Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and longtime director of player development O.J. Brigance passed away at the age of 56 following a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the team announced on Monday.
Brigance was a member of the Ravens’ 2000 championship team and made the very first tackle in their Super Bowl win over the Giants. That was his only year with the Ravens, but he returned to the franchise in 2004 after retiring as a player to join the front office under then-general manager Ozzie Newsome. (Brigance also played for the Baltimore Stallions and won the CFL’s Grey Cup in 1995, making him one of the few players to win championships in multiple professional football leagues.)
In 2007, Brigance was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), which has an average life expectancy of two to five years from diagnosis, according to the ALS Association. He continued working tirelessly in the Ravens’ player engagement department for nearly two more decades, defying the odds every day with an easy smile and a kind word to anyone who passed by. He inspired generations of players, coaches, and fans with his relentless spirit and love for the game of football. Brigance had taken a step back from his duties in recent months as his conditioned worsed, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
The Ravens released the following tributes to Brigance from key figures within the organization:
OwnerSteve Bisciotti
We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance. 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.
Known for his big smile and welcoming nature, it was easy to feel a special connection with O.J. from the moment you met 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. O.J. will be remembered for his service to our community, to the Ravens and to the fight to find a cure for ALS. With heavy hearts, the Ravens organization extends our deepest condolences to Chanda and the entire Brigance family. We are saddened by this loss, and O.J.’s spirit will remain part of this community forever.
Executive vice president and former general manager Ozzie Newsome
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 personality made everyone around him feel like family.
He was a hero to this city long before his courageous battle with ALS and became an even greater inspiration in the way he faced it with the same fight, faith and grace he brought to the football field.
O.J.’s service to our community, to the Ravens and the fight for a cure for ALS will never be forgotten. He was and always will be a beloved mentor and man. With heartfelt sorrow, we extend our deepest sympathies to Chanda and the Brigance family.
President emeritus Dick Cass
We are heartbroken. No one embodied what it means to be a Raven quite like O.J. Brigance. Not just the unforgettable first tackle in Super Bowl XXXV, but for every day since, when he showed all of us how to fight with faith and grace.
O.J. brought his heart and soul into every room he entered. His smile and spirit never wavered, and his courage is now woven permanently into the fabric of this organization.
Chanda and the entire Brigance family are in our thoughts and prayers, and we will continue to celebrate the life of this incredible man.
Executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta
For 22 years, we’ve been blessed to have O.J. as a teammate, friend and brother. It’s a sad day, but also a celebration of all the gifts that O.J. bestowed upon our team and our city and the entire NFL community.
O.J. inspired us with humility, faithfulness, determination, competitiveness and love for humankind. 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.
I will miss his smile and the twinkle of joy in his eyes. Our condolences to Chanda and the entire Brigance family.
Former head coach John Harbaugh
O.J. Brigance was a great man. On behalf of Ingrid, Alison and our family, we extend our deepest condolences to the entire Brigance family.
O.J. was a great friend to me, my wife and my daughter, and I will always treasure the time we shared with him. We loved him, and we respected him. He was a hero in our eyes.
O.J. was a man of great faith who was given a very challenging purpose, and he met it perfectly in every way through the great glory of God. I look forward to seeing him again in heaven someday.
Former head coach Brian Billick
We have lost a very special soul in O.J. Brigance. O.J. has been a member of the Ravens family for over 25 years and was an inspiring symbol of grace, class, compassion and competitive competence. If asked who best represents what we all aspire to as an organization and a person, O.J. would be the first person I would point to. Our thoughts are with his family with this loss, but he will forever remain in our hearts.
Baltimore Beatdown would like to express their condolences to the Brigance family and the entire Ravens organization. His relentless spirit and passion for football will live on inside the hearts of Ravens fans – now and evermore.