For many, O.J. Simpson’s death last year created a complicated situation when it comes to remembering the Hall of Fame running back.
On the one hand, he’s one of the greatest players to have ever played and was a staple of the sport as both a player and a broadcaster for more than two decades.
On the other, he’s far better known for being accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, with a civil trial finding him liable for their deaths.
After Simpson died at the age of 76 last April following a battle with prostate cancer, the two teams he was most associated with throughout his legendary career — the USC Trojans and the Buffalo Bills — took the path of least resistance, with neither publicly acknowledging the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner and 1973 NFL MVP’s death.
And on Thursday night, the NFL followed suit, with the league opting not to include Simpson in its annual “In Memoriam” segment at the NFL Honors award show ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
A special In Memoriam tonight from New Orleans 🙏 pic.twitter.com/DbfhDW1NuK
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 7, 2025
Awful Announcing has reached out to the NFL regarding the decision not to include Simpson in the segment but has yet to hear back. The reasoning, however, is likely self-explanatory.
While his football career was unquestionably legendary, the reality is that O.J. Simpson’s on-field accomplishments are overshadowed by his alleged involvement in Brown and Goldman’s murders. That was evident in the immediate aftermath of his death last spring, in which commentary regarding his post-playing career superseded his legacy on the gridiron.
That, however, didn’t stop the BET Awards and even ESPN’s Adam Schefter from including O.J. Simpson in remembrances following his death — both of which received mixed (at best) reactions. Ultimately, the NFL chose a different route. And while it may have been the correct choice, that doesn’t make the league’s decision not include one of its most famous — and infamous — players in the “In Memoriam” segment any less noteworthy.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.