Marshall Faulk, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who helped carry the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Faulk publicly shared the health update Wednesday, adding a difficult new chapter to the story of one of the most electrifying offensive players of his generation.
The diagnosis was reported by KSDK, the St. Louis television station that has long covered the Rams and their most celebrated players. Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, and it is not confirmed through a single definitive test. Instead, according to Parkinson's Foundation, the condition is diagnosed clinically, based on a patient's medical history, current symptoms and a physical exam — with bradykinesia, or slowness of movement, serving as a key criterion doctors look for.
From San Diego State to Super Bowl Champion
Faulk's path to stardom began when the Indianapolis Colts selected the San Diego State running back with the second overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He spent his early seasons in Indianapolis before the Colts traded him to the St. Louis Rams in 1999, a move that would define the rest of his career. In his very first season wearing Rams blue and gold, Faulk helped guide the team to a Super Bowl title, according to the Hall of Fame's biography.
The following year brought Faulk's signature individual achievement. He earned NFL Most Valuable Player honors after setting the single-season record for touchdowns with 26, the Hall of Fame notes. Over a 12-year, 176-game career, he amassed 12,279 rushing yards and earned seven Pro Bowl selections before his career wound down.
A Signature Performance Against Minnesota
One of the clearest illustrations of Faulk's dominance in St. Louis came in a game against the Minnesota Vikings, when the Rams routed Minnesota 48-17. According to Southeast Missourian, Faulk carried the ball 17 times for 108 yards and scored on runs of 18, 5 and 7 yards that day, finishing with three touchdowns. That kind of production became something of a trademark during his years running behind St. Louis's high-powered offense.
Faulk's résumé eventually earned him enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, cementing his place among the greatest running backs to ever play the game. His blend of power, speed and receiving ability made him a matchup nightmare throughout his career, and it's that legacy that has made the news of his diagnosis resonate so widely among football fans who remember his highlight-reel runs in St. Louis.
Part of a Larger Conversation on Football and Neurological Health
Faulk is not the only prominent NFL alum to recently disclose a Parkinson's diagnosis. A separate report from ESPN indicated that Ahman Green, the Green Bay Packers' career rushing leader, revealed earlier this year that he, too, has Parkinson's disease. The parallel between two accomplished NFL running backs disclosing the same diagnosis has drawn attention to the broader question of long-term neurological health among former players, though the specific circumstances of each man's diagnosis remain separate matters.
Treatment approaches for Parkinson's vary depending on the stage of the disease. Certain therapies are common in early-stage Parkinson's or used alongside carbidopa-levodopa in later stages, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Faulk is more active since beginning treatment and is focusing on managing his symptoms.
