O.J. Brigance, a former NFL linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, died on Monday after nearly two decades battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The team announced: “With profound sadness, we mourn the passing of our beloved O.J. Brigance following his extraordinary and heroic battle with ALS.”

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti described the loss in a statement: “We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance.”

“O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him,” Bisciotti continued. “He was a vibrant person who became one of the first Ravens heroes with his passionate play, including the first tackle of Super Bowl 2001.”

Diagnosed with ALS in 2007 at age 37, Brigance was told he had two to five years to live. Yet, he remained undeterred, often smiling as he moved through team facilities in a motorized wheelchair or attended games and practices.

Former Ravens coach John Harbaugh frequently referred to Brigance as “the strongest man in the organization.”

In January 2013, when former middle linebacker Ray Lewis received the Lamar Hunt Trophy for winning the AFC championship, he turned to Brigance and said: “You’re my greatest motivation.”

During former safety Ed Reed’s Hall of Fame speech in 2019, Reed acknowledged Brigance: “You’re the reason why I’m here, man. You’re the reason I became a great professional.”

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta added: “O.J. inspired us with humility, faithfulness, determination, competitiveness and love for humankind. We never once saw O.J. angry or frustrated by his disease. Instead, we all witnessed a hero who influenced so many people through his unwavering optimism and grit. O.J. Brigance is the definition of what it means to live like a Raven.”

Brigance’s NFL career began in the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he played for the Baltimore Stallions. He won the Grey Cup with the team in 1995, during the league’s brief American expansion.

Brigance rose to prominence with the Miami Dolphins after being signed as a free agent out of Rice University in 1996. A two-time captain, he earned the Ed Block Courage Award and the NFLPA’s Unsung Hero Award in 1999.

He then joined the Baltimore Ravens — where he had previously won the Grey Cup with the Stallions — for his lone season with the team. Brigance played a key role in the Ravens’ march to the Super Bowl, recording a team-leading 10 special teams tackles against the Giants.

Brigance is the only player to win both a Grey Cup and Super Bowl in the same city.

After two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, he concluded his career with the New England Patriots in 2002.

In 2004, Brigance joined the Ravens’ front office as a senior adviser for player engagement. He continued this role from a wheelchair using a communication device after being diagnosed with ALS in 2007.