BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Southern University football coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk is speaking publicly about living with Parkinson’s disease and the importance of recognizing symptoms and seeking care.
Faulk discussed his experience during an episode of The Caring Neurologist podcast with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar.
The former NFL star said he first noticed something was wrong while putting during golf.
“I just thought it was normal nerves when putting and stuff like that,” Faulk said. “But it started to be times where I wasn’t playing — I mean, where I was playing, but I wasn’t in a match, and it would still do that.”
Faulk said a doctor encouraged him to be evaluated.
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He said he does not view the diagnosis as the end of a full life, but emphasized the importance of taking care of the condition.
“I didn’t look at it like I got a diagnosis, it was something bad that I was, you know, life was going to end,” Faulk said. “Now, if you don’t take care of it, there’s an opportunity for that to be, but you have to take care of it.”
Faulk said medication has helped him manage his symptoms.
“And since I’ve started on the medication, I don’t really have a lot of issues,” he said.
Faulk also encouraged people to pay attention to possible symptoms and seek medical guidance early, saying earlier care can help improve quality of life.
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The interview was posted by The Caring Neurologist and includes a disclaimer that its content is informational only and not medical advice.
Marshall Faulk released the following statement:
Taking care of your health and being proactive about your well-being is one of the most important things you can do. I make it a priority to see my doctors annually and stay on top of my health. Through that process, an early finding related to Parkinson’s disease has brought an important issue to my attention, and I want to use this opportunity to help educate others.
I was recently asked to participate in a podcast to discuss Parkinson’s disease, and I welcome the opportunity to bring greater awareness to this condition. My goal is to encourage my brothers who shared the football field with me, along with athletes and men everywhere, to take their health seriously, schedule regular medical checkups, pay attention to changes in their bodies and seek medical guidance when something doesn’t feel right.
Early evaluation, an accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical care can make a meaningful difference in managing Parkinson’s disease. Too often, we put our health on the back burner while focusing on our families, careers and responsibilities. We cannot afford to do that.
Football taught us the importance of preparation, discipline and looking out for one another. Those lessons do not end when we leave the field. We must continue to look out for our brothers by encouraging one another to get checked, ask questions and seek the proper care.
This is bigger than football. It is about our health, our families and our future. If sharing my experience encourages even one person to speak with a doctor, get evaluated or take a proactive approach to their health, then the conversation will have been worthwhile.”
— Coach Marshall Faulk
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