Marshall Faulk was one of the most versatile running backs the NFL has ever seen, and he is now in his first season as a college head coach. This week the Hall of Famer shared news about his health: he has Parkinson’s disease. If you are wondering what happened to Marshall Faulk, here is what he said, how he found out, how he says he is doing and what comes next for him and his team.
What happened to Marshall Faulk
Faulk, 53, revealed his diagnosis on “The Caring Neurologist” podcast, which was released Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, NBC News reported. He told host Dr. Sandeep Thakkar that he has been living with the condition for about 18 months and has experienced some hand rigidity and tremors.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Faulk first noticed the symptoms on the golf course. “The rigidity in my hand, just sometimes after I play a lot or I practice a lot,” he said. “I just thought it was normal nerves when putting and stuff like that.” When it kept happening outside of competitive rounds, he said, he started to wonder whether it was normal. A doctor told him to get checked.
Faulk said medication is keeping his symptoms in check. He is not experiencing “issues” beyond hand rigidity and a few tremors and does not believe his symptoms have gotten worse, NFL.com reported. He also told the podcast he has not had cognitive problems. “My brain’s fine,” he said, according to NBC News. “I feel clear of thought and I guess that’s a good thing.”
His reason for going public was simple. “I want to help as many people as I can,” Faulk said, a line quoted by both NFL.com and the Los Angeles Times.
Faulk did not say what caused his Parkinson’s, and no cause has been reported. He did say that former NFL players he called after his diagnosis told him they had once assumed some early symptoms were just football-related, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Timeline
- 1994: The Indianapolis Colts draft Faulk second overall out of San Diego State. He runs for more than 1,000 yards and is named NFL rookie of the year, the Los Angeles Times noted.
- 1999: He is traded to the St. Louis Rams before the season and becomes a centerpiece of the “Greatest Show on Turf” offense.
- January 2000: The Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV.
- 2000 season: Faulk is named NFL MVP.
- 2005: He retires with 12,279 rushing yards, later moving into broadcasting with NFL Network.
- 2011: He is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- 2025: Faulk enters coaching as running backs coach on Deion Sanders’ staff at Colorado.
- Around 2025: Faulk is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, about 18 months before the podcast by his own estimate.
- Before the 2026 season: He is hired as head coach at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Los Angeles Times reported he took the job knowing about his diagnosis.
- Oct. 21, 2026: The podcast episode revealing his diagnosis is released.
- Oct. 23, 2026: National outlets including NBC News, the Los Angeles Times and NFL.com report the news.
Why it matters
Faulk is one of the biggest names in NFL history. His 12,279 rushing yards rank 13th in league history, and his 19,514 yards from scrimmage rank fifth all-time, NBC News reported. When a figure like that talks openly about a serious diagnosis, it reaches people who might not otherwise pay attention to early warning signs.
That is the point Faulk wanted to make. “The earlier you catch it, the better chance you have at living a better quality of life with medication compared to if you catch it later,” he said, according to NBC News. He called himself “one of the lucky ones” because the disease was caught early, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects more than a million Americans, according to NBC News. It can also bring sleep, memory and problem-solving difficulties, which is why Faulk’s comments about his clear thinking drew attention. He said he is already preparing for possible changes. “I take better notes, I’m more concise when I’m doing interviews,” he said.
He also joins a list of well-known former players who have spoken about living with Parkinson’s. The Los Angeles Times named Brett Favre, Ahman Green and Bernie Kosar. Faulk said he took comfort from meeting boxing great Muhammad Ali, who had Parkinson’s, at a dinner. “He leaned over to me and he whispered, ‘You a bad boy,'” Faulk said in remarks reported by both NBC News and the Los Angeles Times. “I was like, ‘He’s all there.'”
There is also a football angle. Faulk is a sitting head coach. He is running an HBCU program in the FCS that went 2-10 in 2025 and is 3-4 in his first season, the Los Angeles Times reported. Nothing in his public comments suggests he plans to step away.
What’s next
Faulk says his plan is to keep coaching, keep taking his medication and keep talking about early detection. “I didn’t look at it like I got a diagnosis, it was something bad that I was, you know, life was going to end,” he said, according to NBC News. “Now, if you don’t take care of it, there’s an opportunity for that to be, but you have to take care of it.”
On the field, Southern’s next game is Saturday, Oct. 24, against Texas Southern at Reliant Stadium in Houston, NBC News reported. Southern University had not responded to NBC News’ request for comment as of its report, and the school has not announced any change to Faulk’s role.
What is not known: Faulk has not shared details about his specific treatment, and he has not said whether he plans to do more advocacy work beyond the podcast interview.
FAQ
Does Marshall Faulk have Parkinson’s?
Yes. He revealed on “The Caring Neurologist” podcast that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about 18 months ago.
How did Marshall Faulk find out he had Parkinson’s?
He noticed rigidity in his hand while playing golf, and a doctor urged him to get tested, according to the Los Angeles Times.
How is Marshall Faulk doing now?
He says medication has kept his symptoms, mainly hand rigidity and some tremors, from getting worse, and that he has no cognitive issues.
Is Marshall Faulk still coaching?
Yes. He is in his first season as head coach at Southern University, and no change to his role has been announced.
How old is Marshall Faulk?
He is 53.
Updated October 24, 2026