Before O.J. Simpson became a polarizing figure as a suspect in a series of murders that shocked the nation, he was a sports star.
Simpson's athletic ability was demonstrated early in life. Born in San Francisco in July 1947, he excelled at Galileo High School in the city's Russian Hill neighborhood, where he played both running back and defensive back on the football team and was active in track and field. He would become one of the most dynamic running backs in college football and NFL history after an 11-year career with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
Simpson died Wednesday of prostate cancer at the age of 76, according to a social media post attributed to the Simpson family.
Take a look at the highlights of O.J. Simpson's football and track and field career.
Simpson was a track and field athlete at the University of Southern California.
Simpson played the first two years of his college career at City College of San Francisco and transferred to the University of Southern California in 1967. Soon Simpson became a two-sport star, excelling in football and track and field. In the spring of his first year at USC, Simpson finished sixth in the 100-meter dash at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 9.53 seconds.
NFL Draft Hub: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades, and analysis.
Simpson was also part of the 4×110 relay team that set a then-world record of 38.6 seconds. Simpson ran the third leg of the relay and helped USC win the overall NCAA title that year.
Simpson the Heisman enters record-setting season
The Heisman Memorial Trophy, given to college football's most outstanding player, went to UCLA's Gary Bevan in 1967, but Simpson led the nation with 1,543 rushing yards and added 13 touchdowns. That year, USC went 10-1 and won the national title, and Simpson finished second in Heisman voting.
He won the award the following season, not only leading the nation with 1,709 rushing yards, but also setting an NCAA single-season record. He set a new record for carries in a season (334) and added 22 rushing touchdowns. Simpson won the Heisman Trophy with a then-record 1,750 points, surpassed only by LSU quarterback Joe Burrow in 2019 by 1,846 points. Simpson still holds the Heisman record for most first-place votes with 855 points. He was unanimously named an All-American.
In 1985, the National Football Foundation and the University Hall of Fame recognized Simpson as a member of the Class of 1985.
O.J. makes history with 2,000 yard season
In 1973, the year he won the AP Most Valuable Player Award, Simpson became the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season. Although the Bills did not make the playoffs, he helped lead Buffalo to a 9-5 record. Simpson finished the season with 2,003 yards, which ranks eighth all-time. In the process, he surpassed the 1,863 yards recorded by Browns Hall of Famer and former running back Jim Brown.
Remarkably, Simpson accomplished that in 14 games, the length of the NFL regular season at the time. He averaged 143.1 yards per game, which still stands as a single-season record of 10 yards per game. Brown ranks second on the list with 133.1 yards per game.
To reach 2,000 yards, Simpson had to endure cold and inclement weather in Buffalo's final game of the season against the New York Jets at Shea Stadium, where he rushed for 200 yards on 34 carries. .
Versatile role redefines Simpson's style in '75
Simpson is most praised for his 2,000-yard season in 1972, but it's no exaggeration to say he accomplished even more in 1975. This season, Simpson had rushing touchdowns (16), receiving touchdowns (7), yards from scrimmage (2,243), receiving yards (426), and touches (357). His 23 total touchdowns remained the sole NFL record until 1987, when Jerry Rice also scored 23 touchdowns.
O.J. Simpson's heyday from 1972 to 1976
In the mid-1970s, no other player could match Simpson's skill. During those five years, Simpson led the league in rushing four times. He totaled 7,699 rushing yards. In fact, no other player came within 2,500 of Simpson's total rushing yards in that stretch. He also gained 8,841 yards from scrimmage. He totaled 54 touchdowns over those five seasons.
In each of these five seasons, he was named both the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro. Simpson was later named to the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team.
O.J. Simpson's Hall of Fame Career
Simpson has 11,236 rushing yards, 2,142 receiving yards, and 990 kick return yards in 135 career games. He scored 76 total touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and first team All-Pro five times. He was selected to his NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and his NFL 100 All-Time Team. The Pro Football Hall of Fame recognized Simpson as its Most Valuable Player in 1985.
Contributor: Josh Peter
