O.J. Simpson, known as one of the most prolific players on the field in Buffalo Bills franchise history and also for the criminal and civil trials in the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, died of cancer Thursday at the age of 76.
Simpson’s family announced the death at 10:28 a.m. ET, and as of the time of this article’s publication, the Bills had not acknowledged Simpson’s death and had not issued any statements when asked.
Nothing sums up how the franchise has distanced itself from Simpson better than that silence. But other micro moves over time have signaled a team backing away from the name littered throughout its record books.
In recent years, the Bills have made a concerted effort to get some of their alumni involved with the organization, having adopted the “Bills Legends Community.”
Their mission statement reads, “To forge and cultivate beneficial relationships between the Buffalo Bills organization, our former players, and coaches. We look to support, celebrate, and engage our former players and their families through available resources and programming created to assist in a holistic capacity long after their playing days.”
In doing so, the team has brought a “Legend of the Game” back for every home game since 2019 to rile up the crowd minutes before kickoff. Simpson was never asked.
The Bills Legends Community account on social media platform X was created in April 2018. Although not active since March 2023, the account has no history of acknowledging Simpson in any of its posts. The last time the Bills’ official X account referenced Simpson in any way was on Aug. 2, 2014.
Simpson did attend a game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park in 2021, though it was not sponsored by the team, nor was it acknowledged on game day in the stadium. He was seen posing for pictures with some fans throughout the game.
BREAKING: O.J. Simpson died Wednesday after a cancer diagnosis, his family announced on Thursday.
He was 76.
More ⤵️https://t.co/PEVQimYGiQ pic.twitter.com/IzFCV6fYX7
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 11, 2024
The Bills have not retired Simpson’s No. 32 since his exit from the franchise after the 1977 season. They also did not issue the number to another player for 42 years, until running back Senorise Perry in 2019.
Since Perry, the No. 32 has been issued several times. Cornerback Kyron Brown spent the entire 2023 campaign on the practice squad as No. 32 and remains the current holder of the jersey number on the 2024 team.
As The Athletic’s Tim Graham wrote in 2019, Simpson’s jersey number remained untouchable because the team’s founder, Ralph Wilson, “forbade No. 32 from being reissued.” Wilson died in 2014.
Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the franchise shortly after Wilson’s death, and the NFL ratified the sale in October 2014.
At their home stadium, presently known as Highmark Stadium, the Bills created the Wall of Fame in 1980 to honor former players, administrators and coaches who have played significant roles in the team’s history. Those inducted have their names prominently displayed in the ring surrounding the playing field in Orchard Park.
Long known as a favorite of the team’s founder and former owner Wilson, Simpson was the first Bills player to receive the honor. Simpson remained the only Wall of Fame member for four years until quarterback Jack Kemp joined in 1984.
The team hasn’t inducted anyone else to the Wall of Fame since Cookie Gilchrist in 2017.
A New York state lawmaker demanded the team’s current owners, the Pegulas, remove Simpson’s name from the stadium in 2021. Simpson’s name remained despite the attempt. The team did not publicly acknowledge the demand.
The Bills are scheduled to open their new stadium before the 2026 season and the Wall of Fame members will not be displayed inside the new facility. Instead, those formerly inducted will have their names featured outside the stadium in what the team calls the “family circle” area.
It’s uncertain if Simpson’s name will be among them.
(Photo: Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images)
