O.J. Brigance, a Super Bowl XXXV champion with the Baltimore Ravens and a lifelong advocate for ALS awareness, died at 56 after a battle with the disease, the Ravens announced Monday.
A Super Bowl Hero Turned ALS Advocate
Brigance’s NFL career began in 1991 with the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions, where he earned 20 sacks in 1993 before joining the Baltimore Stallions, helping them win the 1995 Grey Cup. His NFL journey included stints with the Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, and New England Patriots, but it was his 2000 season with the Ravens that cemented his legacy. O.J. was a vibrant person who became one of the first Ravens heroes with his passionate play, including the first tackle in the 2000 Super Bowl,
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement.
Brigance’s impact extended beyond the field. After retiring in 2002, he returned to the Ravens as a senior adviser for player engagement, a role he maintained despite ALS, which he was diagnosed with in 2007. Using a wheelchair and communication device, he continued to mentor players and advocate for those affected by the disease. He was a hero to this city long before his courageous battle with ALS and became an even greater inspiration in the way he faced it with the same fight, faith and grace he brought to the football field,
said former Ravens President Dick Cass.
Founding a Legacy of Hope
In 2007, Brigance and his wife, Chanda, established the Brigance Brigade Foundation, an organization dedicated to equip, encourage and empower
ALS patients. The foundation, which hosted annual 5K runs and provided resources to families, became a cornerstone of his post-football life. While winning CFL and NFL championships are great personal remembrances, I wouldn’t say any of these events define me,
Brigance said. Rather, they are part of an accumulation of life events which catapulted me to do what God wanted me to accomplish.
The foundation’s work included funding for medical equipment, caregiving support, and research. O.J. inspired us with humility, faithfulness, determination, competitiveness and love for humankind,
said Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta. We never once saw O.J. angry or frustrated by his disease. Instead, we all witnessed a hero who influenced so many people through his unwavering optimism and grit.
Tributes from the Ravens Family
The Ravens organization and its alumni paid tribute to Brigance, highlighting his infectious personality and unwavering spirit. From the moment he arrived in Baltimore, you could feel his energy. His amazing smile, welcoming nature and infectious personality made everyone around him feel like family,
said Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome. He was a hero to this city long before his courageous battle with ALS and became an even greater inspiration in the way he faced it.
A Life Defined by Resilience
Brigance’s journey was marked by perseverance. Diagnosed with ALS in 2007, he defied expectations, living with the disease. I lived every day,
he said. I smiled every day. Regardless of the circumstances that came my way, you got the same O.J.
His ability to maintain positivity amid adversity became a defining trait. O.J. Brigance is the definition of what it means to live like a Raven,
DeCosta said. I will miss his smile and the twinkle of joy in his eyes.
The Ravens honored him with a commemorative video, featuring a younger Brigance reflecting on his legacy. That I'm constantly being honed and pruned and shaped and molded by life's circumstances to be a better man,
he said. And that's all I want people to do in their own lives.
His passing leaves a void in the Ravens community, but his foundation and the stories of his impact will endure.
