PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MEMBER

#32 O.J. Simpson - RB

O.J. Simpson Career NFL Stats 1969-1979
G
RATT
YARDS
YPR
RTD
REC
RECYARDS
RECTD
TOUCHES
SCRIMMAGE
TOTTD
135
2,404
11,236
4.7
61
203
2,142
14
2,607
13,378
75
 

 

Orenthal James Simpson, commonly known as O.J. Simpson or ‘The Juice’, was born on July 9, 1947 in San Francisco, CA. He is the son of Eunice and Jimmy Simpson. O.J.’s parents parted ways when he was young and he and his siblings were primary raised by their mother. Juice had a rough childhood growing up. He also had a childhood disease that affected his walking and would be teased about it from his neighborhood friends. As he got older, he ran into trouble with a gang he joined. Before things spiraled out of control, O.J. met with legendary baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants. From that point on, O.J.’s life headed in the right direction.

 

 

Simpson attended Galileo High School. He had played well enough to earn All-City honors. However, when it came to taking the next step to college, Simpson didn’t qualify for the major programs due to his grades. To keep his dreams of playing college football alive, he enrolled into City College of San Francisco which was a junior college. Although the two years there was to increase his chances of being accepted at a four year school, Simpson dominated on the field. By the time he was to transfer, a lot of programs were recruiting him. Simpson accepted a scholarship offer to play for USC.

 

O.J. Simpson College Career Stats and Notes

O.J. only played for USC for two years (1967-68), but he was clearly one of the best college football players both years. He rushed for 3,423 yards and 36 TDs during his USC career. Both years he was a Heisman finalist, winning the award in 1968. That season he rushed for 1,880 yards and 23 TDs. He led the Trojans to two straight Rose Bowl appearances and they won the national championship in 1968. Along with the Heisman, Simpson won both the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award and was a 2-time All American selection. His speed also led to more accolades as he was part of the USC relay team that set a world record in 1967.

 

Awards and Achievements
MVP
All-Pro

1st Team: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 1976

Pro Bowl Selections
1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
Rushing Titles:
1972, 1973, 1975, 1976
Achievements

NFL Offensive Player of the Year 1973
Member of 1970s All-Decade Team

Member of NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Member of NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

 

 

O.J. Simpson NFL Career Stats and Notes

Simpson was selected 1st overall in the 1969 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. As a Heisman trophy winner and top pick, Simpson had major expectations placed upon him. He ran to daylight during his time in Buffalo, leading the league in rushing in four of his first eight years with the Bills. In 1978, the Juice headed west to his hometown and finished his legendary career with the San Francisco 49ers. He spent two years with the 49ers before retiring after the 1979 season. Simpson was a 5-time Pro Bowler and a 5-time First Team All-Pro. In 1985, Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

O.J. Simpson NFL Record 2,003 Yard 1973 Season

The 1973 season was a landmark year for the Juice as a new standard for a running back was set. Up until that season, breaking the 1,000 yard barrier was the mark of a great season. The highest rushing total in NFL history at the time was 1,863 yards set by the legendary Jim Brown. However, no running back had ever topped 2,000 yards in a season. But then came the Juice.

Simpson ran wild the entire season. He started 1973 with a 250 yard game in the opening week of the season against the New England Patriots. O.J. would crack 100 yards in 11 of the 14 games. On December 16 in their final game against the New York Jets the Juice needed a monster game to not only break Jim Brown’s single season record but to eclipse 2,000 yards. Late in the fourth quarter, Juice went off tackle for a seven yard gain. That small amount of yardage was enough to put Simpson over  the 2,000 yard mark for the season.  He finished the season with 2,003 yards and the game with 200 yards. That was his third 200 yard game of the season which was another NFL record. Although running backs such as Chris Johnson, Jamal Lewis, Adrian Peterson, Derrick Henry and Hall of Famers Terrell Davis, Barry Sanders and Eric Dickerson (who holds the single season mark of 2,105 rushing yards) have joined Simpson in the 2,000 yard club, he is the only one to do it in a 14-game season.

 

 

List of Pro Football Hall of Fame Members