|
| |
NFL
There was a regular-season game nicknamed for Simpson; it was the "O.J. Bowl",
between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers, because it was
thought the loser would get the first crack at drafting him. The Eagles won that
game 12-0 (on 4 field goals by Sam Baker); but it turned out that neither of
those teams drafted him.
Simpson was drafted by the NFL's Buffalo Bills, who got first pick in the 1969
draft after finishing 1-12-1 in 1968. Early in his NFL career, Simpson struggled
on poor Buffalo teams, averaging only 622 yards per season for his first three.
He first rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 1972, gaining a total of 1,251. In
1973, Simpson rushed for a then-record 2,003 yards, becoming the first player
ever to pass the 2,000-yard mark, and scored 12 touchdowns. Simpson gained more
than 1,000 rushing yards for each of his next three seasons.
Simpson's 1977 season in Buffalo was cut short by injury. Before the 1978
season, Simpson signed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played two
unremarkable seasons.
Simpson gained 11,236 rushing yards, placing him 14th on the NFL's all-time
rushing list. He was named NFL Player of the Year in 1972, 1973, and played in
six Pro Bowls. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
| |
|
