He lived a life before his murder trial. OJ Simpson as a young football player was everywhere in US media. He appeared on many shows and films and regularly documented his life as a young sportsman.

Simpson was born on July 9, 1947, in San Francisco. He rose to fame as a standout football player at the collegiate level, playing for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans. Simpson won the Heisman Trophy in 1968, awarded to the most outstanding college football player in the United States.

After college, Simpson was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as the first overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft. He played as a running back for the Bills from 1969 to 1977, and then for the San Francisco 49ers from 1978 to 1979. Simpson had a highly successful football career, earning numerous accolades and records, including five Pro Bowl appearances.

Following his football career, Simpson ventured into acting and broadcasting. He appeared in films such as The Towering Inferno and The Naked Gun series. He also worked as a sports commentator and analyst for various networks.

That would all be overshadowed by the events in 1994, when his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were found murdered outside Nicole’s home in Los Angeles. Simpson quickly became the prime suspect in the case, which sparked a media frenzy. The subsequent trial, known as the People v. O.J. Simpson, lasted for nearly nine months from 1994 to 1995.

It was one of the most widely publicized trials in American history, broadcast live on television and closely followed by the public. His defense team, led by prominent attorneys like Robert Kardashian and Johnnie Cochran, successfully argued that Simpson was framed and that evidence was mishandled by the police.

Despite substantial evidence against him, including DNA evidence and circumstantial evidence, Simpson was acquitted of all criminal charges on October 3, 1995. The verdict was met with widespread controversy and debate, with many believing that Simpson had gotten away with murder.

In a subsequent civil trial in 1997, Simpson was found liable for the wrongful deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman and was ordered to pay millions in damages to their families. However, he has maintained his innocence in the murders. Years later, he was convicted of armed robbery in Las Vegas after leading five men, including two with guns, in a confrontation with sports collectibles dealers at a casino hotel. He served nine years in prison before being released in 2017.

OJ Simpson’s family announced his death on April 11, 2024, after he was battling prostate cancer. “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” his family shared in a statement on X. “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,” their statement read.

• OJ Simpson's student photo

  

  OJ Simpson’s student photo in his time as a student and football player at the University of Southern California.

• OJ Simpson in USC uniform

  

  A young OJ Simpson in his University Of Southern California jersey.

• OJ Simpson reading a book

  

  During his time in college, he became USC’s All-American halfback and the 1967 “Player of the Year” and “Back of the Year”.

• OJ Simpson playing for USC

  

  OJ Simpson waiting for the snap during a game in 1968 in Los Angeles, California.

• OJ Simpson with Richard Nixon

  

  OJ Simpson with then-President elect Richard Nixon in 1968.

• OJ Simpson with his first daughter Arnelle

  

  O.J. Simpson, who was selected as the number 1 overall draft pick by the Buffalo Bills, holds his two-month old daughter Arnelle on January 28, 1969 in San Francisco, California.

• OJ Simpson with his first wife and children

  

  O.J. Simspson poses for a portrait with his wife Marguerite (Whitley) Simpson, daughter Arnelle and son Jason on January 8, 1973 in Los Angeles, California.

• OJ Simpson on Superstars

  

  OJ Simpson competing in weight lifting competition on the ABC tv series ‘Superstars’.

• OJ Simpson playing for the Buffalo Bills

  

  OJ Simpson playing for the Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins in Buffalo, NY in 1970.

• OJ Simpson on the bench playing for the Buffalo Bills

  

  O.J. Simpson #32 of the Buffalo Bills sits on the bench during the 1970s

• OJ Simpson in film

  

  OJ Simpson in the film Cassandra Crossing in 1976.

• OJ Simpson & Nicole Brown Smith

  

  O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson during Fight Against Paralysis Benefit at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York, United States

• OJ Simpson and daughter Arnelle at film premiere

  

  O.J. Simpson and daughter Arnelle arrive for the “Cliffhanger” premiere on May 26, 1993 at the Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.

• OJ Simpson's Mugshot

  

  OJ Simpson’s mugshot after he was arrested after his police pursuit.

• OJ Simpson in Court

  

  American lawyer Robert Shapiro defends O.J. Simpson from the charges that he murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman

• OJ Simpson trying on the gloves

  

  OJ Simpson putting on the infamous gloves allegedly used in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

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