A majority of Americans associate late former Pro Football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson with his infamous 1994-95 murder trial, according to a survey from YouGov.
An estimated 66% of respondents said Simpson would be remembered for "his murder case," while 17% answered "his football career," 11% said "not sure" and 6% chose "his acting career."
Simpson was found "not guilty" for the deaths of Ron Goldman and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, in 1995, despite being later unanimously found liable in a civil trial for the wrongful death of and battery against Goldman and battery against Brown. The Pro Football Hall of Famer died at the age of 76 on Wednesday (April 10), his his family announced in a statement shared on his X account Thursday (April 11).
"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace. -The Simpson Family," the post states.
Simpson's cancer diagnosis was initially reported by Local 10 News in February. The news outlet reported that he was undergoing chemotherapy in Las Vegas and that he told friends and family he was in hospice care, which he denied publicly in a video shared on his X account, instead claiming he was "hosting a ton of friends for the Super Bowl here in Las Vegas" at the time. The Hall of Famer was sentenced to 33 years in prison with the possibility of (granted) parole after nine years on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery for a separate incident in 2008, years after being "not guilty" in relation to Goldman and Brown's deaths.
Simpson's 1994-95 murder trial and 2008 prison sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping have overshadowed a Hall of Fame football and acting post-retirement acting careers, which he has unsuccessfully attempted to restore though his social media presence, launching his X account just over a year after being released from jail on parole.
Simpson recorded 11,236 yards, placing him second all-time when he retired (now 21st) and was the 1973 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to record 2,000 rushing yards in a single season, while also recording an NFL-best 12 rushing touchdowns. The California native led the NFL in rushing yards during three other seasons and was a five-time first-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, as well as a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and 100th Anniversary All-Time team.
Simpson also had a successful acting career, which included roles in 'The Naked Gun' film series, as well as serving as an analyst for NBC Sports prior to his murder trial. The former Heisman Trophy winner recently appeared a regular guest on the 'It Is What It Is' podcast hosted by rappers Cam'ron and Mase and co-host Treasure Wilson, which included comparing New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers' season-ending injury to the 9/11 attacks, which was met with criticism.
Simpson also shared a video in which he implied his prison sentence for kidnapping and armed robbery was harsher than the one given to former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III in August.