O.J. Simpson, whose renown as a football star was overshadowed by his notoriety in later years, passed away Wednesday, as confirmed by his family. He was 76.
Simpson had been contending with cancer and was under hospice care. His attorney also verified his death to TMZ.
“In Memoriam, Orenthal James Simpson, our beloved father, passed away on April 10th after a courageous battle with cancer,” a statement shared by Simpson’s family on X read. “He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.”
“O.J. Simpson was the inaugural player to achieve a rushing milestone many deemed unattainable within a 14-game season when he surpassed 2,000 yards,” remarked Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter in a statement. “His athletic achievements will be preserved in the Hall’s archives in Canton, Ohio.”
Regardless of Simpson’s athletic achievements, he will be forever associated with arguably the most publicized murder trial in U.S. history, one that captivated audiences and divided the nation along racial lines. The moment of his acquittal in the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman was among the most-watched in television history, as was Simpson’s leisurely Ford Bronco pursuit through Southern California freeways following the murder charges when he failed to surrender.
Long before the trial that gripped the nation, Simpson had already attained widespread fame. He stood as one of football’s most celebrated figures and transcended into a celebrity beyond the gridiron.
