O. J. Brigance
Encyclopedia
O. J. Brigance is a former championship football player in the Canadian Football League
and the National Football League
.
and was a three-year starter. He graduated from Rice with a degree in managerial studies in 1992.
Beginning his pro career in the CFL
with the B.C. Lions in 1991, Brigance played 3 seasons and 54 games. His best season came in 1993, when he recorded 20 sacks and was an All-Conference selection. Brigance would then play for the Baltimore Stallions
for two seasons, becoming an All-Star in 1995, recording 7 sacks and helping his team win the Grey Cup
.
In 1996, Brigance was signed by the Miami Dolphins
as a free agent. He was twice voted a team captain during his 4 seasons there and his teammates named him Ed Block Courage Award
recipient in 1999. In addition, he was honored with the NFL Player Association's "Unsung Hero Award" that same season.
The next year, he was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
. Brigance was a key contributor to the Ravens' championship-winning team as he finished second on the team with 25 special teams tackles and led the team with 10 special teams tackles in the post-season(including the very first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV
). He played for St. Louis Rams
in 2001 and 2002, with a brief one-game stint with the New England Patriots
in '02 before retiring.
He is one of a few players to have won both a CFL
and NFL championship, and is the only one to accomplish the feat with teams from the same city.
During his time as a Dolphin, Brigance was involved in a number of different community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
and the Daily Food Bank.
He is currently the Director of Player Development for the Ravens and serves as a motivator and inspiration for the team.
, a motor neurone disease that is eventually fatal. He has created a foundation to assist ALS research called the "Brigance Brigade".
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Football career
Brigance played college football at Rice UniversityRice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and was a three-year starter. He graduated from Rice with a degree in managerial studies in 1992.
Beginning his pro career in the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
with the B.C. Lions in 1991, Brigance played 3 seasons and 54 games. His best season came in 1993, when he recorded 20 sacks and was an All-Conference selection. Brigance would then play for the Baltimore Stallions
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
for two seasons, becoming an All-Star in 1995, recording 7 sacks and helping his team win the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
.
In 1996, Brigance was signed by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent. He was twice voted a team captain during his 4 seasons there and his teammates named him Ed Block Courage Award
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to selected players in the National Football League , who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a well-liked humanitarian and trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the...
recipient in 1999. In addition, he was honored with the NFL Player Association's "Unsung Hero Award" that same season.
The next year, he was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. Brigance was a key contributor to the Ravens' championship-winning team as he finished second on the team with 25 special teams tackles and led the team with 10 special teams tackles in the post-season(including the very first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
). He played for St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in 2001 and 2002, with a brief one-game stint with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in '02 before retiring.
He is one of a few players to have won both a CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and NFL championship, and is the only one to accomplish the feat with teams from the same city.
During his time as a Dolphin, Brigance was involved in a number of different community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a non-profit organization in the United States established to provide the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis . The Foundation provides information about cystic fibrosis and finances CF research that aims to improve the quality of life for people with the...
and the Daily Food Bank.
He is currently the Director of Player Development for the Ravens and serves as a motivator and inspiration for the team.
ALS activism
Brigance has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosisAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
, a motor neurone disease that is eventually fatal. He has created a foundation to assist ALS research called the "Brigance Brigade".