NASHVILLE -- Former NFL linebacker Tim Shaw has announced that he has ALS.
In a 25-second video posted Tuesday on the Tennessee Titans' website, the 30-year-old Shaw reveals he was recently diagnosed with ALS and pours a bucket of ice water on his head as part of the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money and awareness to battle the disease.
Shaw then challenges "the Tennessee Titans organization, James Franklin and the Penn State football team and my Clarenceville community" to do the same.
"I'm here today to stand up and fight with all of you against this disease," Shaw says in the video.
Before entering the NFL, Shaw played at Penn State and Clarenceville High School in Livonia, Michigan. He started 32 games at Penn State, where he played running back, middle linebacker, outside linebacker and defensive end.
Shaw was drafted in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers in 2007. He spent his NFL career with the Panthers (2007), Jacksonville Jaguars (2008), Chicago Bears (2009) and Titans (2010-12). He played in 80 career games.
The Titans named Shaw a special teams captain in 2011 and 2012.
After getting cut by the Titans before the 2013 season, Shaw announced his retirement from football earlier this year.
