O.J. Simpson, Former Buffalo Bills’ Running Back, Dead at 76

Orenthal James Simpson, American running back and actor, and the subject of one of the most infamous criminal trials ever, has died at the age of 76, as confirmed by his family.

Simpson leaves behind four children: Arnelle, Jason, Sydney and Justin.

O.J. Simpson Was a Star Football Player for the Buffalo Bills

Orenthal James Simpson, born on July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, CA, rose to prominence as a running back with the USC Trojans. He won the 1968 Heisman Trophy, and was the first overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft, a selection made by the Buffalo Bills.

Simpson was a five-time First Team All-Pro during his career, and won the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award in 1973. He played in Buffalo from 1969 through 1977, before finishing his career with San Francisco from 1978 to 1979.

He retired with 11,236 rushing yards, and 61 rushing touchdowns.

In addition to his football career, Simpson was an actor, a passion that he began to follow while at USC. He acted periodically during his NFL career, and launched his own production company in 1979.

He made a cameo in the comedic Back to the Beach (1987), and more notably, played Det. Norberg in all three entries of The Naked Gun film trilogy (1988, 1991, 1994). He also worked as a commentator for Monday Night Football and The NFL on NBC.

Simpson Was the Subject of an Infamous Criminal Trial

Simpson was the subject of one of the most well-known criminal trials ever, as he was the main suspect in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

The trial ran for 11 months, and on October 3, 1995, the jury rendered a "not guilty" verdict for Simpson on both murders.

Following his acquittal of criminal charges, the families of Ron Goldman and of Nicole Brown Simpson filed a civil lawsuit against Simpson. This trial took less time, as opening statements were made in October 1996, and both sides rested in January 1997.

Simpson was found liable, and was ordered to pay $33,500,000 in damages.

Simpson Was Released from Prison in 2017

In 2007, Simpson was charged with multiple felony counts, including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, assault, robbery, and using a deadly weapon in connection to a robbery that had happened at a Las Vegas hotel-casino.

Simpson was found guilty in December of 2008, and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. That said, Simpson was granted parole on some convictions in 2013, and was granted full parole in 2017.

He was released from parole, early, in December 2021.

In early February 2024, it was reported by NBC Sports that Simpson was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. His family posted on his X account, @TheRealOJ32, that he had passed on April 10, 2024.

He was 76 years old.

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