Bills Opt Out of Honoring O.J. Simpson at New Stadium

• 

  Alaina GetzenbergJun 27, 2026, 04:50 PM ET

  Close

  Alaina Getzenberg covers the Buffalo Bills for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was previously a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has also worked for CBS Sports and the Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Multiple Authors

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have announced that O.J. Simpson will not be inducted into the new Highmark Stadium’s family circle, a premier honors area that will showcase the organization’s history and Western New York’s heritage.

“We have made an organizational decision that he is not a fit to display inside our new stadium and family circle,” Bills president of business operations Pete Guelli said in a statement.

Existing Legends

Simpson, whose name appeared on the former stadium’s Wall of Fame since its inception in 1980, will be excluded from the family circle, a place where other Hall of Famers and notable players will receive recognition. The team intends for the area to welcome year‑round visitors and feature the three bison statues that are iconic to the franchise.

Designers had previously prepared for two scenarios—whether or not to include Simpson—during spring discussions, but the latest decision confirms the exclusion.

Museum of the Past

Simpson’s association with the Bills dates back to when he was drafted in 1969 as the No. 1 pick and played nine seasons with the team. He was the first NFL running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a season (2,003 yards in 1973) and earned five first‑team All‑Pro honors.

Trial and Tributes

Simpson remains a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His legacy has been complicated by his 1994 civil case resulting from the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, for which he was found liable and ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages, although he was acquitted of criminal charges.

Death and Legacy

Simpson passed away in April 2024 following a battle with cancer at the age of 76. The organization, during that period, chose not to issue a statement or acknowledge his passing publicly.

Source link