OJ Simpson dies at 76

Former NFL running back Orenthal James Simpson, most famously known as “OJ’ died yesterday after succumbing to his battle with cancer. The announcement was made this morning by his family.

In a statement on Simpson’s X account, the family said “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.”

Simpson, 76, rose to fame as a running back for the Buffalo Bills. His successful football career, however, was overshadowed by one of the most controversial court cases in American history, where he was acquitted in the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her boyfriend Ronald Goldman.

The case was televised nationally, where Simpson was acquitted after trying on a glove found at the scene of the crime and proving to the jury that it was too small for his hand. While Simpson was acquitted, he later had to pay $33.5 million to the families of the victims in a separate civil trial.

Simpson’s legal troubles continued 10 years later, when he served nine years in prison for an armed robbery and other felonies, stemming from an incident in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Simpson’s life, however, will be remembered for much more. In college, Simpson won the Heisman Trophy and was a two-time unanimous All-American at the University of Southern California.

After being drafted first overall in 1969, Simpson went on to have an illustrious career in the NFL. The running back for the Bills was named league MVP in 1979 and garnered five All-Pro selections. Additionally, he was the first back in NFL history to run for more than 2,000 yards in a season and won four rushing titles.

Simpson leaves behind four children, grandchildren and a legacy that will forever be shrouded in mystery.

Ethan Ellis is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email ece5133@psu.edu.