{"id":34187,"date":"2024-04-11T11:16:31","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=34187"},"modified":"2024-04-11T11:16:31","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T15:16:31","slug":"former-football-star-o-j-simpson-dies-after-battle-with-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/04\/former-football-star-o-j-simpson-dies-after-battle-with-cancer.html","title":{"rendered":"Former Football Star O.J. Simpson Dies After Battle With Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Vicki L. Miller\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to his family, O.J. Simpson, the former football great who was accused of and ultimately acquitted of the horrific 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend, has died at 76. A statement from his family said, “On April 10th, our father, Orenthan James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, the family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”<\/p>\n

Simpson had reportedly been battling prostate cancer in recent years, and his health took a turn for the worst as of late, with him landing in hospice care within the past few months. The discussion of his cancer diagnosis first made rounds in February when a local outlet reported it, although the details were unclear, as was Simpon’s response to the news at the time when he denied he was in hospice but didn’t discuss the cancer report. Adding to the mystery was the fact that Simpson actually touched on a cancer diagnosis in 2023 in a video posted on X. \u00a0He said he’d caught “some form of cancer” but suggested he’d beaten it.<\/p>\n

Simpson had been looking frail in the lead-up to his passing, including during an outing in January when he was spotted using a cane. It goes without saying that Simpon’s life was noteworthy for various reasons, lots of good and bad, specifically in his post-football years. However, before that, he was a beloved all-American hero on the field, a USC Heisman winner and a Buffalo Bills legend. In 1969, the\u00a0Buffalo Bills\u00a0made Simpson the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. “Juice” went on to make five First Team All-Pro squads and six Pro Bowls. He was named MVP in 1973 when he became the first to rush for 2,000 yards in a season (doing it in 14 games) while averaging 141.3 yards per game, still an NFL record.<\/p>\n

Simpson spent nine years with the Buffalo Bills before wrapping up his career with two seasons with the\u00a0San Francisco 49ers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. Even after football, he was an A-lister in Hollywood, acting in tons of movies and TV shows and famously serving as the face and pitchman for Hertz for many, many years. Sadly, in 1994, his life changed forever. On June 12th, the bodies of Brown Simpson and Goldman were found outside her condo in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

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On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.<\/p>\n

He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.<\/p>\n

During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.<\/p>\n

-The Simpson Family<\/p>\n

\u2014 O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n