NFL Hall-of-Famer OJ Simpson Dies of Prostate Cancer

O.J. Simpson died at age 76 from cancer.

Photo Credits: Steve Marcus/UPI/Shutterstock

O.J. Simpson, football hall-of-famer who was acquitted for murder in 1994, died of cancer, according to a statement from his family.

"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," a statement from his family said.

He was reportedly diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Simpson, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 after playing for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, was 76 at the time of his death.

He was a running back at the University of Southern California, where he won the Heisman Trophy during his senior year in 1968. In 1969, Simpson was drafted as the first overall draft pick for the Buffalo Bills, where he went All-Pro in 1972 and became the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in 1973.

Two decades later, however, Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. He was found not guilty in October 1995, two years before he was sued in civil court and found liable for the murders. Then, in 2008, he was found guilty of robbery and kidnapping after a 2007 incident where he stole sports memorabilia he believed was stolen from him. He spent nine years in prison.

The football player mentioned a cancer diagnosis in a May 2023 video on X (formerly known as Twitter). Then, in 2024, he posted another video denying allegations that he was in hospice care.

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