O.J. Brigance, a former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and longtime adviser in player engagement, died at 56 after a 19‑year battle with ALS. The Ravens announced the loss on Monday, noting his Super Bowl victory in 2000 and his inspirational presence.

Diagnosed in 2007 at 37, Brigance was told he had 2‑5 years to live. Undeterred, he moved through the team facility in a motorized wheelchair, attending games and practices with a constant smile. Coach John Harbaugh called him “the strongest man in the organization,” and teammates like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed credited him as a driving force behind their success.

The former player also earned a Grey Cup with the Baltimore Stallions in 1995, making him the only athlete to win a Super Bowl and a Grey Cup for the same city. Together with his wife Chanda, he founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation, raising millions to “equip, encourage and empower” people with ALS.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, GM Eric De Costa, and former GM Ozzie Newsome all expressed deep grief, calling Brigance a legend, mentor, and hero whose unwavering optimism and grit defined what it means to live like a Raven.