The forgotten NFL career of America's most polarizing sports star: OJ Simpson

Orenthal James Simpson earned himself a reputation for being one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. However, his public image has since been tarnished by court trials and prison time.

Simpson played eleven seasons in the National Football League, playing for the Buffalo Bills and the San Fransisco 49ers.

Let's look through his successful ten-year career in the NFL.

After a year in community college, OJ Simpson chose to attend the University of Southern California, playing running back for head coach John McKay in 1967 and 1968.

Simpson's two seasons in college were highly successful. He led the nation in rushing in both seasons, was a two-time All-American, had two Walter Camp Awards, a Maxwell Award, and the most sort-after college honor – the Heisman Trophy.

OJ Simpson was selected first in the 1969 AFL-NFL Common Draft by the Buffalo Bills, who finished the previous season 1-12 in the AFL.

According to vault.si.com, Simpson demanded $650,000 over five years. At that time, it was the largest demanded contract in professional sports history. After threatening to become an actor and quit football, Bills owner Ralph Wilson agreed to pay him.

With the expectations of Simpson being off the chart due to his salary, the young running back struggled in his first three years, averaging 622 yards a season.

His minimal success was due to the coaching system he played under. Simpson played under John Rauch and Harvey Johnson in his first two seasons, and both failed to create an offensive scheme for the talented running back to flourish.

After the 1971 season, the Bills brought in head coach Lou Saban. Under the guidance of Saban, Simpson became the centerpiece of the Buffalo Bills offense.

For the first time in his NFL career, Simpson started to come into his own, breaking the 1000 rushing yards mark for the first time in 1972.

In 1973 Simpson became the first player to break the 2000-yard rushing mark, producing 2003 rushing yards. He also broke Jim Brown's record of 1863 rushing yards in the same season.

His historic season in 1973 made him the NFL Most Valuable Player and earned him the Bert Bell Award. His 2000-yard rushing mark in 14 games still stands as an NFL record.

His one and only NFL playoff appearance would come in 1974 for the Buffalo Bills against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a divisional game.

Simpson rushed for 49 yards and caught a touchdown pass, but ultimately his Bills side lost 32-14 in what made for a very short post-season career.

In his final years with the Buffalo Bills, Simpson's career was hampered by injuries. Despite that, the Hall of Fame running back was NFL rushing leader two more times (1975, 1976), the NFL touchdown leader in 1975, and the NFL scoring leader in the same season.

After only playing seven games for the Bills in 1977, Simpson joined his hometown team, the San Fransisco 49ers, before the 1978 NFL season.

Simpson rushed for 1053 yards and four touchdowns in two years for the 49ers. His final game was on December 16, 1979, in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Simpson won an MVP and Offensive Player of the Year award in 1973, was named in five Pro-Bowls, five First-Team All-Pro, was four-time rushing yards leader, two-time touchdown leader, and made the NFL 75th and 100^th Anniversary All-Time Team.