(NewsReady.com) – Orenthal James “OJ” Simpson is widely regarded as one of the best running backs in NFL history. The former Buffalo Bills player is also known for being the defendant in a murder trial that captivated the nation. The controversial athlete has now passed away.
On April 11, the Simpson family issued a statement on OJ’s X account, formerly Twitter, announcing his death the day before. According to the post, he lost his battle with cancer with his children and grandchildren by his side. The family asked for privacy as they mourned their loved one.
On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
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.
-The Simpson Family
— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 11, 2024
Simpson revealed he was battling cancer in February. He did not dwell on the diagnosis or offer updates about his fight to the press. He passed away at the age of 76, almost 30 years after the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and waiter, Ron Goldman, on June 12, 1994.
Simpson was arrested and ultimately acquitted of the murders in 1995. Two years later, a civil jury found him liable in a wrongful death case. The families of his ex and Goldman received a $33.5 million verdict but never saw the majority of the money. He later wrote a book, “If I Did It,” where he described how the killings probably took place. Goldman’s family won the rights to publish the book and renamed it “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.”
In 2007, Simpson was arrested after leading a group of men into a Las Vegas hotel and trying to steal sports memorabilia he claimed belonged to him. He was convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery. Simpson received up to 33 years in prison but was paroled in 2017.
While many Americans will remember Simpson for the murder trial, he was also known for his record-breaking college and professional football careers. He won the Heisman Trophy and was the first pick in the 1969 NFL draft. In 1973, he set an NFL record for 23 touchdowns and the record for the most rushing yards in a single game.
Simpson was also an actor who appeared in television shows and commercials. He’s preceded in death by his son, Aaren Simpson, who died at two years old in a drowning accident. He’s survived by four children and several grandchildren.
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