O.J. Simpson, a Pro Football Hall of Famer known for being acquitted of double murder in 1995 and convicted of armed robbery in 2008, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer, his family announced on social media. He was 76 years old.
A star running back for the Buffalo Bills after winning the Heisman Trophy at USC in 1968, Simpson was reportedly diagnosed with prostate cancer in February and had been undergoing treatment.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” the family wrote. “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 No. 1 overall selection in the 1969 NFL Draft, Simpson, nicknamed “Juice,” ranks just outside the NFL’s all-time top 20 in career yards rushing (11,236), famously winning NFL MVP in 1973 while eclipsing 2,000 yards on the season.
Despite his NFL exploits, Simpson is best known for being tried and acquitted for the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The pair were stabbed to death outside Brown’s home in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994. After an 11-month trial, Simpson was found not…
