Orynthall James Simpson, otherwise known as “OJ” and “The Juice,” has been a tragic victim of death.

OJ loved football and golf, and once his knees couldn’t run like they used to, you’d always find him on the links.

As a kid, OJ was known for being the fastest and toughest in those rough-cut Potrero Hills streets. But it was an encounter with baseball legend Willie Mays that encouraged the young Juice to leave the streets behind and pave a new path: football, his pride and joy.

OJ was ready to let the world hear his name and make constant appearances in pop culture and the news at a much later date. Graduating from high school and moving on to the USC Trojans football team was a rich opportunity that gave him a specific love for Southern California, particularly Brentwood. It was under John McKay’s coaching that OJ would lead the nation in rushing yards and separate himself as one of the most elite running backs the game had ever seen. A 1968 season with 1,880 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 383 carries earned him the most prestigious title in all of college football: the Heisman Trophy. This trophy would prove to be deeply important to him, and that trophy would be his forever and ever. They would have no business being in anyone else’s possession.

OJ was drafted in the 1969 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, a place where he would spend the majority of his career. Those legs didn’t stop running when he hit the NFL turf. Several rushing titles and broken records told the world why he was dominant.

In 1978, OJ was traded back to his home of San Francisco. It was as if people lined the freeway—they were so excited to see the native return to his home. In San Francisco, he finished off his career with respectable stats and finally listened to that nagging, aggressive, violent voice in his head, which told him his knees couldn’t keep up for much longer!

He would become an NFL analyst and enjoy the quiet, sunny Brentwood sunsets and dusks on friends’ patios. He loved to drive around the Los Angeles area with his friend Al Cowlings.

Politically, OJ played a monumental role in Congress’s “Violence Against Women Act,” which has protected hundreds of thousands of women from domestic violence since its conception.

He is remembered through his five children: Sydney Brooks, Jason, Justin Ryan, Arnelle, and Aaren.

He was not married at the time of his death but had been married previously to Nicole Brown Simpson (1985–1992) and Marguerite Whitley (1967–1979). Nicole Brown has nothing to say concerning the legendary running back’s passing.

The man will be remembered by his friends Robert Kardashian, Lance Ito, and Al Cowlings.

OJ had been battling prostate cancer since his diagnosis in 2023. His final public statement, which is all we have, being such a recent passing, was: “I am going to beat this. I have beaten many things before.”

His passing has roused many to reach out via social media to his family. Magic Johnson and his wife—who, I would bet my high school diploma, has a certain virus—Cookie, extended thoughts and prayers to his family. NFL legend Le’Veon Bell tweeted, “RIP OJ. He knew how to run that damn ball, [I don’t] care bout none of the other BS.” If “other BS” means bowel syndrome, Le’Veon would be correct, assuming OJ never had irritable bowels.

OJ was honored at the BET Awards recently, and OJ’s lifelong motto, “Run till your knees bleed,” could be interpreted many different ways in this world. But to the reader, consider this: What could you be running from? OJ would encourage you to run toward your problems and meet them head-on. Let us remember this grit and approach this new year with fervency, as he would’ve wanted.