O.J. Brigance, a former NFL star who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, has died after battling ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, for nearly 20 years.

Key Takeaways:

• O.J. Brigance was a football player who played in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

• He most notably played for the Baltimore Ravens, and was a vital part of the team's win in Super Bowl XXXV.

• Brigance was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2007.

• He died from complications of ALS this month after fighting the disease for almost 20 years. He was 56.

The Backstory:

O.J. Brigance became a football star after transitioning from the CFL to the NFL, and became most well known for his time with the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded the first tackle of the game in the team's Super Bowl XXXV victory over the New York Giants, racking up 25 tackles altogether.

But his journey to football greatness was not easy; being small for a football player, he was largely snubbed by the NFL, and played for the CFL instead.

He took it upon himself to approach the league, and was rejected by 28 teams before two agreed to let him try out. The Miami Dolphins eventually signed him, where his determination and professionalism impressed everyone. He spent two years as a team captain, and was named the Ed Block Courage Award winner for his resilience after a back injury.

He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, and again was named a team captain, this time on special teams.

“O.J. was never one of those guys who was overly talented, but he was so dedicated and professional about his job, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden said in 2008. "If everybody approached the game like he did, we would have a lot of great players.”

After retiring as a player from the NFL, he joined the Ravens organization as director of player development — a position he held until his death. He did so well at his job that he was named best in the NFL twice.

But in 2007, after feeling some weakness in his shoulder, he was diagnosed with ALS.

While he and his wife, Chanda, were devastated, he was resolved to make the best of the situation.

He was eventually confined to a wheelchair and had to rely on a ventilator to breathe, but was still able to use his voice, thanks to a computer system which tracked his eye movements.

“[God] says, ‘My power is made perfect in weakness,'” Brigance said in a prior interview. “I have no physical voice, and have atrophied arms and legs, but God has given me a voice and platform to do my greatest work. This significance of moment is not about me. It’s about the thousands of people out there on this same journey I am.”

Zoom In:

Brigance kept working until his death, arriving at the office at 9:30am even though it took him four hours to get ready each day. And through it all, he kept his faith.

“The world says seeing is believing, but men of faith say believing is seeing,” he said. “I believe that despite my diagnosis, I will walk again. This team believes no adverse circumstances will stop them from achieving their goal of being world champions in football and in life. There are no great accomplishments without faith.”

He also kept a sense of humor and purpose.

"I am getting old, Vic. The Bible says gray hair is a crown of splendor... I have a whole lot of splendor going on right now," he joked in an interview on his 50th birthday.

He also noted the greatest lesson he's learned through his ALS journey: "The very thing that hinders you presents an opportunity to reciprocate kindness to those walking the same journey."

He also said he was able to stay positive due to his faith in God.

"I have been able to remain positive throughout the diagnosis because of my faith in Jesus Christ. God's grace is sufficient no matter my physical weaknesses," he said, adding, "I would describe my life as one of assignment. I would like to think that, for the most part, I touched people in an impactful way by being giving and kind to others."

Former Baltimore Raven O.J. Brigance Reflects As He Celebrates His 50th Birthday Despite ALS Diagnos

The Details:

After battling ALS for nearly 20 years, Brigance passed away at the age of 56. The prognosis for most people with ALS is just two to five years, making Brigance's survival nothing short of miraculous.

"We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. "O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. His infectious smile and the inspirational way he lived and played endeared him to everyone he touched, both inside our building and across this city. This is a tremendously sad day for Baltimore."

A Tribute to O.J. Brigance

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said that he remained an inspiration to the team through it all.

For 22 years, we’ve been blessed to have O.J. as a teammate, friend and brother. It’s a sad day, but also a celebration of all the gifts that O.J. bestowed upon our team and our city and the entire NFL community. 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. I will miss his smile and the twinkle of joy in his eyes.

Before his death, he and his wife founded the Brigance Brigade Foundation and raised millions of dollars for research into ALS; a statement on the website said the organization would continue fighting ALS in his honor.

The Bottom Line:

In a tribute video shared by the Ravens, Brigance was asked what he wanted his legacy to be.

"I lived every day. I smiled every day," he said. "Regardless of the circumstances that came my way, you got the same O.J. That I'm constantly being honed and pruned and shaped and molded by life's circumstances to be a better man. And that's all I want people to do in their own lives. Never ask the question, why is this happening to me? But more so, what can I learn from this? How can I impact someone else's life from the situation that I'm going through?"