Former NFL player O.J. Simpson dies at 76 due to cancer

The former NFL football star who was accused of double murder has been declared dead at 76. According to the Simpson family, who announced his death on social media, "Orenthal James Simpson succumbed to his battle with cancer."

According to Rolling Stone magazine, the former football star-turned-actor became the center of one of the highest-profile trials in U.S. history.

He stood accused of murdering his ex-wife (Nicole Brown Simpson) and her ex-boyfriend (Ron Goldman) in the 1990s.

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It was during February 2024, when a local Las Vegas news station discovered Simpson was undergoing treatment for cancer in the state of Nevada. Nevertheless, the family never confirmed nor denied any of the information.

Before the Super Bowl LVIII (2024), Simpson went on social media to brush off any rumors regarding his deteriorating health. "My health is good. I mean, obviously, I'm dealing with some issues but I think I'm just about over it," shared the former athlete in a video.

O.J. Simpson had a very fruitful career in the NFL after nine seasons with the Bills. According to ESPN, he cashed out in 1979 after 11,236 rushing yards, 2,142 receiving yards, and 990 kick return yards. Simpson scored a total of 76 touchdowns (61 rushing, 14 receiving, one via kick return) in 135 games.

After ending his NFL career, O.J. Simpson was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, in his first year of eligibility.

"O.J. Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark many thought could not be attained in a 14-game season when he topped 2,000 yards," shared Jim Porter, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

After retiring from the NFL, he appeared to have a successful post-football career. Simpson kept cashing in on his image and began his career as a sportscaster. Furthermore, he became a Hollywood actor in films such as 'Naked Gun'.

According to Reuters, everything seemed to be working out for Simpson until authorities discovered Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman brutally murdered in a bloody scene outside her house in L.A. on June 12, 1994.

What followed after the murders is regarded as one of the most infamous court cases in American history due to the severity of the murder and the public figure involved. Every American home was glued to the screen of their living room TVs, eagerly following the trial as a national event.

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After O.J. Simpson attended the funeral of his ex-wife, the former NFL star was charged with the brutal murders.

During the trial, Nicole Brown Simpson's older sister, Denise Brown was asked to testify in court. According to CNN, she testified that her sister was an abused wife. In February 1995, Denise stated that O.J. Simpson grabbed Nicole's crotch in full view of friends and claimed, "This is mine."

The trial was riddled with contradicting testimonies from detectives and prosecutors. O.J. Simpson and his legal team repeatedly pleaded his innocence.

His friend and attorney Robert Kardashian was adamant about his innocence, and Judge Lance Ito deemed O.J. Simpson was not guilty of the murders on October 3rd, 1995. He was acquitted shortly after.

According to ABC News, although O.J. Simpson was acquitted of criminal charges, the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman filed a civil suit against Simpson, and he was ordered to pay a total of $21 million to the Goldman family and $12.5 million to the Brown family in reparations.

O.J. Simpson would finally face justice in front of a court more than a decade later after he was accused of being involved in an armed robbery, that was planned at Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas. Judge Jackie Glass found him guilty and sentenced him to 33 years imprisonment, with a minimum of nine years without parole. O.J. Simpson served his sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center.

Simpson served a total of nine years in prison before being released in 2017. According to NPR, he had been on parole until 2021, when he was set free on December 1st. April 10th, 2024 is the official date of his passing.

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