O.J. Brigance valiantly endured amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for 19 years. On Monday, the Baltimore Ravens announced Brigance’s death. He was 56 years old.
“We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor, and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. His infectious smile and the inspirational way he lived and played endeared him to everyone he touched, both inside our building and across this city. This is a tremendously sad day for Baltimore.”
Brigance won the Grey Cup with the Baltimore Stallions in 1995 before beginning his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins in 1996. The linebacker only spent the 2000 season with the Ravens, but he made it count, winning Super Bowl XXXV.
Brigance finished his playing career with the then-St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots before retiring after the 2002 season. Upon retirement, Brigance joined the Ravens’ front office. Even as a Super Bowl champion, his lasting impact on the Ravens came in the years he served in his player engagement role.
Brigance received his devastating ALS diagnosis in 2007. In 2013, having already outlived his prognosis, CBS Sunday Mornings featured Brigance and his life with ALS.
“I learned a life lesson through football early on,” Brigance said then, using a speech-generating device. “I learned that quitting is never an option.”
Mourning his death, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta cited Brigance’s resilience.
“O.J. inspired us with humility, faithfulness, determination, competitiveness and love for humankind,” Eric DeCosta said in a statement. “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. O.J. Brigance is the definition of what it means to live like a Raven.”
See how the sports media world celebrated Brigance’s life and mourned his death below.
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
Unbelievably sad news. OJ Brigance was a true gentleman and champion who inspired many with how he battled ALS. It’s difficult to put into words how much he will be missed. https://t.co/Wx7q4IKlpL
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 17, 2026
Ozzie Newsome on the passing of OJ Brigance:
“I am devastated and at a loss for words. O.J. was one of the most genuine, sincere people I have ever known. From the moment he arrived in Baltimore, you could feel his energy. His amazing smile, welcoming nature and infectious…
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 17, 2026
#EndALShttps://t.co/3FLgBpTgyG
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 17, 2026
There aren’t words to adequately describe the fighter and advocate that is O.J. Brigance. A guy who made any complaint I had pale in comparison to his strength. Rest eternally, O.J. love you always.
As much as the disease has progressed, I never anticipated this day.https://t.co/kN7f8OYmht
— T.J. Smith (@TJSmithSocial) August 17, 2026
O.J. Brigance, a former Willowridge High School and Rice standout who later carved out an unlikely seven-season NFL career, died Monday after a 19-year battle with ALS. He was 56.https://t.co/VP6gLuxPHfpic.twitter.com/hhKxmKOo0P
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) August 17, 2026
Former Grey Cup and Super Bowl champion O.J. Brigance has passed away at the age of 56 after a nineteen year battle with ALS.
Brigance was a member of the BC Lions from 1991-1993 and the Baltimore Stallions from 1994-1995, with whom he won the Grey Cup. He would go on to play… pic.twitter.com/OyEVQHBFl1
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 17, 2026
I’ll never forget this O.J Brigance moment. pic.twitter.com/Ky4BfUESE8
— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) August 17, 2026
“Knowing the type of person he was, he wasn’t just going to allow it to dictate him, he was gonna flip it and indeed he did.”
An emotional @IamQadryIsmail reflects on the legacy of his former teammate O.J. Brigance. #Ravens#RavensFlock@wjzpic.twitter.com/vfKq0lvjNO
— WJZ Sports (@WJZ13sports) August 17, 2026
Former Ravens player/executive O.J. Brigance dies at 56 after long ALS battle. https://t.co/qW3yhCznm1
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 17, 2026
O.J. Brigance is one of the few people to have won both a Grey Cup (1995) and a Super Bowl (2001), but he’s the only person to have won them in the same city. RIP https://t.co/MIjhABGeKtpic.twitter.com/9nghoCyWKW
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) August 17, 2026
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.https://t.co/0icv4c3mnw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2026
Blessed to have known OJ Brigance. When we co-wrote his book “Strength of a Champion,” he was 6 years into his fight with ALS. 12 years later, today’s news is a somber reminder of this disease’s cruelty.
Yet – to see him battle all these years…STRENGTH OF A CHAMPION, indeed.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) August 17, 2026
The BC Lions are saddened to learn of the passing of O.J. Brigance.
