Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk has revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, sharing his condition publicly during an interview on “The Caring Neurologist” podcast with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar.
The 53-year-old Southern University head coach said he noticed early symptoms while golfing and sought medical advice during one of his routine biannual physical exams, USA TODAY Sports reported. Faulk credited early detection and prompt treatment for allowing him to keep coaching and maintain an active daily schedule.
“Since I’ve started on the medication, I don’t really have a lot of issues,” Faulk said during the podcast appearance, explaining that while he experiences minor tremors and hand stiffness, his overall mobility and cognitive abilities remain intact. “My brain’s fine. I feel clear of thought, and I guess that’s a good thing, whether it’s old age or whatever.”
Catching the signs on the golf course
Faulk explained that he first noticed physical changes in his hands when practicing his swing and putting. At first, he assumed the tension was a normal physical reaction to athletic strain. However, the stiffness persisted even during casual moments away from competition, prompting him to raise the issue with his physician.
“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.”
After testing confirmed the diagnosis, Faulk immediately began a medication regimen. He emphasized that being proactive helped him avoid more severe physical limitations, USA TODAY Sports reported. He noted that while he continues to monitor his balance, stride and workout stamina, the condition has not disrupted his daily quality of life.
“I don’t look at it as something that’s terminal. It’s like, ‘Hey, you get to live with this.’ There’s far worse things out there,” Faulk said, according to NBC Sports.
Football connections and player health
Faulk’s disclosure adds him to a growing list of prominent former NFL figures who have been diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition. Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre announced his diagnosis in 2024, and former running back Ahman Green disclosed his condition earlier this year, according to The Sporting News. Former quarterback Bernie Kosar has also lived with the disease.
Medical researchers have established ties between repetitive head trauma from contact sports and long-term neurodegenerative disorders. In 2025, researchers at Boston University highlighted connections between playing football and an elevated risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, The Sporting News reported. Under the terms of the NFL concussion class-action settlement, players who retired prior to the final agreement and receive a Parkinson’s diagnosis qualify automatically for settlement compensation, according to NBC Sports.
Faulk spent a decorated 12-season career with the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams, earning three NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, seven Pro Bowl selections and the 2000 league MVP award while anchoring the Rams’ championship offense. He served as the running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders before taking the head coaching job at Southern earlier this year, Rams Wire reported.
Going forward, Faulk said he wants to leverage his public platform to push for broader health education and more affordable medical care. He urged people who experience unusual bodily changes to seek medical evaluations right away rather than overlooking them, hoping to leave future generations of athletes better informed about long-term neurological health.
