Baltimore and the Ravens Remember O.J. Brigance

AI-generated editorial image of O.J. Brigance in a non-documentary football setting; created for PowerPage Sports and not a photograph of an actual memorial event.

Baltimore is remembering O.J. Brigance as far more than a championship football player. He became a steady presence inside the Ravens organization, an advocate for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and a symbol of service across the city. The Ravens announced that Brigance died August 17, 2026, at age 56 after a 19-year fight with ALS, prompting tributes from teammates, colleagues and community leaders.

Brigance occupied a rare place in Baltimore football history. He played for the Baltimore Stallions in 1994 and helped that Canadian Football League team win the Grey Cup in 1995. Five years later, he was part of the Ravens team that won Super Bowl XXXV. That made him the only player to win championships with both of Baltimore’s modern professional football franchises.

His playing career ended after the 2002 season, but his relationship with the Ravens continued. Brigance returned to the organization in player development and remained involved after his ALS diagnosis. His work centered on helping players manage life beyond the field, a role that allowed his experience, discipline and empathy to influence generations of Ravens.

Together with his wife, Chanda, he founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation to support people affected by ALS. The organization’s work expanded his impact beyond football and turned a deeply personal challenge into sustained public service. That combination of competitive achievement and community commitment explains why the response to his death has reached well beyond one locker room.

The official Baltimore Ravens remembrance details Brigance’s career and community work. PowerPage readers can also revisit the site’s recent coverage of the Ravens and Zay Flowers as Baltimore’s football community reflects on a figure whose influence endured long after his final snap. O.J. Brigance leaves a record of resilience, compassion and championship leadership that Baltimore will continue to carry forward.