NFL legend and Southern University football coach Marshall Faulk has publicly revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive central nervous system disorder that impacts physical movement. Faulk, 53, shared that he has been navigating the condition for approximately 18 months after first noticing physical changes during a routine game of golf.
Speaking on an episode of “Caring Neurologist” hosted by Dr. Sandeep Thakkar, Faulk explained that he initially experienced unusual hand issues while golfing. He brought the matter up during a routine physical examination, asking his physician if the anomaly was normal. According to Faulk, the doctor immediately advised him to undergo further medical evaluation.
Despite the diagnosis, Faulk expressed that he remains in good spirits and considers himself fortunate to have caught the condition early. He noted that the disease can be effectively managed through treatment, drawing a parallel between coping with the neurological disorder and recovering from the physical injuries he sustained during his professional football career. Since beginning treatment, Faulk reported that he has increased his daily activity level, improved his sleep habits, and maintained a lifestyle largely unchanged from before his diagnosis.
While he continues to experience some rigidity in his hands and minor tremors, Faulk stated that the condition has not progressed. He monitors his physical movements closely, paying attention to his walking gait, balance, and physical responses during workouts, noting that his functional abilities remain stable.
Faulk stated an intention to advocate for early medical intervention, encouraging others to seek professional help if they notice unusual symptoms. He added that prior to the public disclosure, he had not discussed the diagnosis with his family or friends, choosing to wait until a point where the condition might alter his daily lifestyle. Emphasizing that he remains fully functional, Faulk reiterated that he is currently in a strong position regarding his health.
In addition to his coaching career, Faulk was named the head coach at Southern University on December 1, 2025, following a stint as the running backs coach under Deion Sanders at Colorado. A 2011 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Faulk is widely recognized as one of the premier running backs in football history.
During his collegiate career at San Diego State, Faulk led the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing for three consecutive years, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1992 and fourth in 1993. Selected second overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, where he earned two Pro Bowl nods, Faulk reached a historic peak after being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 1999.
In his first season with St. Louis, Faulk helped guide the franchise to a Super Bowl victory while becoming only the second player in NFL history to record 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving in a single season. He secured the league Most Valuable Player award in 2000 after leading the NFL with 18 touchdown runs and a 5.4 yards-per-carry average, returning with the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2001.
Over a storied career that included seven Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro nods, Faulk retired following the 2005 season with 12,279 rushing yards, 6,875 receiving yards, 100 rushing touchdowns, and 136 total touchdowns. He remains one of only three players in NFL history, alongside Marcus Allen and Tiki Barber, to amass at least 10,000 career rushing yards and 5,000 career receiving yards.