Our thoughts are with his family at this time. pic.twitter.com/mlyU96F0Yl
— BC LIONS (@BCLions) August 18, 2026
The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of O.J. Brigance. We send our deepest condolences to O.J.’s family, friends, teammates and all who cared about him during this difficult time. https://t.co/S0uS2APpF5
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 18, 2026
Here is a piece I wrote three years ago about the impact of OJ Brigance on the Ravens organization:https://t.co/sNVWYTW9l7
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 17, 2026
We at the @CalRipkenSrFdn had the honor of getting to know O.J., Chanda and the @BriganceBrigade. He was a special man and will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences to the Brigance family and the @Ravens organization https://t.co/k1dKiP6OY1
— Cal Ripken, Jr. (@CalRipkenJr) August 18, 2026
Prayers up for the family, friends and the entire community in Baltimore after the passing of BELOVED former Baltimore Raven O.J. Brigance. O.J. will forever be an inspiration for not just how he fought ALS, but how he lived and loved on others through it. Rest in Peace brother pic.twitter.com/JxdJ73yben
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 18, 2026
O.J. Brigance is one of the single greatest humans to have ever graced our city, if not this earth. I cherished every conversation. When my kids were little, they didn’t know how to approach him. He said “I might be half machine but I can still beat you up.” Love you O.J. pic.twitter.com/Q29mdI4l59
— Glenn Clark (@GlennClarkRadio) August 17, 2026
We are deeply saddened by the passing of O.J. Brigance, who played with the Dolphins from 1996-99. https://t.co/bVjL4LVvM9
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 17, 2026
Baltimore remembers O.J. Brigance, a sports legend. pic.twitter.com/P4jKw1g8Js
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) August 17, 2026
We’ll be going live in about 50 minutes. We’ll also be talking about the remarkable legacy of O.J. Brigance, one of the most revered and respected Ravens of them all. https://t.co/vPcfUVs1hG
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 17, 2026
“My physical capacities are nowhere near what they used to be, however I am stronger than I have ever been mentally and spiritually due to the lessons learned in our battle with ALS.”
Worth rereading this 2023 @kylegoon column on the great O.J. Brigance: https://t.co/crKh1nlV90
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) August 17, 2026
Former Rice coach David Bailiff recalled fondly his interactions with O.J. Brigance, who was confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak due to ALS.
“We struck up a strong relationship,” Bailiff said.
Brigance passed away Monday.
“What a fighter,” Bailiff added.
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) August 17, 2026
O.J. Brigance may be the bravest-strongest athlete I’ve ever known. He battled ALS for almost 20 yrs. I wrote about him at the Super Bowl in 2013 when he was part of Baltimore’s staff. I never thought the former CFL/NFL player would live this long. He is now gone at age of 56.
— Steve Simmons (@simmonssteve) August 17, 2026
O.J. Brigance made the first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV just over five years after winning the Grey Cup as a star member of the Baltimore Stallions. I found that to be a wonderful part of Baltimore football lore long before O.J. would inspire in much more significant ways. #Ravens
— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) August 17, 2026
Rest in peace, O.J. Brigance, an inspiration to the #Ravens and so many others during his battle with ALS. https://t.co/i2iT4wy2vV
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 17, 2026
Through the years, O.J. Brigance remained close to the Rice football program, even attending events in his honor to help raise money for the Brigance Brigade, his foundation to help fight ALS.
“His eyes still lit up,” former Rice coach David Bailiff said by phone tonight.…
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) August 18, 2026
Very Sad & Heartbroken to hear about OJ Brigance passing today. OJ was a great man & an awesome person to be around. I’m thankful for the years I got to be in Baltimore & while being there, having the opportunity to meet & build a friendship w/ OJ. Praying for my @Ravens family &…
— Willie Snead IV (@NEEDivSNEAD) August 17, 2026
O.J. Brigance was an extraordinary person and presence around the Ravens, a model of grace and courage. Rest in peace. https://t.co/fqhsYB4Y59
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) August 17, 2026
Never had the pleasure of meeting O.J. Brigance, but I can’t begin to tell you the amount of stories I’ve heard about his inspirational journey and joy for life.
My prayers are with his family, friends, and the rest of our community. He will be missed.
— Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) August 18, 2026
Rest in peace, O.J. Brigance. An incredible person, a true inspiration. Gone too soon. Deepest condolences. https://t.co/Ew9xYccEQu
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 18, 2026
Look at the generations of Ravens coaches, players, and fans that O.J. Brigance impacted in this video. His spirit is woven into the fabric of this organization – now and evermore. https://t.co/BebMbfqTxx
— Nikhil Mehta (@nikknowsball) August 17, 2026
People often forget that O.J. Brigance joined the Dolphins LB room in 1996, the same season that bought us Zach Thomas, Larry Izzo and Anthony Harris. (Our guy, “Psycho” @DFin50 had his hands full as the elder statesman in that group!)
O.J. had spent the previous 5 seasons in… https://t.co/or6ZtNV5Ec
— TheFishTank (@TheFishTank81) August 17, 2026
The first year i interned with the Ravens, he was the host of their online shows. Had the chance to work with and talk to him and he was a fantastic person. By the following year he was in a wheelchair but remained the same. Always positive. Always smiling. RIP https://t.co/Zc2YZd7zxU
— BMORE Reeta (@theNFLchick) August 17, 2026
OJ will forever be cemented in Baltimore sports history. Won a CFL championship and a Super Bowl here. What a time to be a Stallions fan! Prayers to his family. OJ was special
— BMORE Reeta (@theNFLchick) August 17, 2026
The post Sports media world reacts to death of Ravens legend O.J. Brigance appeared first on Awful Announcing.
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