When Chris Johnson was drafted by the Titans in 2008, he came to Nashville uncertain. An Orlando native, he thought Tennessee would be "the middle of nowhere, around a bunch of country singers."
He didn't stay uncertain for long.
CJ went on to play six of his ten NFL seasons here, and the city and he fell in love with each other. His legendary 2009 season—2,006 rushing yards, NFL Offensive Player of the Year—made him a Titans icon. But it was his heart for Nashville that made him one of us. He called Tennessee his second home. The fans loved him. The city embraced him.
That bond hasn't faded. As Chris now faces declining health from ALS, Nashville holds him close in our thoughts and prayers. His legacy here runs deep—not just in the record books, but in the hearts of everyone who watched him play and got to know the man behind the number.
We love you, CJ. Nashville's got you.
