback