Hall of Fame running back and Southern University head coach Marshall Faulk has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The 53-year-old revealed the diagnosis on the podcast "The Caring Neurologist" on Wednesday, telling the host, "I want to help as many people as I can."

Faulk said he has been dealing with the disease for 18 months and that medication has limited his symptoms to hand rigidity and a few tremors, which he does not believe have worsened.

He is in his first season as Southern's coach after serving as running backs coach at Colorado, and played 12 NFL seasons with the Colts and Rams before his 2011 Hall of Fame induction.

The announcement adds a prominent name to a growing list of former NFL players living with Parkinson's, a progressive brain disorder best known for inducing tremors and one with no known cure.

According to Yahoo Sports, Brett Favre, Ahman Green and Bernie Kosar are among the ex-players currently living with the disease, and Muhammad Ali, who died in 2016, is the most famous case.

Yahoo Sports also reports that a study earlier this year found NFL players face a Parkinson's mortality risk nearly four times greater than the average person, making Faulk's disclosure part of a wider health conversation about long football careers.

According to Yahoo Sports, Faulk noticed rigidity in his hand while playing golf and initially assumed it was normal nerves when putting. When the symptom persisted even off the course, he raised it at a routine physical, and his doctor told him, "You need to go get checked."

Yahoo Sports reports that Faulk catches a physical twice a year and describes himself as "a little anal" about his health, and that early detection has allowed treatment to be effective so far.

Since starting medication, he says he mostly just sleeps a little more, while still paying attention to his gait and balance when working out.

Faulk made the disclosure in a conversation on "The Caring Neurologist" podcast with Dr. Sandeep Thakkar, where he explained his mindset and urged early attention to symptoms.

Hearing the diagnosis discussed in his own words underscores why he went public: he wants his story to help as many people as possible spot the disease early.

Faulk's outlook was shaped in part by a dinner he shared with Muhammad Ali after his diagnosis. According to Yahoo Sports, Ali leaned over and whispered, "You a bad boy," and Faulk left thinking, "He's all there" — a moment that convinced him life would not end with the diagnosis.

He compares managing Parkinson's to his surgically repaired right knee and a back that hurts occasionally: something you live with and must take care of, or it becomes a detriment.

ESPN's "Good Morning Football" also sent best wishes to Faulk after the diagnosis, reflecting the regard across the league.

Faulk remains on the sideline this fall, with Southern University in his debut season as head coach as he continues treatment.

His stated goal in going public — helping as many people as he can — suggests he will keep using his platform to raise awareness of early detection and treatment of Parkinson's.