Marshall Faulk first noticed something troubling in a setting far removed from an NFL stadium: the golf course. Now the Hall of Fame running back is revealing that he has been living with Parkinson's disease for approximately 18 months, turning a personal health disclosure into a pointed question about the changes people dismiss-and when they finally decide to seek answers.
The 53-year-old Southern University head football coach discussed his diagnosis during the October 21 episode of The Caring Neurologist with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar. Faulk said stiffness in his hand initially seemed connected to the pressure of putting. When it continued during rounds without competitive stakes, however, the explanation no longer seemed sufficient. He raised the issue with his doctor, who encouraged further evaluation.
That detail gives his account particular force. An athlete accustomed to monitoring his body still had to decide whether an unfamiliar sensation deserved attention. Rather than continuing to explain it away, Faulk brought it into a medical appointment-a decision he now hopes others will feel comfortable making when something concerns them. His public message centers on recognizing changes and seeking care.
Faulk says medication has helped him manage his symptoms and maintain his daily activities. He continues to experience hand rigidity and occasional tremors, while paying attention to his walking and balance during exercise. His description is measured: he acknowledges what he is experiencing while expressing confidence about how he is functioning now.
"I'm functioning. I'm good," he said during the conversation. "I'm in a good place." Those words offer a more personal picture than a diagnosis headline alone: a coach continuing his work while learning how to live with a condition he has now chosen to discuss publicly.
The disclosure comes during his first season leading Southern, following a coaching stint at Colorado. Long before entering that role, Faulk spent 12 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams, won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award in 2000, and helped the Rams secure a Super Bowl championship. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
His latest public conversation draws attention to a different kind of responsibility: speaking candidly about a health concern while he remains active in a demanding profession. Explaining why he was sharing his experience, Faulk put his purpose simply: "I want to help as many people as I can."
