A decorated linebacker whose football career spanned two leagues and two countries, O.J. Brigance passed away Monday, August 17, 2026, at age 56 from complications related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Houston native died after battling the disease for 19 years, during which he transformed from Super Bowl champion into one of professional football’s most powerful voices for ALS awareness.
Brigance’s widow, Chanda, survives him after more than three decades of marriage. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti called him “a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.”
Unprecedented Championship Achievement
No other player in football history can match Brigance’s distinction of winning both a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl championship in the same city. Playing for the Baltimore Stallions during the Canadian Football League’s brief American expansion, he claimed the 1995 Grey Cup after his team defeated the Calgary Stampeders 37-20 at Taylor Field in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Years later, Brigance returned to championship glory in that same city when the Ravens captured Super Bowl XXXV.
Super Bowl XXXV Triumph
On January 28, 2001, Baltimore crushed the New York Giants 34-7 in Tampa during what the franchise called its “Super Journey.” Brigance recorded the opening tackle of the game on the kickoff.
Ray Lewis earned Super Bowl XXXV MVP honors and was named Defensive Player of the Year while anchoring a historically dominant defensive unit. The Ravens defense tied a Super Bowl record with four interceptions, while Baltimore’s offense committed zero turnovers, making the team just the third in NFL history to accomplish that championship game feat.
A stunning 36-second stretch produced 21 points across three consecutive plays: Duane Starks returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown, Ron Dixon of the Giants answered with a 97-yard kickoff return score, and Jermaine Lewis immediately responded with an 84-yard kickoff return touchdown. ESPN would later rank those consecutive kickoff returns as the 35th-greatest Super Bowl moment.
The roster featured young talents including Jamal Lewis, Chris McAlister and Duane Starks alongside veterans including Rod Woodson, Rob Burnett, Shannon Sharpe, Matt Stover, Michael McCrary, Jonathan Ogden and quarterback Trent Dilfer, who returned to Tampa Bay for the title game to lead the offense. Owner Art Modell hoisted the Lombardi Trophy and told fans across the Baltimore region that they owned the championship, saying, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Hundreds of thousands of fans braved an icy downpour to line Baltimore’s streets during the championship parade. That June, the team traveled to the White House for a meeting with President George W. Bush. Ravens public relations staff Francine Lubera and Kevin Byrne chronicled the title run in “Super Journey: Diary of the Ravens World Championship Season,” published in July of 2001.
Baltimore’s journey to the championship tested the team’s unity. The Ravens endured five straight games without scoring an offensive touchdown during a grueling schedule, but the squad remained together through that adversity.
Seven-Season NFL Journey
Brigance played for four franchises across his NFL career. The Miami Dolphins employed him from 1996 to 1999, then he joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. He spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons with the St. Louis Rams before finishing his career with the New England Patriots in 2002.
His statistics across 98 career games included 42 combined tackles: 33 unassisted takedowns and nine assisted stops. He forced three fumbles and recovered two, with both recoveries coming in victories. His first fumble recovery happened during a 33-30 Dolphins win against the Detroit Lions on December 7, 1997. The second occurred in a dominant 37-0 Ravens victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on September 24, 2000.
Two Decades of Service and Courage
Brigance remained with Baltimore long after his playing days ended, joining the front office in 2004 as senior adviser to player development. His contributions helped the Ravens earn the NFL’s Best Overall Player Development Program award in both 2005 and 2006.
Diagnosed with ALS in 2007 at age 37, doctors told him he had two to five years to live. He defied that prognosis by nearly two decades, continuing to work at the team facility in a motorized wheelchair. After losing his ability to speak, he communicated through eye-tracking technology.
Brigance and Chanda established the Brigance Brigade Foundation, which has generated over $1.8 million to provide resources, support and strength for individuals battling the disease. His quiet determination during his 19-year fight against ALS transformed him into a symbol of perseverance and grace, creating an impact that extended far beyond football.
