Full Breakdown
O.J. Brigance, Super Bowl Champion and ALS Advocate, Dies at 56
8/18/2026, 5:56:53 AM
Core Event: Death of a Baltimore Icon
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and senior adviser for player engagement O.J. Brigance died at age 56 after a 19-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Ravens announced his passing on a Monday, noting his diagnosis in 2007 when he was 37 and given a two-to-five-year life expectancy.
Background & Context
Brigance’s football career spanned more than a decade. He began in the Canadian Football League, winning the 1995 Grey Cup with the Baltimore Stallions—making him the only player to capture a CFL title and an NFL Super Bowl for the same city. After stints with the Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots, he joined the Ravens for the 2000 season. He recorded the team’s first tackle on the opening kickoff of the Ravens’ 34-7 Super Bowl XXXV victory over the New York Giants in January 2001 and posted a team-high ten special-teams tackles during that playoff run.
In 2004 he moved to the Ravens’ front office as senior adviser for player engagement, a role he continued from a motorized wheelchair after his ALS diagnosis. Together with his wife Chanda, he founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation, which raises funds to “equip, encourage and empower” individuals living with ALS.
Data & Statistics
- Age at death: 56
- ALS diagnosis: 2007 (age 37) with an initial prognosis of 2-5 years
- Played one season with the Ravens (2000)
- Recorded ten special-teams tackles in the 2000-01 playoff campaign, including the first tackle of the Super Bowl
- Only player to win both a Grey Cup (1995) and a Super Bowl (2001) for the same city
- The Brigance Brigade Foundation has raised millions of dollars for ALS research and support
Official Statements & Responses
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said the organization was “devastated” by Brigance’s loss, describing him as a “beloved legend, mentor and man” whose “infectious smile” touched the city.
Former Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis recalled walking by Brigance daily as a source of motivation, saying the former teammate’s spirit helped him “not complain about anything.”
Why It Matters
Brigance’s perseverance despite ALS inspired teammates, coaches and staff, fostering a culture of resilience within the Ravens. The Brigance Brigade Foundation continues to support ALS patients and families, leveraging his public profile to raise awareness and funding. His story shows how a professional athlete can translate on-field discipline into advocacy for a chronic disease affecting thousands nationwide.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am devastated and at a loss for words. O.J. was one of the most genuine, sincere people I have ever known,” — Ozzie Newsome, executive vice president
- “We have discovered quite often when difficulties impact our lives, we will be presented with the opportunity to assist others experiencing the same journey," Brigance wrote to ESPN in 2023.” — J. Brigance, ESPN interview (2023)
