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The Baltimore Ravens lost a beloved alum who played a part in their first-ever Super Bowl title as former linebacker O.J. Brigance passed away. He was 56 years old.
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Brigance passed away on Monday following a 19-year battle with ALS, but not before spending years and years working with his wife in the Brigance brigade Foundation, raising money and awareness for the battle against the terrible disease.
“With profound sadness, we mourn the passing of our beloved O.J. Brigance following his extraordinary and heroic battle with ALS. O.J. was a cherished figure, mentor and man whose impact on the Ravens franchise and city of Baltimore spanned two-and-a-half decades,” the team said in a statement.
“As a free agent linebacker in 2000, Brigance joined the RAvens and became a special teams standout for Baltimore, recording Super Bowl XXXV’s first tackle on the game’s opening kickoff. Following his seven-year NFL playing career, Brigance transitioned to the front office in 20004 and led the Ravens’ player engagement department for several years.”
O.J. Brigance’s Career
Brigance played college football at Rice and earned all-conference honors twice but got no looks from the NFL when he went pro in 1991. He instead took his talents to the Canadian Football League, where he enjoyed a nice five-year run. After spending three seasons with the BC Lions, he joined the Baltimore Stallions in 1994 and earned CFL All-Star honors before helping them win the Grey Cup in 1995.
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With his Grey Cup win with the Stallions and his Super Bowl win with the Ravens, Brigance is the only player in football history to win both titles representing the same city.
Brigance’s success in the CFL got him a spot on the Miami Dolphins’ roster in 1996. He would go on to spend most of his playing career in Miami, appearing in 60 out of his 98 career NFL games for them.
The following year he played for the St. Louis Rams and joined them on their Super Bowl run, which ended in a loss to the New England Patriots. He spent 2002 split between both teams in what would be his final NFL season.
Though he never won accolades for his on-field performance in the NFL, Brigance’s advocacy work afterwards earned him the George Halas Award in 2015 and the NCAA Inspiration Award in 2016.
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Our hearts go out to Brigance’s family and loved ones.
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This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 8:04 AM.