O.J. Simpson Dead At 76 After Cancer Diagnosis

O.J. Simpson, the legendary NFL running back who had a spectacular fall from grace in the 1990s, has passed away at the age of 76. Simpson's family made the sad announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, confirming the former pro athlete had "succumbed to his battle with cancer." Their post also noted, "He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren." 

Local 10 News reported that Simpson had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 2024 and that he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Although initially, rumors spread that the San Francisco 49ers alum was preparing to enter hospice care due to his condition, Simpson himself quickly took to X to dispel them and demonstrate that he remained in good spirits. 

O.J. Simpson entered the public eye as a college football champion and Heisman trophy winner for USC in 1968. He became a record-breaking NFL player, acting as the running back for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills over an 11-year-long football career. The stardom he reached as an athlete helped to propel him into the world of acting. He appeared in the miniseries, "Roots," and the "Naked Gun" franchise, among others, and he quickly became a household name.

Unfortunately, it was neither his athletic prowess nor his natural star power that became the better part of his legacy leading up to his death. Simpson was famously put on trial for the murders of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, who died in 1994. What followed was a media firestorm and a cultural phenomenon involving a widely televised Ford Bronco car chase, an infamously ill-fitting pair of gloves, and ultimately, Simpson's surprising acquittal. While Simpson never went to prison for murder, he did eventually spend nearly a decade behind bars after being convicted on multiple counts linked to a robbery involving sports memorabilia.

Simpson is survived by his four children, Arnelle, Jason, Sydney, and Justin. He was predeceased by his daughter Aaren in 1979. In their post on X, his family requested that the public "please respect their wishes for privacy and grace" amid what they call a "time of transition."