By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Zach Del Bello/Getty Images
The impact of former running back Marshall Faulk’s Parkinson’s disease announcement caught football fans and the football world by surprise.
Faulk is a hall of famer. Faulk was tough and smart on the football field. Now he must apply that same toughness and intellect to this new battle. Some athletes in history have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Names include Muhammad Ali, Brett Favre, boxing trainer Freddy Roach, Kirk Gibson, Jerry Sloan, and many more.
Parkinson’s disease is never a battle to go alone. Faulk, who is also a football coach, will have resources and support not only from his doctors, but also from his football peers and family members. Right now, Faulk is experiencing tremors and hand rigidity.
He’s 53 years old, and given who he is, he’s motivated to overcome the disease and make the best of the situation. Michael J. Fox’s story inspires many people with Parkinson’s, and Faulk will definitely seek his help and ask questions.
Faulk is positive the medications will slow the progression of the disease. He’s grateful he caught the disease early and learned about it in the early stages, not when it’s too late. Faulk played in the NFL for 12 seasons. He began his career with the Indianapolis Colts. Faulk’s career really took off when he got traded to the St. Louis Rams.
When he arrived at the Rams organization, he joined the “Greatest Show on Turf,” an era from 1999 through 2001 featuring him, quarterback Kurt Warner, and wide receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. This firepower offense won a Super Bowl by defeating the Tennessee Titans.
Faulk is in his first season as coach of Southern University (the Southern Jaguars) in 2026. The team has a 3-4 overall (1-2 in SWAC play).
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
X: @mmm_sportnfilms, Instagram: @miguel_passionforsports and @themmmjournal, LinkedIn: The MMM Journal, TikTok: @miguelmikemedina
