Ravens' O.J. Brigance dies at 56 after 19-year ALS battle

O.J. Brigance, a former linebacker who secured a key tackle in the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl victory and later became a revered mentor within the organization through a 19-year battle with ALS, has died. He was 56.

The Ravens announced Brigance's passing on Monday, August 17, 2026. "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."

Brigance was a member of the Ravens' championship team in the 2000 season. He led the team with 10 special teams tackles during their playoff run and recorded the first tackle in Super Bowl XXXV, where Baltimore defeated the New York Giants 34-7. This accomplishment cemented his place in Ravens lore as one of the franchise's early heroes.

His professional football journey began in the Canadian Football League. A Houston native who played college football at Rice, Brigance first joined the CFL's Baltimore Stallions and helped the team win the 1995 Grey Cup. He later played for the Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, and New England Patriots, making him the only player to win both a Grey Cup...