08/17/26 05:40:00
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08/17 17:39 CDT O.J. Brigance, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens
before battling ALS, dies at age 56
O.J. Brigance, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens before battling
ALS, dies at age 56
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) --- O.J. Brigance, who won a Super Bowl with the
Baltimore Ravens before waging an unyielding battle against amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, has died. He was 56.
The Ravens announced Brigance's death on Monday.
"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 who was fortunate enough to know him. He 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."
Brigance was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2007.
Not long after that, he and his wife, Chanda, formed the Brigance Brigade
Foundation, an organization whose mission is to "equip, encourage and empower"
those afflicted with ALS.
Despite using a wheelchair and a communication device that translated his
messages, Brigance served as senior adviser for player engagement with the
Ravens, a job he started in 2004. In addition to assisting players in each
phase of their career, Brigance proved a source of motivation within the
organization.
"Every day I walk by, not just to tell him how much I love him, but to tell him
that he is the one thing that lets me not complain about anything," Ravens Hall
of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis said in 2012, his final pro season. "I played with
that guy. His spirit is just awesome."
Brigance is the only player to win a Canadian Football League title and a Super
Bowl championship for a team in the same city, Baltimore.
"While winning CFL and NFL championships are great personal remembrances, I
wouldn't say any of these events define me," he said. "Rather, they are part of
an accumulation of life events which catapulted me to do what God wanted me to
accomplish. If you were to remove any of those events, I wouldn't be the same
person or have the position of influence. With that being said, I consider the
Brigance Brigade to be the most significant achievement of my life because of
my ability to touch the lives of others."
Brigance said his career as a professional football player --- he played
linebacker and on special teams --- helped prepare him for the fight against
ALS.
"Many people think football is all about strength and physical ability,"
Brigance said in a 2012 interview with The Associated Press. "While these are
integral parts of one's success, the fortitude, discipline and the desire
necessary to play the sport are characteristics that are readily transferrable
to everyday life."
Brigance didn't set out to be an example of how to live under difficult
circumstances, but he had no intention of letting ALS get him down. He and
Chanda collaborated to help and encourage others with the disease.
"I have found that when adversity strikes, there is a decision to be made. We
chose to respond and continue to live, and also help others living with ALS to
respond also," he said. "We have found that we have been a great encouragement
not only to those within the ALS community, but to people in all walks of life."
Orenthial James Brigance was born Sept. 29, 1969 and played in college at Rice
in his hometown of Houston. He began his professional career in 1991 as a
linebacker for the British Columbia Lions. He played three seasons with BC,
making 20 sacks in 1993, before joining the Baltimore Stallions. In his second
season in Baltimore, the team won the 1995 Grey Cup.
In 1996, Brigance was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a free agent. He was
twice voted a team captain during his four seasons there and was the Ed Block
Courage Award recipient in 1999. He was honored with the NFL Players
Association's "Unsung Hero Award" that same season.
Brigance's lone season with Baltimore was 2000. He had a team-high 10 tackles
on special teams during Baltimore's playoff run, which ended with a 34-7 win
over the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.
Brigance played for the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and 2002, and his final game was
with New England in 2002.
"I am devastated and at a loss for words. O.J. was one of the most genuine,
sincere people I have ever known," Ravens executive vice president Ozzie
Newsome said. "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."
And his tenacity would serve him well long after his playing days ended.
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