Who Did OJ Simpson Play For in the NFL?
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This blog post will answer the question: Who did OJ Simpson play for in the NFL? We’ll take a look at Simpson’s career highlights and discuss why he is considered one of the greatest running backs of all time.
OJ Simpson’s NFL Career
OJ Simpson began his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills in 1969. He was drafted as the first overall pick in the NFL draft. He played for the Bills for 9 years before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1978. He played for the 49ers for 2 years before retiring from the NFL in 1979.
Drafted by the Buffalo Bills
O.J. Simpson was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He was the first running back to be selected that year. Simpson’s rookie season was a success. He ran for 697 yards and six touchdowns on 153 carries. He also caught 29 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Simpson had a breakout season in his second year in the league. He ran for 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns on 202 carries. He also caught 39 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. Simpson was named to his first Pro Bowl team and was named first-team All-Pro.
Simpson’s third season was even better than his second. He rushed for a league-leading 1,817 yards and 23 touchdowns on 332 carries. He also caught 40 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns. Simpson was once again named to the Pro Bowl team and was named first-team All-Pro.
Simpson had another excellent season in 1972, rushing for 1,543 yards and 16 touchdowns on 273 carries. He also caught 41 passes for 483 yards and five touchdowns. Simpson was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl team and was once again named first-team All-Pro.
Simpson had another great season in 1973, rushing for 1,883 yards and 16 touchdowns on 314 carries. He also caught 44 passes for 405 yards and two touchdowns
Traded to the San Francisco 49ers
In 1978, the Bills traded Simpson to the San Francisco 49ers for a first-round and two second-round draft choices. Buffalo used the picks to draft other future Hall of Famers, running back Terry Miller and linebacker Shane Conlan.
Rushed for 2,003 yards in a season
In 1973, Simpson had his best year as a pro, rushing for 2,003 yards, becoming only the second player in history to run for over 2,000 yards in a season. He also set a then-NFL record with 200 rushing yards in a single game.
Post-NFL Career
After his successful career in the NFL, O.J. Simpson had a few different career choices. He could have gone into coaching, broadcasting, or he could have done what he ended up doing: becoming an actor.
Arrest and conviction for armed robbery
On June 17, 1994, Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman were found stabbed to death outside Brown’s home in Brentwood, California. Simpson was questioned by police and released. He told authorities that he had led a group of young men on an “All-American” night out on the town. The following day, Simpson was charged with two counts of murder.
Simpson hired a team of high-profile defense lawyers, including Robert Shapiro, F. Lee Bailey, and Johnnie Cochran. The trial—officially known as People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson—began on January 24, 1995. The case quickly became referred to as the Trial of the Century because of its massive media coverage.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that suggested Simpson had murdered his wife in a jealous rage. The defense argued that the police had mishandled evidence and that Simpson had been framed by a racist police officer. On October 3, 1995, the jury found Simpson not guilty of both murders.
In February 1997, Simpson was sued for wrongful death by the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in a civil trial. On September 7, 2007—exactly 13 years after he was acquitted of criminal charges—a civil court jury found Simpson liable for the deaths of Brown and Goldman. He was ordered to pay $33 million in damages to their families.
Acquitted of murder charges
On October 3, 1995, Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. The jury deliberated for four hours before finding Simpson not guilty of either murder. Following the verdict, Simpson was immediately taken into custody and was later imprisoned for an unrelated armed robbery in Las Vegas.
Paroled from prison in 2017
Simpson was paroled from prison in 2017 after serving nine years for armed robbery. He had been convicted of leading a group of men into a Las Vegas hotel room to steal sports memorabilia at gunpoint in 2007.
