The Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson, who was a member of the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1977, dies today at the age of 76.
On Wednesday, April 10, Simpson lost his fight with cancer, according to his family. Simpson disclosed that he was battling prostate cancer in February. According to the family, the former running back for the Bills was surrounded by relatives when he passed away and requested seclusion at that time. His lawyer confirmed the announcement.
With 11,236 yards of career rushing, Simpson was chosen for five straight Pro Bowls and was named to the first team of the All-Pro team from 1972 to 1976. The Buffalo running back won the 1973 Most Valuable Player award for being the first player to rush for 2000 yards in a single season. Throughout his career, Simpson led the league in rushing yards two times and in touchdowns by four times. In 1975, he scored the most points of any player.
Simpson’s remarkable career earned him a place on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, the Wall of Fame for the Buffalo Bills, and induction into the NFL’s Hall of Fame in 1985. Following his playing career, he worked as a pundit on “Monday Night Football” for a year and a half, before resuming his acting career with the 1988, 1991, and 1994 “Naked Gun” films. During his NFL playing career, Simpson also had appearances in the films “The Towering Inferno” and “Capricorn One.”
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We should take a close look at the 49ers’ desperate need for another game-winning play.
The date is January 14, 2012. We are in San Francisco at Candlestick Park. The 49ers need a touchdown with 14 seconds remaining, down three, and facing a third down to maintain their hopes of making the playoffs without having to go to OT. In the meantime, the Saints can draw a conclusion from this and move on to the NFC Championship Game. We need to look back in time to comprehend how we got here and to fully appreciate what this moment signifies.
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Simpson is most known for being charged with the 1994 murders of his ex-wife and her male friend—a charge for which he was controversially cleared—despite all of his accomplishments on the football field and in the film industry. In the end, a civil court judged him accountable for their deaths.
A third set of accusations would later send Simpson to prison: armed robbery and kidnapping for taking sports memorabilia from a dealer at gunpoint. Simpson said he was only getting the memorabilia back after it had been stolen from him in the past. He was given parole to serve the final 29 years of his sentence after serving four years in jail.
He was lovingly called “Juice,” and he’s still one of the best running backs in the history of the sport.
“O.J. Simpson became the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, a feat many believed was impossible to accomplish in just 14 games. His efforts on the field will be kept forever in the Hall’s archives located in Canton, Ohio, according to a statement released by Hall of Fame president Jim Porter.
Statements from the league and the team are still pending.