In 2007, O.J. Brigance, part of the Baltimore Ravens’ front office, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a debilitating disease that shuts off motor neurons the brain sends to the spinal cord. Patients eventually become weaker, stop walking, stop talking. Swallowing becomes difficult. Breathing, eventually, becomes impossible. Six years later, Brigance is still fighting.
“O.J. is the strongest man in our building, and this is a building of strong men,” said head coach John Harbaugh (CBS Sports).
Brigance communicates through emails, using a DynaVox computer with eye-recognition software that chooses a letter as soon as he blinks at it. After a few letters it gives him some word choices. When the right word comes onto the screen, he blinks to choose the word, and continues the process. Despite this tedious process, Brigance has been known to send highly eloquent emails that are full of wisdom.
“I still have that attacking mindset because my battle with ALS has brought clarity of purpose to my life,” Brigance said in an email to a CBS correspondent. “I have discovered my gifts and directions for their use. I have discovered the beautiful gift of time and making the most of it by enhancing the lives of others. So am I still on the attack, you bet I am! Time is precious and I plan to accomplish all that God has called me to do!”
Brigance remains determined to fight this disease and hopefully overcome it. He has already outlived his prognosis of 3-5 years. Brigance and his wife, Chandra, founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation, an organization that equips people with ALS with the technology and medicine that they need, and encourages them to fight the disease.
“You see people like that, and you think ‘I could never be as strong as them’,” said junior Hannah Gross. ” But I don’t think you ever know what you’re truly capable of until something bad happens to you, and you don’t have a choice but to power through it and live in the best way you can.”
He has also taken the initiative to author a book of his own, with the help of Peter Schrager from Fox Sports. Titled Strength of a Champion, this book aims to share Brigance’s story so that others may become inspired and realize their potential to make a difference.
“I can only hope that if I were in his shoes, I would I live life regardless of my own impending death,” said junior Ryan Fochler. “It seems like he has done so much for people, in spite of all of his physical limitations. ”
Brigance attended Rice University, and continued on to play for the Miami Dolphins, and later, the Baltimore Ravens. He was a key contributor to the Ravens’ championship-team in 2000 and even made the first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV. Later, he played for the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots. Brigance is still a Raven at heart, and currently holds the position of Director of Player Development for the Ravens, and is a constant source of inspiration for everyone in the Ravens administration.