Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk reveals Parkinson's disease diagnosis
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The gist
Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk said he has lived with Parkinson's disease for about 18 months.
The Southern University coach wants others to catch symptoms early and seek care.
Background
Marshall Faulk, a 53-year-old Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, is in his first season as head coach at Southern University, a Louisiana school whose Jaguars are 3-4. He played 12 NFL seasons, seven with the then-St. Louis Rams and five with the Indianapolis Colts, rushing for 12,279 yards, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011 in his first year of eligibility. He was named NFL MVP and won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams in 2000, and was named Southern's head coach in November 2025 after serving as Colorado's running backs coach under Deion Sanders. He revealed the diagnosis on "The Caring Neurologist" podcast with host Dr. Sandeep Thakkar.
How it unfolded
- 1994Faulk was selected No. 2 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Draft out of San Diego State.
- 2000He was named NFL MVP and won Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams.
- 2007Faulk retired after major knee surgery.
- 2011He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
- Nov 2025Faulk was named Southern University's head coach after serving as Colorado's running backs coach under Deion Sanders.
- Oct 21, 2026Faulk revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis on "The Caring Neurologist" podcast with host Dr. Sandeep Thakkar.
- Oct 22, 2026The Southern University coach publicly discussed living with Parkinson's and the importance of recognizing symptoms and seeking care.
- Oct 23, 2026NBC News, Yahoo Sports, OutKick/Fox News and ESPN reported the diagnosis; Faulk said he has lived with the condition for about 18 months and has experienced hand rigidity and tremors.
Who’s saying what
- Faulk
- He said he caught it early and is in a good place, that his brain is fine and he feels clear of thought, and that the earlier you catch it the better your quality of life with medication.
- Faulk
- He said he wants to help as many people as he can and to pass the information on to the next generation so they have it better.