NFL linebacker, Super Bowl champion O.J. Brigance dies at 56

Former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion of the Baltimore Ravens, O.J. Brigance has died at age 56. 

The former defensive player battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for 19 years before his passing, according to the Ravens organization. 

The backstory:

Brigance was born in Houston, and played college football at Rice University. He began his professional career playing in Baltimore in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions and the Baltimore Stallions, helping the latter to a 1995 Grey Cup championship.

Brigance began his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, playing four seasons with the team and earning the Ed Block Courage Award and the NFL Players Association’s "Unsung Hero Award" in 1999.

RELATED: Former NFL star Chris Johnson says he's been diagnosed with ALS

He later returned to Baltimore, where he became a key contributor on special teams for the Ravens’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2000. After his playing career ended in 2002, Brigance rejoined the Ravens organization in a front-office role, where his work helped the team earn the NFL’s Best Overall Player Development Program award in consecutive years.

The other side:

In 2007, Brigance was diagnosed with ALS, often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease." Despite the terminal diagnosis, he continued to serve as a senior advisor to player development until his death. He would go on to start the Brigance Brigade, a non-profit with the aim of helping those with ALS and their families. 

"First through football and now ALS I have been given a platform that has allowed me to make an impact and help others and I am proud of what the Brigance Brigade has been able to accomplish to date," said O.J Brigance on the organization's website. "Our motto is ‘All Things Possible’ and we will continue to share that belief with others and assist those living with ALS and the loving caregivers who work tirelessly on their behalf."  

What they're saying:

Ravens’ Executive Vice President and NFL Hall of Fame tight end, Ozzie Newsome, said about Brigance’s passing, "I am devastated and at a loss for words. O.J. was one of the most genuine, sincere people I have ever known. From the moment he arrived in Baltimore, you could feel his energy. His amazing smile, welcoming nature and infectious personality made everyone around him feel like family.

"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.

"O.J.'s service to our community, to the Ravens and the fight for a cure for ALS will never be forgotten. He was and always will be a beloved mentor and man. With heartfelt sorrow, we extend our deepest sympathies to Chanda and the Brigance family."

ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Big picture view:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that progressively damages nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which leads to loss of muscle control, paralysis and eventually respiratory failure.

Over time, ALS patients lose the use of their muscles for moving, speaking, eating and even breathing. However, there does not appear to be any impact on the brain’s cognitive function, so the senses remain intact. 

Dig deeper:

There is currently no cure or known treatment that would stop or reverse the course of the progression of the disease. Those afflicted with the ailment can, however, manage symptoms through therapies and medication. 

Most of those suffering from ALS die from respiratory failure within two to five years after their symptoms start. Only a small percentage live longer than a decade or more. 

Named by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, it became widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease in the 1940s after it was the known cause to end the career of the baseball legend who was diagnosed with ALS in 1939. 

By the numbers:

"Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease, and someone passes away from it," according to the ALS Association.

Most people develop ALS between the ages of 40 and 70, but the disease can occur in people in their 20s and 30s as well.

Men are also 20% more likely to develop ALS than women. However, as they get older, the chances of developing the disease in men or women are about the same.

People who have served in the military are also more likely to develop ALS, but it’s not known why that may be, according to the ALS Association.

Other notable people who have battled ALS include Stephen Hawking; "SpongeBob SquarePants" creator Stephen Hillenburg; actor Eric Dane and Jon Stone, the creator of "Sesame Street."

RELATED: Eric Dane, ‘Euphoria,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star, diagnosed with ALS: report

Why you should care:

In 2014, the ALS ice bucket challenge was one of the most viral philanthropic social media campaigns in history. 

The ALS Association began tracking the campaign’s progress and raised tens of millions of dollars for ALS research.

Thousands of people, including celebrities like Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey, have posted videos of themselves getting buckets of ice water dumped over their heads and challenging others to do the same — or donate money.

 

 

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