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O.J. SIMPSON

O.J. SIMPSON

Class of 1985
Running Back >>> 6-1, 212
(City College-San Francisco, Southern California)
1969-1977 Buffalo Bills, 1978-1979 San Francisco 49ers

Orenthal James Simpson. . .Heisman Trophy winner, 1968. . .No. 1 NFL draft pick, 1969. . .Career highlighted by 2,003 yards rushing, 1973. . . Unanimous All-Pro, topped 1,000 yards rushing, 1972-1976. . .Won four NFL rushing titles. . . Career record: 11,236 yards rushing, 203 receptions, 990 yards kickoff returns, 14,368 combined net yards. . .In 1969 AFL All-Star game, five Pro Bowls. . .1973 Pro Bowl Player of the Game. . . Born July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California.

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O. J. Simpson, a two-time All-America from the University of Southern California and the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner, was one of history's most heralded rookies when the Buffalo Bills selected him as the No. 1 player in the entire 1969 draft.

His career record for 11 seasons, the first nine in Buffalo and the 1978 and 1979 campaigns in San Francisco, confirms the rave notices were well founded. He rushed for 11,236 yards, added 2,142 yards on 203 pass receptions, returned 33 kickoffs 990 yards for a superb 30-yard average, and amassed 14,368 combined net yards. He scored 456 points on 76 touchdowns.

O. J. was not an immediate success and, in fact, did not even win Rookie of the Year acclaim in 1969. Incredibly, he was used sparingly as a running back through his first three campaigns until Lou Saban took over the reins in 1972 and immediately decided to give the 6-1, 212-pound speedster the football as often as possible.

Simpson immediately responded with massive ground-gaining performances. O.J. may be best remembered for his sensational 1973 season when he became the first back in history to rush for over 2,000 yards. With 219 yards in the next-to-last game against New England and a 200-yard output in the finale with the New York Jets, Simpson totaled 2,003 yards, tops for a 14-game season.

Many say the 1975 season was even better - 1,817 yards rushing, 426 yards on receptions and a then-record 23 touchdowns. O.J. led the league in rushing four years in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976.

In various selections, he was named NFL Player of the Year in 1972, 1973 and 1975. He was both All-AFC and All-Pro five straight years from 1972 through 1976. He played in six Pro Bowls, winning Player of the Game honors in the 1973 game.

 
Rushing
Receiving
Year Team
G
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
1969 Buffalo
13
181
697
3.9
2
30
343
11.4
3
1970 Buffalo
8
120
488
4.1
5
10
139
13.9
0
1971 Buffalo
14
183
742
4.1
5
21
162
7.7
0
1972 Buffalo
14
292
1251
4.3
6
27
198
7.3
0
1973 Buffalo
14
332
2003
6.0
12
6
70
11.7
0
1974 Buffalo
14
270
1125
4.2
3
15
189
12.6
1
1975 Buffalo
14
329
1817
5.5
16
28
426
15.2
7
1976 Buffalo
14
290
1503
5.2
8
22
259
11.8
1
1977 Buffalo
7
126
557
4.4
0
16
138
8.6
0
1978 San Francisco
10
161
593
3.7
1
21
172
8.2
2
1979 San Francisco
13
120
460
3.8
3
7
46
6.6
0
Career Total
135
2404
11,236
4.7
61
203
2142
10.6
14
Additional Career Statistics: Passing: 16-6-110, 1 TD; Kickoff Returns: 33-990, 1 TD
Simpson never played in a conference or league championship game during his career.
All-League Teams

All-NFL: 1972 (AP, PFWA, NEA), 1973 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW), 1974 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW), 1975 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW), 1976 (AP, PFWA, NEA, PW)

All AFC: 1972 (AP, UPI, SN), 1973 (AP, UPI, SN, PW), 1974 (AP, UPI, SN, PW), 1975 (AP, UPI, SN, PW), 1976 (AP, UPI, SN, PW)

Pro Bowls

(6) – 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977

In the NFL Record Book
(at time of his retirement following 1979 season)


• [1st] Most Touchdowns, Season – 23 (1975)
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career – 2,404
• [1st] Most Yards Rushing, Season – 2,003 (1973)
• [1st] Most Games, 200 or More Yards Rushing, Season – 3 (1973)
• [1st] Most Consecutive Games, 200 or More Yards Rushing – 2 (1973, 1976)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Season – 11 (1973)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing – 7 (1972-73)
• [2nd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring Touchdown – 14 (1975)
• [2nd] Most Yards Rushing, Career – 11,236
• [2nd] Most Yards Rushing, Game – 273 (vs. Detroit, Nov. 25, 1976)
• [2nd] Most Combined Attempts, Career – 2,648
• [2nd] Most Combined Net Yards Gained, Career – 14,368
• [2nd] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Career – 42
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons Leading League, Rushing – 4 (1972-73, 1975-76)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards Rushing – 5 (1972-1976)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Games, 200 or More Yards Rushing, Season – 2 (1976)
• [3rd] Most Yards Rushing, Game – 250 (vs. New England, Sept. 16, 1973)
• [3rd] Longest Run from Scrimmage – 94 (vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 29, 1972)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League, Rushing – 2 (1972-73, 1975-76)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 39 (vs. Kansas City, Oct. 29, 1973)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdowns Rushing, Season – 16 (1975)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing – 5 (1973, 1975)

