NFL Legend to a murderer: Revisiting the controversial life and career of O.J. Simpson

In 1995, ex-NFL great, sports broadcaster, and actor O.J. Simpson was tried for the savage killings of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The case, which originated from their gruesome deaths in June 1994, soon became one of the most publicized criminal trials in U.S. history.
With an eight-month televised courtroom fight, the case captivated the nation, generating heated discussions regarding race, celebrity, and the justice system. When the jury reached a quick and contentious not guilty verdict, the decision shook the nation, polarized public opinion, and left a lasting mark on American society.

Orenthal James Simpson, better known as "the Juice," was an American football player, actor, and media figure who played for the Buffalo Bills for 11 years. He is regarded as one of the greatest running backs in history. His success was marred, though, by his acquittal on charges of murdering his ex-wife and friend in 1994.
Simpson, an ex-NFL player, took home the Heisman Trophy in his senior year playing for the USC Trojans and was drafted first overall by the Bills in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. He had five straight Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections for the nine years that he played with the Bills. Simpson led the league in rushing four times, rushing touchdowns twice, and points scored in 1975.
Simpson was the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season and was awarded the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Simpson holds the single-season yards-per-game average record at 143.1. Simpson retired from playing with the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, then went into film and TV acting, then sportscasting, and spokesman for Hertz.

Simpson was tried and charged for the murder of Brown and Goldman in Los Angeles in 1994. Simpson's trial sparked controversy and stirred racial tensions throughout the US. Simpson was found not guilty of the murders in 1995, but subsequent civil trial subsequently found him liable.
He was arrested in Las Vegas in 2007 and charged with kidnapping and armed robbery. He was convicted and sentenced to 33 years in prison without parole. Simpson spent his time at Lovelock Correctional Center before being released and paroled in 2017. He spent the rest of his life in Florida and Nevada.
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In May 2023, Simpson had been diagnosed with cancer and was confident he could overcome it. He began treatment with chemotherapy and was receiving prostate cancer treatment in February 2024. A week and a half prior to his passing, he had to cancel a memorabilia signing due to ill health. In his final Twitter video, he claimed to be healthy. All of Simpson's children saw him in his last days before death. He passed away due to prostate cancer on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76.