O.J. Simpson, the former NFL Hall of Famer, passed away at the age of 76 from cancer, according to his family. Simpson was a football star at USC and the NFL, and later became an actor, commercial pitchman, and broadcaster before his infamous trial in 1995 for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. Simpson was acquitted of all charges, which divided the nation, but later went to prison for armed robbery and kidnapping in 2008. He was released in 2017 after serving the minimum sentence. Reports earlier this year suggested he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but his family did not specify the type of cancer in their announcement of his death.
Simpson began his football career as a standout in San Francisco before his collegiate success at USC, where he was a top running back in the late 1960s. He was a Heisman Trophy winner in 1968 and went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NFL draft. Simpson had a prolific career with the Buffalo Bills, becoming the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season in 1973. He retired in 1979 with 11,236 career rushing yards, ranking second in NFL history at that time. Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
After his playing career, Simpson became a popular pitchman, appearing in commercials and movies such as “The Naked Gun” comedy series. His sports legacy was overshadowed by the infamous murder trial in 1995, which captivated the nation. Simpson was arrested for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, garnering widespread media coverage and producing some of the most iconic images of the 1990s. The trial featured memorable moments such as Simpson struggling with gloves found at the murder scene, the legal team’s antics, and the famous line “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” The trial ended with Simpson being found not guilty, leading to a civil jury holding him liable for wrongful death and battery and ordering him to pay $33.5 million in restitution.
The trial of O.J. Simpson led to an increased interest in true crime sagas, with multiple television shows and documentaries released in recent years based on the case. The trial created celebrities out of key figures such as Judge Lance Ito, prosecutors Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden, and witness Kato Kaelin. The trial also highlighted racial tensions in the country, with the verdict dividing opinions along racial lines. The FX series “The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” and a five-part ESPN documentary released in 2016 revisited the case, bringing renewed attention to the trial and its impact on American culture. Despite his death, the legacy of O.J. Simpson continues to spark debate and discussion about the criminal justice system, celebrity trials, and racial issues in the United States.
