Former Green Bay Packers star Ahman Green has revealed that he has been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease at age 49.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement. Green said he was diagnosed with the disorder after experiencing sleep disturbances and unusual movements, including "feet twitching."
Green—widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in Packers history and among the NFL's greatest rushers of the early 2000s—has also experienced memory issues.
"Short-term memory is trash. I've got to remind myself of things," he said.
Green said he is approaching Parkinson's with the same mindset that defined his football career.
"My clock is going to stop ticking when I want it to stop ticking," Green stated. "That's how I'm looking at it. I've always been like that. The way I ran the ball, you're going to have to break both my legs to stop me running the ball."
Green chose to keep the diagnosis private at first, sharing the news only with his family before speaking publicly about it.
"I didn't share it for a long time because I wanted to let my kids know, my family. I have four daughters and a son, so I let them all know first, then told friends and family before I told somebody like yourself," he said.
Green played 12 NFL seasons from 1998 to 2009. He was selected in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft after starring at the University of Nebraska and spent two seasons as a backup in Seattle before being traded to Green Bay.
While Green acknowledged that repeated head trauma from his football career may be part of the broader conversation surrounding neurological diseases in former NFL players, he did not directly attribute his Parkinson’s diagnosis to his time in the league.
The former NFL running back said he is managing the condition with medication, exercise, and a healthy diet.
By going public, Green also said he hopes to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, encourage early detection, and support others facing similar diagnoses. Despite the challenges of living with a progressive neurological disorder, he expressed optimism about maintaining his quality of life and continuing to move forward on his own terms.
His diagnosis comes two years after former Packers teammate and Hall of Famer Brett Favre revealed he was diagnosed with the same disease. Green said he recently spoke with Favre to catch up but said he also intended to call him to let him know “he has a brother right behind him.”