O.J. Brigance, a former linebacker and Super Bowl champion who developed into a beloved member of the Baltimore Ravens during a 19-year battle with ALS, has died. He was 56. The Ravens announced his death Monday. Executive vice president Ozzie Newsome called Brigance “one of the most genuine, sincere people I have ever known” and praised his faith and grace.
Brigance leaves a championship legacy in Baltimore
A Houston native and three-year starter at Rice, Brigance first reached Baltimore with the Canadian Football League’s Stallions. He helped the franchise win the 1995 Grey Cup, then returned to the city in 2000 as a linebacker and special-teams standout with the Ravens. Brigance finished second on that Ravens team with 25 special-teams tackles and led Baltimore with 10 during the postseason. He made the first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV, a Ravens’ 34-7 victory over the New York Giants.
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
His seven-year NFL career included stops with Miami, Baltimore, St. Louis and New England before ending after the 2002 season. He returned to the Ravens in 2004 as director of player development and later became senior adviser to player engagement.
Brigance was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in May 2007. He and his wife, Chanda, established the Brigance Brigade Foundation to assist people living with ALS and their families through support services, equipment and resources. His courage made him more than a former player or executive. Brigance became a symbol of hope throughout Baltimore and an enduring example of what it meant to live like a Raven.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens mourn the death of franchise great O.J. Brigance at 56