ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: Former NFL Player Reveals ALS Diagnosis During His Tribute to Pete Frates

Tim Shaw was an NFL linebacker less than two years ago. His final season was in 2012 with the Tennessee Titans before he was released in 2013, ultimately leading to his retirement a year later. During his ALS ice bucket challenge tribute, Shaw announced his own diagnosis of the rare disease.

The 30-year-old was drafted in the fifth round out of Penn State in 2007 by the Carolina Panthers and played there for one season. He also spent one year with the Jaguars and Bears before landing in Tennessee for three years, where he was the special teams caption in 2011 and 2012 and played in all 48 games with the team. His diagnosis is likely to raise even more awareness for ALS on top of Pete Frates' pioneering 'Ice Bucket Challenge' fundraiser.

Frates was also an athlete prior to his ALS diagnosis. The 29-year-old was the former captain of the Boston College baseball team before he was affected by the rare disease in 2012. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, affects an estimated two in every 100,000 Americans each year. The progressive neurodegenerative ailment affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and eventually breaks down the communication between the brain and muscles throughout the body. Total paralysis can occur in the later stages of ALS.

Thanks to Frates, over 453,000 people have donated to a number of ALS Associations, amassing over $22 million in funding that will be put towards research. The ice bucket challenge has made its way across the United States to countless celebrities who have helped further the ongoing effort. You can watch Tim Shaw's ice bucket challenge on the Tennessee Titan's website. The entire Titans team responded to Shaw's message with a tribute of their own during Wednesday's training camp practice:

Check out this report from 2012 that documents neurodegenerative diseases among NFL players.

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ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Nfl, Player