Former NFL star OJ Simpson, celebrated for his years as a standout running back with the Buffalo Bills, and later embroiled in a high-profile murder trial involving his former wife, has passed away, his family announced in a social media post on Thursday.
"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace", the Simpson Family posted on X.
On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 11, 2024
He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.
-The Simpson Family
Simpson enjoyed a remarkable career in college football as an elite athlete who clinched the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1968 while playing as a running back for the USC Trojans.
Transitioning to the professional arena, he shined as an RB for the Buffalo Bills throughout much of the 1970s, before concluding his tenure with two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
While his teams did not win any significant trophies during his playing years, he achieved impressive personal stats as a running back, earning the MVP title in the 1973 season by rushing for over 2000 yards.
Despite his successful acting career in movies and TV series, with roles in the "Naked Gun" series, as well as films like "Towering Inferno" (1974) and "Detour to Terror" (1980), OJ Simpson's most prominent media attention after his NFL career came from the highly publicized trial that followed his accusation of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her boyfriend Ronald Goldman.
The saga unfolded dramatically as Simpson was famously chased in his white Bronco SUV, an event broadcasted live across multiple news networks.
The ensuing trial captivated the nation's attention for months, culminating in Simpson's acquittal. However, in 1997, the legal saga continued as Goldman's family pursued justice through a civil suit, ultimately resulting in a jury finding Simpson liable for wrongful death and battery.
Simpson was ordered to pay over $33 million in restitution as a result of the lawsuit, but he did not face jail time. However, his criminal activities caught up with him when he was convicted of robbery, kidnapping, and other charges for orchestrating a conspiracy to steal sports memorabilia in Las Vegas, some of which included items from his own playing days.
Simpson served almost nine years in prison and was released in 2017.
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Former NFL Star OJ Simpson, Acquitted of Murder, Passes Away at 76 After Battle with Cancer