Hall of Fame running back and Southern University football coach Marshall Faulk revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and hopes early detection will give him the opportunity to “live a better quality of life.” The 53-year-old made the announcement on “The Caring Neurologist” podcast on Wednesday, telling host Dr. Sandeep Thakkar that he hopes others will be on the lookout for early symptoms in themselves. “What you want to do with that information is pass it on to the next generation to make sure they have it better and they know more,” Faulk said. “And you’re doing your best to leave this world a better place than it was, you know, when I got here.” The progressive nervous system disorder affects more than one million Americans. Faulk said he has been living with this condition for about 18 months and has experienced some hand stiffness and tremors. “I think I caught it early and I’m in a good place,” the soccer icon said. “I didn’t look at it like he got a diagnosis, it was something bad that was, you know, life was going to end. Now, if you don’t take care of it, there’s a chance that could happen, but you have to take care of it.” The trainer is optimistic that medications can, at least in the immediate future, prevent the most serious symptoms of Parkinson’s. you find out later, then the things you start to have, the things you go through, they make life a little harder,” he said. Faulk said he was inspired by meeting Muhammad Ali in the boxer’s later years as the champion battled Parkinson’s. “I sat next to him and he leaned over to me and whispered, ‘You’re a bad boy,'” Faulk fondly recalled having dinner with Ali. “And then he made a couple more comments. I was like, ‘He’s there.'” Faulk played 12 years in the NFL, seven for the then-St. Louis Rams and five for the Indianapolis Colts. He rushed for 12,279 yards, the 13th most in league history. But it’s Faulk’s ability to catch the ball that made him one of the most dangerous weapons in the game. His 19,514 total yards from scrimmage rank fifth in all-time. Faulk and his “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams won the 2000 Super Bowl. The No. 2 overall pick in 1994 out of San Diego State was drafted to Canton in 2011. He is in his first season as head coach at Southern and the Jaguars are 3-4 on Saturday against Texas Southern at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Representatives for Southern were able to immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on Friday. Faulk said he hasn’t experienced any cognitive problems yet. Parkinson’s can affect sleep, memory, problem-solving and other brain-related challenges. “My brain is fine,” the coach said. “I feel clearer in my thoughts and I think that’s a good thing.” Faulk said he is aware of the difficulties that could arise in his future and is already taking steps to organize his thoughts more clearly. “Life has been, I mean, normal,” the Hall of Fame running back said. “I’m taking better notes. concise when I do interviews.
