Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, the dynamic centerpiece of the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The 53-year-old Faulk shared the news this week on the podcast “The Caring Neurologist” with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar. He said he has been managing the condition for about 18 months after first noticing rigidity in his hand while playing golf. What he initially dismissed as “normal nerves when putting” persisted even outside of competition, prompting him to raise it during one of his twice-yearly physicals. His doctor advised further testing, which led to the diagnosis.
Faulk, who is in his first season as head coach at Southern University after serving as running backs coach at Colorado, emphasized that early detection has been key. With medication, he reports limited symptoms—primarily hand rigidity and occasional minor tremors—that have not worsened. “I’m functioning. I’m good. You know, I just think I caught it early. I’m in a good place,” he said. He has experienced no cognitive issues and feels “clear of thought.”
He described the condition in practical terms, comparing it to the knee surgeries and other wear from his playing days: “It’s something you live with. It’s not to where it’s a detriment to your livelihood. Now, if you don’t take care of it, there’s an opportunity for that to be.” Faulk has said his goal in speaking publicly is to “help as many people as I can,” particularly by encouraging early evaluation of symptoms that might otherwise be attributed solely to football-related wear.
For Rams fans who watched him redefine the position in St. Louis, the news hits close to home. Acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in 1999, Faulk immediately became the engine of Mike Martz’s aggressive offense. In his first season he set an NFL record with 2,429 yards from scrimmage (1,381 rushing, 1,048 receiving) and helped the Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV. The following year he was named NFL MVP after scoring a then-record 26 touchdowns. From 1999 through 2001 he earned three consecutive Offensive Player of the Year awards, seven Pro Bowl selections overall, and three first-team All-Pro nods while the Rams reached two Super Bowls.
His combination of vision, burst, and receiving ability made the Greatest Show on Turf offense nearly impossible to defend. Faulk retired after the 2005 season having rushed for 12,279 career yards and scored 136 total touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, his first year of eligibility.
Faulk continues to work and stay active while managing the disease. He has pointed to examples such as actor Michael J. Fox as evidence that many people live full lives with Parkinson’s when it is identified and treated early. For a generation of St. Louis fans, he remains the player who helped turn the Rams into one of the most exciting teams in NFL history—and the one whose public approach to this diagnosis reflects the same determination he once showed between the lines.
