O.J. Simpson, a native of San Francisco, dies at the age of 76
At the age of 76, O.J. Simpson, the former football player who was cleared of all charges of murdering his wife and her friend, passed yesterday.
In the company of his loved ones, Simpson departed quietly on Wednesday, according to a statement from his family. The Bay Area native passed away from prostate cancer following a protracted fight with the disease. The information was verified by Simpson’s lawyer to TMZ. His wife, children, and grandkids all survive him.
“On April 10th, Orenthal James Simpson, our father, lost his fight with cancer. His kids and grandkids were all around him. His family is requesting that you honor their desires for privacy and grace during this time of change, according to a statement posted on Simpson’s X handle.
Simpson, now 76, became well-known in the late 1960s and early 1970s through football, where he played at the University of Southern California and won the 1968 Hesiman Trophy. The 1994 Los Angeles killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, however, permanently altered his legacy. Simpson was found guilty in a subsequent civil trial despite having been cleared of all criminal charges in the case.
After leading police on a low-speed chase around Los Angeles while riding as a passenger in a white Ford Bronco driven by former NFL star Al Cowlings, the former football great gained notoriety during his trial. An estimated 95 million people watched the drama play out on television, according to ESPN, disrupting programming that is regularly planned.
On the football field, though, he is remembered more favorably. He was a member of the Buffalo Bills and won the 1973 Associated Press MVP award. During his 11-year NFL career, O.J. Simpson was selected to the All-Pro team five times and was named to the Pro Bowl six times. In the NFL, he accumulated over 11,000 running yards and 75 touchdowns overall. In 1985, Simpson received his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The native of San Francisco played two seasons with the 49ers before retiring following the 1979 campaign.
Important dates in the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason
The first day of voluntary workouts is April 15.
2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, April 25–27
OTAs on May 20–21, May 23–28–29, and May 31
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