Controversial NFL Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson Dies at 76

The family of former NFL running back O.J. Simpson announced his passing from cancer at the age of 76 on Thursday. Commonly referred to as "Juice," Simpson was one of the most popular figures in NFL history before a highly-publicized murder charge, of which he was acquitted, surfaced in 1994.

"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren," Simpson's family wrote on his X account. "During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace."

Simpson originally made a name for himself as one of the most accomplished running backs in both collegiate and professional football history: his two years at the University of Southern California yielded a national championship in 1967 and a Heisman Trophy Award the year after as he put up 3,124 yards and 33 touchdowns.

To date, Simpson still has the ninth-highest rushing total in Trojans history. Simpson was also an accomplished Trojan track star, notably partaking in a world-record sprint relay quartet at the 1967 NCAA Track Championships.

The Buffalo Bills made Simpson the top pick of the 1969 draft, which kicked off an accomplished 11-year career (1969-79) that saw him leave an eternal mark on the NFL record books. His most successful showing was the 1973 campaign, where he became the first player in NFL history to earn at least 2,000 yards in a single season (2,003) and the only to do so in a 14-game stretch. Simpson put up over 143 yards a game, which still stands as an NFL record, and took home both MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Simpson led the league in rushing on four occasions and wound up amassing 11,236 yards between Buffalo and two final years with the San Francisco 49ers. He was the second-leading rusher in NFL history (behind only Jim Brown) upon his 1979 retirement and is one of only 22 men to earn at least 11,000 yards on the ground in NFL history. Simpson has since been elected to both College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

After retirement, Simpson entered the broadcasting and entertainment business: he called NFL games on both ABC and NBC and had 37 acting credits to his name. Simpson's acting career was perhaps best known for his role as accident-prone Officer Nordberg in the "Naked Gun" series, as he was one of only six actors to appear in all three films of the franchise. Other notable Simpson credits included "The Towering Inferno," "Roots," and "Capricorn One."

Simpson's career came to a grinding halt in 1994 when he was the prime suspect in the killings of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman. The subsequent trial remains one of the most publicized and talked-about events in American history.

It was a sensation that began with Simpson's arrest, where he led police on a low-speed chase on Los Angeles highways in a white Ford Bronco SUV driven by former Bills teammate Al Cowlings. Simpson was eventually acquitted of two counts of first-degree murder but was labeled liable for the murders in a civil suit filed by the Brown and Goldman families. The victims' families were awarded $33.5 million in damages, which forced Simpson to sell off some of his assets, including his Heisman Trophy.

Simpson later dealt with a rash of other legal troubles, including a 2007-08 robbery case in Nevada where he was found guilty of robbing sports memorabilia at gunpoint. The running back, who claimed the memorabilia had been stolen from him, was found guilty and sentenced to 33 years in prison but he was released in 2017 on parole and fully released in 2021 for good behavior.

Related: Actor, NFL Veteran Carl Weathers Dies at 76

Toward the end of his life, Simpson took on an active role on social media, primarily through a Twitter/X account established in 2019.

Simpson is survived by his children Arnelle, Jason, Sydney, and Justin.