One of the most infamously high-profiled Americans and NFL star, OJ Simpson, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 76. He passed away in Las Vegas, surrounded by his family. His attorney confirmed the news. Recovering from the grief of losing their elder, the Simpson family released a statement on Thursday stating the reason for his death.

Per their statement, the NFL icon died struggling with prostate cancer, diagnosed in early February. Simpson was battling with prostate cancer previously as well and it only worsened, landing him in hospice care. Simpson once predicted that he had briefly ‘caught cancer’ in 2023, but claimed that he did not have it any longer.

The 1973 MVP rose to fame for his time with the Buffalo Bills, back when he scored over 2000 rushing yards in his career. Simpson also played for the San Francisco 49ers. However, the incident that brought the most attention to him was his trial for a double murder in 1994.

The six-time Pro-Bowler was acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The trial spanned 11 months and gradually earned the fame of being the ‘most publicized’ criminal trial in human history.

He further served nine years in Nevada prison after being convicted in 2008 on 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel. Before things started going downhill for him, Simpson was regarded as one of the finest NFL players of his time.

The NFL and acting life of OJ Simpson

Hailing from the University of Southern California, OJ Simpson went on to win the Heisman trophy in his collegiate career. Later, he went to the NFL to get drafted in the 1969 NFL-AFL common draft to the Buffalo Bills. From 1969 to 1977, Simpson etched his mark in the NFL as the Bills running back. The year 1973 is especially highlighted in the books of the NFL as the OJ Simpson year since Simpson created history by rushing for 2000 plus yards in one season.

After retiring in 1979 following a two-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, Simpson smoothly transitioned into the career of sports broadcaster and an actor, leading him to engage in several endorsements like several popular food and rental companies. People’s magazine described him as “the first black athlete to become a bona fide lovable media superstar,” of the time.

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