Baltimore is mourning the loss of O.J. Brigance, a beloved Baltimore Ravens legend, mentor and advocate whose impact extended far beyond the football field.

Brigance died following an extraordinary battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS. For more than two decades, he was a defining presence within the Ravens organization and throughout the Baltimore community, first as a player, later as an executive and ultimately as one of the region’s most recognizable advocates for people living with ALS.

“O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. “This is a tremendously sad day for Baltimore.”

Brigance joined the Ravens as a free agent linebacker in 2000 and quickly became a standout on special teams. His place in Ravens history was cemented during Super Bowl XXXV when he recorded the first tackle of the game on the opening kickoff. Baltimore went on to defeat the New York Giants and capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship.

After a seven-year NFL playing career, Brigance returned to the Ravens in 2004, transitioning into the organization’s front office. He went on to lead the team’s player engagement efforts, helping players adjust to life in the NFL while supporting their professional and personal development.

His work earned national recognition. The NFL honored the Ravens with the Best Overall Player Development Program Award in both 2005 and 2006. The organization also received the league’s Most Outstanding Internship Program Award in 2005 and Outstanding Continuing Education Program Award in 2007.

But Brigance’s influence took on an even greater meaning after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2007.

Rather than retreat from public life, Brigance and his wife, Chanda, transformed their experience into a mission of service. Together they established the Brigance Brigade Foundation, which has worked to improve the quality of life for people living with ALS and their families through support services, equipment assistance, resources and advocacy.

The couple’s commitment to the community recently earned them recognition as Black Marylanders to Watch by The Baltimore Sun.

Ravens Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome remembered Brigance as an inspiration long before his diagnosis.

“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,” Newsome said.

That combination of faith, determination and optimism was echoed throughout the tributes released by the Ravens.

Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta called Brigance “the definition of what it means to live like a Raven,” recalling his humility, competitiveness, faithfulness and love for others.

“For 22 years, we’ve been blessed to have O.J. as a teammate, friend and brother,” DeCosta said. “We all witnessed a hero who influenced so many people through his unwavering optimism and grit.”

Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who developed a close friendship with Brigance and his family, described him simply as “a great man.”

“O.J. was a great friend to me, my wife and my daughter, and I will always treasure the time we shared with him,” Harbaugh said. “We loved him, and we respected him. He was a hero in our eyes.”

Former Ravens head coach Brian Billick and his wife, Kim, also remembered Brigance as someone who represented the highest ideals of the organization.

“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,” Billick said.

For Baltimore, Brigance’s legacy cannot be measured only through football statistics or championship memories. His life became an example of service, perseverance and leadership in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

Ravens President Emeritus Dick Cass said Brigance’s courage is now permanently connected to the identity of the franchise.

“No one embodied what it means to be a Raven quite like O.J. Brigance,” Cass said. “His smile and spirit never wavered, and his courage is now woven permanently into the fabric of this organization.”

From making the opening tackle of a Super Bowl championship to supporting generations of Ravens players and advocating for families affected by ALS, Brigance spent more than 25 years leaving his mark on Baltimore.

His legacy will continue through the people he mentored, the organization he served and the families whose lives have been touched through the Brigance Brigade Foundation.

He is survived by his wife and longtime partner in advocacy, Chanda, and leaves behind a Baltimore community that will remember him not only as a champion, but as a man whose courage, faith and commitment to others defined his life.