The Opening Drive, 8/18: Remembering O.J. Brigance
Rest in peace to a man that embodied what it meant to be a Raven.
Sad news arrived out of Owings Mills Monday evening, as the Ravens announced the passing of franchise icon, O.J. Brigance. The former Ravens linebacker and front office executive was 56 years old:
A member of the Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship team, Brigance remained with the franchise as the Director of Player Development, a role that he accepted in 2004. In 2007, he was diagnosed with ALS, and would eventually lose the ability to walk and speak.
Despite this, Brigance continued in his role with the organization, and became an activist for ALS research through his Brigance Brigade Foundation, which you can donate to here. He was a presence throughout the building for the remainder of his life, and served as a constant source of inspiration for the coaches and players, which you’ll see on full display in this beautifully done tribute video the team put out in his honor:
A Rich History with Baltimore
While “Juice” as he was affectionately known around The Castle is best known for his time playing for the Ravens and subsequent advocacy for ALS, he has a deeper connection with Baltimore football that predates even the Ravens organization. After a successful college career at Rice, Brigance joined the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions in 1991, eventually signing with the Baltimore Stallions in 1994 where he’d become a CFL All-Star, and Grey Cup Champion in 1995. This was Baltimore’s first pro football Championship since 1970, and the only one between the Colts departure for Indianapolis in 1984, and the Ravens arrival in 1996.
His performance with the Stallions caught the eye of the NFL, and the next season, he signed with the Miami Dolphins where he would be named team captain twice, and win the Ed Block Courage Award in 1999 after a four year run with the team. He would also earn the NFL Player’s Association’s “Unsung Hero Award” that season, which was his last in Miami.
In 2000, Brigance returned to Baltimore, signing with the Ravens as they caught lightning in a bottle, and went on to win Super Bowl XXXV in shockingly dominant fashion. He was a key contributor for Brian Billick’s squad that year, chipping in 25 special teams tackles in the regular season, and adding on another 10 in the postseason that included the very first tackle in the Super Bowl win over the Giants.
A Legacy That Will Endure
Tributes to Brigance have poured out since the announcement of his passing, with many of them highlighting his relentless positivity in the face of such difficult circumstances. The Ravens team account posted multiple statements from figures within the organization that he had an impact on throughout the years, including owner Steve Bisciotti:
Executive Vice President, Ozzie Newsome:
President Emeritus, Dick Cass:
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Eric DeCosta:
And former head coaches, John Harbaugh, and Brian Billick:
Brigance is survived by his wife Chanda, who is an active figure within the Brigance Brigade Foundation. To learn more about the organization, here is a link to their website.
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OJ reached out to my brother-in-law right after he was diagnosed with ALS. He, the Brigance Brigade and the DeCosta family were extremely supportive and did so much for my family. My profile picture here is me and Greg with Lamar, which was one of his last bucket list items before ALS took his life. Forever thankful to the Ravens, OJ, Eric and Lacie for making that happen. OJ was 1 of 1. A hero and a legend. He helped so many families and victims of ALS. His memory will never fade.