Pro Bowl Records
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 19 (1974)
• [1st] Most Rushing Yards Gained, Game – 112 (1973)

Team Records
Bills Records held by Simpson
(Records through the 1977 season, Simpson’s Final season with Buffalo)

• [1st] Most Points Scored, Season – 138 (1975)

• [1st] Most Points Scored, Career – 420
• [1st] Most Touchdowns, Season – 23 (1975)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns, Career – 70
• [1st] Most Consecutive Games, Touchdown Scored – 14 (From vs. New York Jets, Sept. 21, 1975 to vs. Minnesota, Dec. 20, 1975)
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career – 2,123
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Season – 332 (1973)
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 39 (vs. Kansas City, Oct. 29, 1973)
• [1st] Most Yards Rushing, Career – 10,183
• [1st] Most Yards Rushing, Season – 2,003 (1973)
• [1st] Most Yards Rushing, Game – 273 (vs. Detroit, Nov. 25, 1976)
• [1st] Longest Run from Scrimmage – 94 (vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 29, 1972)
• [1st] Highest Average Gain Per Rushing Attempt, Career – 4.8
• [1st] Highest Average Gain Per Rushing Attempt, Season – 6.0 (1973)
• [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career – 57
• [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season – 16 (1975)
• [1st] Highest Average Gain Per Kickoff Return, Game – 70.5 (vs. New York Jets, Oct 4, 1970)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games with a Rushing Touchdown – 7 (From vs. Baltimore, Nov. 9, 1975 to vs. Minnesota, Dec. 20, 1975)
• [2nd] Most Rushing Yards Gained, Season – 1,817 (1975)
• [2nd] Most Rushing Yards Gained, Game – 250 (vs. New England, Sept. 16, 1973)
• [2nd] Longest Run from Scrimmage – 88 (vs. Pittsburgh, Sep. 28, 1975)
• [2nd] Highest Average Gain Per Rushing Attempt, Season – 5.5 (1975)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons – 9 (1969-1977)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons – 9 (1969-1977)
• [3rd] Most Rushing Yards Gained, Season – 1,503 (1976)
• [Tied for 3rd] Longest Run from Scrimmage – 80 (vs. New England, Sept. 16, 1973)

League/Team Statistical Titles
NFL Statistical Championships
Scoring Titles: 1975
Touchdown Leader: 1975
Rushing Titles: 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976,

AFC Statistical Championships

Scoring Titles: 1975
Touchdown Leader: 1975
Rushing Titles: 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976

Team Statistical Championships
Rushing Titles: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978s
Scoring Titles: 1975,
Touchdown Leader: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975,

s San Francisco 49ers All other titles with the Buffalo Bills

Awards and Honors


• 1973 Most Valuable Player (AP, NEA, MX)
• 1973 Offensive Player or the Year (AP, PW)
• 75th Anniversary Team
• 1970s All-Decade Team
• AFL-NFL 1960-1984 All-Star Team

Year-by-Year Team Records
Year Team W L T Division Finish
1969 Buffalo Bills 4 10 0 (4th)
1970 Buffalo Bills 3 10 1 (4th)
1971 Buffalo Bills 1 13 0 (5th)
1972 Buffalo Bills 4 9 1 (4th)
1973 Buffalo Bills 9 5 0 (2nd)
1974 Buffalo Bills 9 5 0 (2nd)
1975 Buffalo Bills 8 6 0 (3rd)
1976 Buffalo Bills 2 12 0 (5th)
1977 Buffalo Bills 3 11 0 (4th)
1978 San Francisco 49ers 2 14 0 (4th)
1979 San Francisco 49ers 7 9 0 (4th)

Full Name: Orenthal James Simpson

Birthdate: July 9, 1947

Birthplace: San Francisco, CA

High School: Galiileo (San Francisco, CA)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 19, 1985

Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 3, 1985

Presenter: Lou Saban, former head coach of the Buffalo Bills

Other Members of the Class of 1985: Frank Gatski, Joe Namath, Pete Rozelle, Roger Staubach

Pro Career: 11 Seasons, 135 Games

Drafted: 1st round (1st player overall) in 1969 by Buffalo Bills

Transactions: Mar. 24, 1978 – Simpson was traded from the Buffalo Bills to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for 2nd round draft pick in 1978 (DE Scott Hutchinson), 3rd round draft pick in 1978 (WR Danny Fulton), 1st round draft pick in 1979 (LB Tom Cousineau), 4th round draft pick in 1979 (DE Ken Johnson), and 2nd round draft pick in 1980 (RB Joe Cribbs).

Uniform Number: #32 (also wore 33, 36 briefly with Bills)