O. J. Simpson

Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, California), publicly known by the initials O.J., and nicknamed The Juice, was a Hall of Fame former college and professional football player and film actor. Simpson is perhaps now most famous for allegedly killing his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. He was acquitted in criminal court in 1995 after a lengthy and highly publicized trial.

Football career

While attending Galileo High School in San Francisco, O.J. played for the school's football team, the Galileo Lions.

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After originally playing in Junior College at the City College of San Francisco, his talent landed him at the University of Southern California and won him the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, the nickname "The Juice", and the distinction of being the first player selected in the 1969 professional football draft after winning the Heisman Trophy.

Related Topics:
City College of San Francisco - University of Southern California - Heisman Trophy - Maxwell Award - 1969

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Simpson was selected by the American Football League's Buffalo Bills, who made the first selection in the draft that year because they had finished with a record of one win, 12 losses and one tie in 1968 - the worst record in professional football. In 1973 Simpson ran for a then-record 2,003 yards, becoming the first player ever to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark, and was voted as the league's Most Valuable Player. Although the 2,003 yard season has been surpassed since then, no other player ever accomplished the feat in only fourteen games, as Simpson did.

Related Topics:
American Football League - Buffalo Bills - Draft - 1968 - 1973

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Simpson's yards per game average was ten yards higher than that of the closest competitor. "The Juice" powered one of the league's top rushing offenses, and he ran behind the famed "Electric Company" offensive line. His 1973 performance earned him the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year. Over his career, Simpson ran for an NFL record 6 200-yard games, three of which occurred in 1973. He also had back-to-back 200 yard performances in both 1973 and 1976.

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Simpson went on to earn All-Pro honors five times and amassed 11,236 rushing yards during his career. After being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, Simpson retired from the NFL the following year, and on January 23, 1985 became the first Heisman Trophy winner elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Bills' Wall of Fame.

Related Topics:
San Francisco 49ers - 1978 - NFL - January 23 - 1985 - Heisman Trophy - Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Away from football but within sports, he won the 1975 American Superstars competition.

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