Super Bowl Champion and Ravens Legend Became an ALS Advocate After Defying His Prognosis
Former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion O.J. Brigance, whose 19-year fight with ALS made him an enduring source of inspiration within the Baltimore Ravens organization and beyond, has died. He was 56.
The Ravens announced Brigance’s death Monday, calling the former player and longtime member of the organization a “beloved legend.” Current reports confirm he had battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis since 2007.
“We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. “O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone fortunate enough to know him.”
Bisciotti said Brigance’s smile, passion and the way he lived following his diagnosis left a lasting impression throughout Baltimore.
No one embodied what it means to be a Raven quite like O.J. Brigance. pic.twitter.com/T57eA5txSY
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2026
“This is a tremendously sad day for Baltimore,” he said.
O.J. Brigance Defied Early ALS Prognosis
Brigance was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 at age 37, five years after retiring from the NFL. He was initially given only a few years to live but survived for nearly two decades after his diagnosis.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurological disease that damages the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.
Despite the progression of the disease, Brigance remained closely connected to the Ravens and continued serving as a mentor and advocate. Current reporting notes that he had returned to the Ravens organization after his playing career and worked in player development.
“O.J. inspired us with humility, faithfulness, determination, competitiveness and love for humankind,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said.
“We never once saw O.J. angry or frustrated by his disease,” DeCosta added. “Instead, we all witnessed a hero who influenced so many people through his unwavering optimism and grit.”
From Baltimore Championship History to ALS Advocacy
A Houston native who played college football at Rice University, Brigance began his professional career in the Canadian Football League before moving to the NFL.
He played for the Miami Dolphins before joining Baltimore for the Ravens’ 2000 championship season. Brigance made the first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV, helping Baltimore defeat the New York Giants and capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship.
His connection to Baltimore, however, began before his NFL championship.
Brigance was also a member of the Baltimore Stallions when the Canadian Football League team won the 1995 Grey Cup. That made him the only player to win both a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl while representing teams from Baltimore.
Following his ALS diagnosis, Brigance and his wife, Chanda, founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation, which provides assistance to people living with ALS and their families, including support for caregiving, equipment and home accessibility.
The work transformed Brigance’s battle with the disease into an advocacy effort that continued long after doctors initially expected him to live.
For the Ravens, Brigance’s legacy ultimately extended far beyond what he accomplished on the football field.
“O.J. Brigance is the definition of what it means to live like a Raven,” DeCosta said.
