American Football
O.J. Simpson, Controversial NFL Star Acquitted of Murder, Dies at 76
by privatebet.com - 2024/04/13
O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star whose life has been marked by both athletic glory and personal tragedy, passed away at 76. He made a name for himself as the running back for the Buffalo Bills, but his life took a wild turn when he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife in 1994. Simpson’s family announced his passing by sharing an official statement that reads, “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.” Following a successful college football career with the USC Trojans, O. J. Simpson was picked first overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1969 and spent most of his NFL career with this team. He was considered one of the greatest running backs of his generation, and earned an NFL MVP title in 1973, in addition to receiving five consecutive Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections during his time with the Bills. The public perception of Simpson shifted significantly during the 90s after he became a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. He was arrested after being involved in a chase in his white Ford Bronco, watched by 95 million people. Simpson was later involved in what’s often described as the “trial of the century”, which led to him being acquitted of the murders of Brown and Goldman. Despite maintaining his innocence, Simpson was found liable for their deaths in a civil suit three years later. His legal troubles didn’t end there, and he ended up serving nine years in prison after being involved in an armed robbery in Las Vegas in 2007. He was released from prison in 2021, and spent his final year battling prostate cancer, after announcing his diagnosis last May.