NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk reveals Parkinson's diagnosis
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Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk announced Thursday that he is battling Parkinson's disease.
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Faulk, who won a Super Bowl and an MVP award as part of the "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams teams, made the announcement on "The Caring Neurologist" podcast with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar.
The 53-year-old isn't alone in fighting the disease, as Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre disclosed a Parkinson's diagnosis in 2024 and fellow running back Ahman Green also revealed a diagnosis earlier this year.
Here's what Faulk had to say about his condition.
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Marshall Faulk reveals Parkinson's diagnosis
Faulk, who is the head football coach at FCS Southern University, revealed Thursday that he is battling Parkinson's disease, adding that he is still living a normal life in part because it was detected so early.
"Since I've started on the medication, I don't really have a lot of issues," Faulk said, explaining that he just has "little tremors" at the moment.
"I just pay attention to my gait, while I walk, when I'm working out, my ability to balance," Faulk said. "It’s still where it is."
Faulk explained that he started to notice symptoms in his hand and was told by his doctor to get a closer evaluation when he brought it up during a physical.
"The rigidity in my hand, just sometimes after I play a lot or I practice a lot," Faulk said. "I just thought it was, you know, normal nerves when putting and stuff like that."
Faulk released a lengthier statement after appearing on the podcast:
Statement from #Southern head coach Marshall Faulk on Early Detection and Awareness of Parkinson’s Disease “Taking care of your health and being proactive about your well-being is one of the most important things you can do. I make it a priority to see my doctors annually and stay on top of my health. Through that process, an early finding related to Parkinson’s disease has brought an important issue to my attention, and I want to use this opportunity to help educate others. I was recently asked to participate in a podcast to discuss Parkinson’s disease, and I welcome the opportunity to bring greater awareness to this condition. My goal is to encourage my brothers who shared the football field with me, along with athletes and men everywhere, to take their health seriously, schedule regular medical checkups, pay attention to changes in their bodies and seek medical guidance when something doesn’t feel right. Early evaluation, an accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical care can make a meaningful difference in managing Parkinson’s disease. Too often, we put our health on the back burner while focusing on our families, careers and responsibilities. We cannot afford to do that. Football taught us the importance of preparation, discipline and looking out for one another. Those lessons do not end when we leave the field. We must continue to look out for our brothers by encouraging one another to get checked, ask questions and seek the proper care. This is bigger than football. It is about our health, our families and our future. If sharing my experience encourages even one person to speak with a doctor, get evaluated or take a proactive approach to their health, then the conversation will have been worthwhile.” #SWAC @LAFirstNews
— Brendon Fairbairn (@FairbairnTV) October 22, 2026
Fortunately, Faulk said the early detection will give him a better quality of life going forward. Here's what you need to know about the disease.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that is not curable. While individuals with Parkinson's will have to live with it for the rest of their lives and face worsening symptoms as time progresses, the average lifespan of a person with the disease is not significantly reduced.
The most recognizable Parkinson's symptom is tremors in the arms and hands, according to the Mayo Clinic. Patients can also develop stiffness in the muscles that impacts their abilty to walk normally and raises the risk of falls.
Researchers from Boston University revealed in 2025 that they had found a connection between playing football and a higher risk of Parkinson's disease. Faulk joins Brett Favre, Ahman Green and Bernie Kosar as notable former players with the condition.
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