O.J. Simpson, then a tailback at the University of Southern California, poses with the Heisman Trophy at New York's Downtown Athletic Club in 1968. He won in a landslide with 2,853 votes — setting a Heisman record for the widest margin of victory (by 1,750 votes). Seventeen years after his Heisman Trophy win, Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
After an impressive four years of college football, Simpson was the No. 1 NFL draft pick heading into the 1969 season. He played for the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1977 and finished his career playing for the San Francisco 49ers from 1978 to 1979. Despite racking up numerous NFL rushing records, Simpson never won an NFL championship.
After divorcing his first wife, Margeurite L. Whitley, in 1979, Simpson began dating Nicole Brown, left. The couple is pictured here in May 1980 in Beverly HIlls at an unveiling party for the (then-new) Rubik's Cube.
Police tape surrounded the Los Angeles home of Nicole Brown Simpson, O.J.'s ex-wife, after she was found dead with friend Ron Goldman on June 12, 1994. The two appeared to be victims of a stabbing. Simpson was ultimately arrested in connection to the murder and was later acquitted of the crime.
This file photo combo shows O.J. Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, left, and her friend Ron Goldman, right. Although O.J. was acquitted of their murder, he ultimately wound up in prison after a jury found him guilty of robbing two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas in 2008, sentencing him to nine to 33 years. He is now seeking a new trial on the grounds that his longtime lawyer knew about the plan in advance and told Simpson it was legal.
Los Angeles Police Department personnel talk to a handcuffed O.J. Simpson at his home in Los Angeles on Monday, June 13, 1994. Simpson's attorney showed up and convinced police to remove the handcuffs before taking Simpson in for questioning.
Sitting in his attorney's car, Simpson hangs his head following questioning by the LAPD on June 13, 1994.
LAPD Det. Mark Fuhrman found this glove at the Simpson home in Los Angeles. A photo showing where the glove was found was presented as evidence at Simpson's preliminary hearing on July 5, 1994. One of Simpson's lawyers, Johnnie Cochran, became famous for coining the epithet, "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit."
This is the first page of a four-page letter written by O.J. Simpson concerning charges against him in connection with the murders, shown June 17, 1994. That was the day of the infamous low-speed car chase, which ended with Simpson surrendering to authorities outside his Brentwood home. The first couple of lines read, "To Whom It May Concern: First, everyone understand. I have nothing to do with Nicole's murder. I loved her; always have and always will. If we had a problem, it's because I loved her so much."
Police cars trail a white 1993 Ford Bronco — driven by Al Cowlings and carrying Simpson — as it traveled on a freeway on June 17, 1994, in Los Angeles. Cowlings and Simpson led authorities on the chase after Simpson was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend. Read more about the chase, as well as the recollections of several newscasters, here.
The Simpson car chase interrupted the broadcast of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, June 17, 1994. Here, members of the news media watch the live coverage at New York's Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks would eventually prevail over the Houston Rockets 91-84.
The low-speed freeway chase ended in the driveway of Simpson's Brentwood estate in Los Angeles, where police arrested him. He was subsequently transported to LAPD headquarters and charged with two counts of murder in connection with the slaying of his ex-wife, Nicole, and Ron Goldman.
Simpson, center, stand handcuffed during his booking on murder charges on June 17, 1994, in Los Angeles.
Simpson's booking mug shot, taken Friday, June 17, 1994, after he surrendered to authorities.
O.J. Simpson’s friend and personal attorney Robert Kardashian (ex-husband of Kris Jenner and father of Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Robert Jr.) arrives at the Criminal Courts Building in Los Angeles on Jan. 23, 1995 — the day opening arguments were scheduled to start in the double-murder trial.
Simpson, left, sit with his attorney Johnnie Cochran just after the prosecution rested its case against Simpson on Thursday, July 6, 1995.
Brian "Kato" Kaelin testifies under direct examination during the double-murder trial at the Los Angeles Criminal Courts Building. Originally a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson, Kaelin was staying in O.J.'s guest house at the time of the murder.
O.J. Simpson holds up his hands before the jury after putting on a new pair of gloves similar to the infamous bloody gloves recovered at the crime scene during his double-murder trial in Los Angeles on June 21, 1995.
Mall shoppers in Tampa, Fla. stop in front of banks of televisions in an electronics store to watch the arraignment of O.J. Simpson on June 20, 1994. The O.J. Simpson trial was labeled the "Trial of the Century" and became a forerunner of today's interactive media.
Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner and his wife Kris Jenner (now separated) pause for a brief interview on the steps of the Criminal Courts Building as they arrived to watch the closing arguments in the O.J. Simpson double-murder trial on Sept. 27, 1995, in Los Angeles. Kris' ex-husband, Robert Kardashian, served as one of Simpson's attorneys.
Cochran gestures while presenting closing arguments before the jury in the Simpson double-murder trial in Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 28, 1995. At right is a photo of Simpson and his daughter, Sydney, that Cochran used as a visual aid during his presentation.
Cochran holds on to Simpson as the not-guilty verdict is read in a Los Angeles courtroom on Oct. 3, 1995. Far left is attorney F. Lee Bailey and second from left is Robert Kardashian.
British national newspaper headlines reported the news that O.J. Simpson was found not guilty in first editions published in London early on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 1995.
Denise Brown, sister of murder victim Nicole Brown, holds a candle at a rally against domestic violence in front of the Federal Building hours after O.J. Simpson was acquitted in the killings of her sister and Ron Goldman on Oct. 3, 1995.