What happened: Brigance died Aug. 17 at age 56 after living with ALS since 2007. He remained active in football through player engagement after his seven-season NFL career ended.
Why it matters: Brigance and his wife founded an organization supporting people with ALS and their families. His work extended his influence from football into patient advocacy and assistance.
By the numbers: Brigance played seven NFL seasons and made the first tackle of Super Bowl XXXV.
What to watch: The Brigance Brigade Foundation plans to continue its ALS support work.