Marshall Faulk, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and Southern University head coach, has revealed he has Parkinson's disease, saying he has lived with the condition for about 18 months and is managing it with medication.

Faulk, 53, told The Caring Neurologist podcast, hosted by Dr Sandeep Thakkar, on Wednesday that he does not see the diagnosis as terminal.

'I don't look at it as something that's terminal,' he said. 'It's like "Hey, you get to live with this." There's far worse things out there.'

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disorder that can cause tremors, stiffness and problems with movement and balance. There is no cure, but treatment can help to control symptoms.

Stiff Hand on the Golf Course

Faulk said he first noticed a problem on a golf course, when a stiffness in his hand did not go away after practice. He initially put it down to 'normal nerves when putting and stuff like that', but the sensation continued when he was not playing.

He said he has a medical check-up twice a year and raised the issue with his doctor, who told him to 'go get checked'. Further tests led to the diagnosis.

Since starting medication, Faulk said, he has not had 'a lot of issues' beyond sleeping a little more, persistent stiffness in his hands and 'little tremors'. He said he monitors his gait, his balance during workouts and the way he walks, and believes they have not declined. He also said he has experienced no cognitive decline and still feels 'clear of thought'.

Faulk said he had not yet discussed the diagnosis with family or friends and suggested he would do so only if his lifestyle had to change. For now, he said, he feels 'good' and believes early detection has put him 'in a good place'. He warned that neglecting treatment could become 'a detriment to your livelihood'.

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Decorated Career and Wider Concern

Faulk was the second overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, selected by the Indianapolis Colts, and later starred for the St Louis Rams, winning Super Bowl XXXIV and the league's Most Valuable Player award in 2000. He finished his career with 12,279 rushing yards and 6,875 receiving yards, and was selected for seven Pro Bowls.

He announced his retirement in 2007 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, in his first year of eligibility. Southern University appointed him head coach in December 2025.

Faulk has not publicly attributed his diagnosis to his playing career. Although the causes of Parkinson's disease are not fully understood, research has found higher rates of neurodegenerative disease mortality among NFL players.

A Boston University study published in July found that NFL players were nearly four times more likely than the general population to die from neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, dementia and Parkinson's disease.

Former Green Bay Packers players Brett Favre and Ahman Green have also disclosed Parkinson's diagnoses, Green in July.

Faulk said he drew encouragement from others who have lived with the disease. He recalled sitting beside boxing great Muhammad Ali, who had Parkinson's for decades before his death in 2016, at a dinner and thinking 'He's all there'. He also cited actor Michael J Fox.

Faulk said he wanted 'to help as many people as I can', and urged anyone noticing similar signs to seek proper medical checks rather than dismiss them as age, nerves or stress.

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