5 min read
Major Takeaways
- Marshall Faulk shared publicly that he was diagnosed with Parkinson disease about a year and a half ago.
- He first noticed rigidity in his hands while playing golf, and a doctor urged him to get checked.
- Faulk says medication has helped, life has felt normal, and he remains on the Southern sideline this season.
- His message is to catch symptoms early, speak up for your health, and start treatment right away.
Marshall Faulk built a career on seeing the whole field. This week, the Hall of Fame running back asked the football world to look at something far more personal.
Faulk shared publicly that he is living with Parkinson disease. He opened up during a conversation with neurologist Dr. Sandeep Thakkar about how he found out and how he is managing it.
The news landed hard across the HBCU world and the NFL world alike. Faulk is in his first season leading Southern University, one of the proudest programs in Black college football.
A Small Sign on the Golf Course
Faulk said the first sign showed up away from football. While playing golf, he noticed rigidity in his hands as he lined up putts.
“I just thought it was normal nerves when putting and stuff like that,” Faulk said. The stiffness kept appearing even when he was not in a match, and a doctor told him plainly that he needed to get checked.
Testing confirmed Parkinson disease about a year and a half ago. Faulk now urges people to act on early signs instead of explaining them away.
“The earlier you catch it, the better chance you have at living a better quality of life with medication,” he said.
He Refuses to Call It Drastic
Faulk said he never viewed the diagnosis as something drastic. His outlook stayed steady from the moment the doctors gave him the news.
“There’s far worse things out there, and if that’s the case, so be it,” he said. “You move on, and you do what you need to do, and you continue to live your life.”
He also had direct advice for anyone hearing similar news. “Just start on the medication. Don’t wait for it to get worse,” Faulk said, adding that he has had few episodes since starting treatment.
“I’ve been going through this for about a year and a half and I want to say life has been normal,” he said. “I take better notes. I’m more concise when I’m doing interviews, and yeah, it’s been good.”
Faulk also shared a memory of sitting beside Muhammad Ali at a dinner years ago. Ali, who lived with Parkinson disease for decades, leaned over and whispered, “You a bad boy.” The moment carries new weight now.
Still on the Southern Sideline
None of this has pulled Faulk away from his team. Southern hired him in December as the 22nd head coach in program history after he worked as a running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders.
The Jaguars stand at two wins and four losses in his first season, and Faulk has graded his own work bluntly. He spent the recent bye week evaluating his players, his coaching staff, and himself.
Southern returns to the field Saturday against Texas Southern at NRG Stadium in Houston. Faulk has announced no change to his coaching duties, and he said earlier this season that his comfort comes from the support of his athletic director, his board, and the school leadership around him.
A Career That Redefined the Position
Faulk grew up in New Orleans and became a sensation at San Diego State. The Indianapolis Colts drafted him in 1994, and a 1999 trade sent him to the St. Louis Rams.
With the Rams, he became the engine of a famous offense and won Super Bowl XXXIV. He was named the league Most Valuable Player in 2000 and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors three straight seasons.
He remains the only player in league history with at least 12,000 rushing yards and 6,000 receiving yards. Canton called in 2011, in his first year of eligibility.
That record is why his words on health carry weight. When a man known for toughness tells Black men to get checked early, people listen.
Why His Voice Matters
Parkinson disease is a disorder of the nervous system that affects movement, and its symptoms often begin quietly. Tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement can be easy to dismiss at first, which is exactly why Faulk is speaking.
He pointed listeners toward help that does not require wealth. “Go beyond your resources,” he said. “Look beyond the things that are in your community because there are things out there.” He noted that doctors, research, and studies can open doors to care.
His openness also gives his players a living lesson. The coach who demands accountability from his team just modeled it in the most personal way possible.
Urban City Podcast sends Coach Faulk and his family our prayers and our respect. For more football, read our Thursday night preview and visit our Sports and Football pages.
