O.J. Simpson

2,003 yards in 1973 — the first 2,000-yard season, before the murder trial changed everything.

Orenthal James Simpson was born in San Francisco in 1947. He won the Heisman Trophy at USC before the Bills selected him first overall in 1969. He became the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season (2,003 in 1973). He was acquitted of the 1995 murder of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in the 'trial of the century.' He was later convicted in 2008 on unrelated robbery and kidnapping charges and served nine years in prison. He died in April 2024. He is the most paradoxical figure in NFL history — the greatest runner of his era, the acquitted murder defendant.

• NFL MVP 1973
• Pro Bowl 6x
• Hall of Fame 1985