Ahman Green, the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leading rusher and a four-time Pro Bowl running back, has revealed that he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease last year.
The 49-year-old shared his diagnosis on Tyler Dunne’s “Go Long” podcast.
Green, known for his relentless running style during his 12-year NFL career, expressed a similar determination in facing his health challenge.
“I know unfortunately there’s a day we eventually, where our clock stops ticking,” Green said. “The way I look at it, my clock is going to stop ticking when I want it to stop ticking.”
He amassed 9,205 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns before his final season in 2009.
The first signs of the neurological condition, which impairs control over movements, appeared when Green’s feet began twitching during sleep.
“I knew something was going on long before that,” he stated.
Parkinson’s typically manifests with tremors, slow movement, a shuffling gait, stiff limbs, balance issues, and slurred speech. Green also noted experiencing sleepwalking without recollection and described his short-term memory as “trash”, though his long-term recall remains strong.
Despite the challenges, Green maintains an optimistic outlook, emphasizing his commitment to regular exercise and a “super clean” diet.
Green’s illustrious career with the Packers saw him rush for 8,322 yards, a franchise record. He achieved four consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2001-04 and set a single-season team record with 1,883 rushing yards in 2003.
Drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 1998, he joined Green Bay in 2000, playing there until 2006, then with the Houston Texans for two seasons, before a final return to the Packers.
His announcement follows two years after his former Packers teammate, Brett Favre, disclosed his own Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Green, who recently spoke with Favre, plans to reach out again, stating he wants to let the Hall of Fame quarterback know “he has a brother right behind him.”
Favre, a former Super Bowl winner, spent 15 years with the Packers between 1992 and 2007, before moving to the New York Jets. He finished his illustrious career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2010 before announcing his retirement.
