(NewsNation) — The family of former NFL player O.J. Simpson announced he died from cancer Wednesday surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
In a tweet Feb. 9, Simpson said he had health challenges but indicated he was recovering.
“My health is good. I mean, obviously, I’m dealing with some issues, but hey, I think I’m just about over it, and I’ll be back on that golf course hopefully in a couple of weeks!” he later said.
Orenthal James Simpson, also known as “The Juice” on the field, was an award-winning football player who spent 11 seasons in the NFL. However, his athletic success was overshadowed by accusations he killed his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Simpson was acquitted of the killings in a criminal trial but found liable for them in a civil suit. He later spent time in prison after being charged with armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas.
In a statement, the family of Ron Goldman said Simpson ‘died without penance.’ Marcia Clark, who prosecuted Simpson in the criminal trial, expressed her condolences to the Simpson family.
Born in 1947 and raised in San Francisco, Simpson played college football for the University of Southern California Trojans, winning the Heisman Trophy his senior year. He was a first-round draft pick for the Buffalo Bills, breaking records and winning the MVP Award in 1973. He later played for the San Francisco 49ers and retired after 11 seasons. After retiring, he pursued an acting career.
OJ Simpson murder trial
In 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J. Simpson’s second wife, and Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her condo in Brentwood, a Los Angeles suburb. O.J. Simpson, who had previously pled no contest to domestic violence charges against Brown, was identified by police as a person of interest early on.
Days later, Simpson told police he would turn himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest. However, he led police on a low-speed chase through Los Angeles in a white Ford Bronco, which was driven by friend Al Cowlings. The chase was broadcast live on national television.
Simpson’s trial for the murders of Brown and Goldman came during a period of significant racial tension in the Los Angeles area, coming just a few years after the beating of Rodney King sparked riots. Due to Simpson’s fame, the trial attracted major media attention, with witnesses and other participants being offered large amounts of money to share their stories.
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LOS ANGELES – JUNE 17: Motorists stop and wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson’s friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police. (Photo by Jean-Marc Giboux/Liaison) -
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1976: A detailed view of a neon signs the reads JUICE HAS 152 YARDS indicating that running back O.J. Simpson #32 of the Buffalo Bills has a 152 yards rushing an an NFL game circa 1976. Simpson played in the NFL from 1969-1979. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – JUNE 17: Police cars pursue the Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson’s friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) -
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 5: Running back O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills looks on from the sideline during a game against the Denver Broncos at Rich Stadium on October 5, 1975 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills defeated the Broncos 38-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) -
Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) carrying fugitive and murder suspect O.J Simpson on a 90 minutes chase on Los Angeles freeway 17 June 1994. The car driven by Simpson’s friend Al Cowling eventually drove to Simpson home in Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police. (Photo by MIKE NELSON / AFP) (Photo by MIKE NELSON/AFP via Getty Images) -
Former professional football player O.J. Simpson speaks during a parole hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nevada, U.S., on Thursday, July 20, 2017. Simpson has been granted parole nine years into a 33-year sentence and could be released as soon as Oct. 1. Photographer: Jason Bean/Pool via Bloomberg -
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 12: OJ Simpson is seen on November 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) -
TOPSHOT – O.J. Simpson looks on during a parole hearing in Lovelock, Nevada on July 20, 2017. – Former American football star O.J. Simpson has spent nearly nine years in prison. A Nevada parole board is holding the hearing to decide whether the former National Football League (NFL) star and actor should be released from prison. (Photo by Jason Bean / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JASON BEAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) -
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1991: NBC Football Analyst O.J. Simpson looks on before the start of an NFL football game circa 1991. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
In court, the prosecution submitted evidence of a history of domestic violence by Simpson, including a 911 call and several letters Brown wrote and put in a safety deposit box for safekeeping. They put forth the theory that Simpson went to her condo to try to convince her to reconcile, became enraged and killed her. Goldman was later killed after arriving at the home to return a pair of glasses.
Simpson’s defense team, which included Johnnie Cochran, Robert Kardashian and Alan Dershowitz, argued that the case was corrupt and evidence was compromised by police. In addition to suggesting the evidence had been contaminated, Simpson’s lawyers suggested police were trying to frame him and specifically focused on racist remarks made by LAPD officers, particularly detective Mark Fuhrman, involved in the investigation.
After deliberations, jurors acquitted Simpson. The verdict sparked a massive public response, with reactions split along racial lines. A significant percentage of the Black community polled said the verdict was just, while white and Hispanic Americans believed Simpson was guilty.
OJ Simpson’s post-acquittal life
Family members of Goldman and Brown brought a civil suit against Simpson for wrongful death. A jury found him liable and awarded $33.5 million in damages to the families.
Simpson declared bankruptcy after the civil trial, and many of his belongings, including his Heisman Trophy, were auctioned off to get money for the families. In 2007, he wrote a book called “If I Did It,” which some interpreted as a confession of guilt. The proceeds of that book were awarded to Goldman’s family.
Simpson faced additional legal troubles, including a tax lien for millions in unpaid taxes in California and various charges in Florida, including battery for a traffic dispute, using illegal electronics to pirate TV signals and speeding through a protected manatee zone in a boat.
In 2008, Simpson was tried in Las Vegas for kidnapping and armed burglary after a group of men went into a hotel and casino and stole sports memorabilia at gunpoint. Simpson claimed the items had been stolen from him. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Simpson was granted parole in 2013. Even decades after the murder trial, his story continued to be a source of fascination and prompted numerous films and television specials.
