Faulk, Hall of Famer and Southern coach, reveals Parkinson's diagnosis — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Marshall Faulk revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis on a podcast Wednesday, telling Dr. Sandeep Thakkar on "The Caring Neurologist" that he wants to help as many people as he can by discussing his illness.
- Faulk said medication has left him with no issues beyond hand rigidity — which he believes hasn't worsened in the year and a half he's been dealing with the disease — plus "little tremors."
- Faulk said he first noticed hand "rigidity" after playing golf and assumed it was "normal nerves," until a doctor told him, "You need to go get checked."
- St. Louis Rams — Faulk played more than 10 NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the Rams, winning a Super Bowl and the MVP award with the Rams before retiring in 2007 after major knee surgery.
- Faulk was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame four years later, in his first year of eligibility, after starring as a two-time All-American running back at San Diego State.
- Southern University — Faulk took the head coaching job in November after serving as an assistant on Deion Sanders' Colorado staff, and has led the program to a 3-4 record this season.
- Muhammad Ali — Faulk said a dinner with Ali, who had Parkinson's, left him believing "He's all there," and he cites Michael J. Fox as someone who has managed the disease for decades; he reports no cognitive decline and feels "clear of thought."
Why it matters: Faulk, 53, is in his first season coaching Southern, which is 3-4, and says medication limits him to hand rigidity and minor tremors. His goal of helping as many people as possible adds a Parkinson's advocacy role to a résumé carrying a Super Bowl win, an MVP award and a Hall of Fame induction.
Ask SkimNews
