O.J. Simpson will not be recognized at the new Highmark Stadium.

Buffalo Bills Set to Open New Stadium Without O.J. Simpson Recognition

The Buffalo Bills are transitioning to a new stadium this season, which means some history is being left behind.

Notably, the team has decided not to include O.J. Simpson in the “family circle” area outside the Highmark Stadium in Western New York. They made this announcement in a statement released over the weekend.

“We’ve reached a decision that he isn’t suitable to be featured in our new stadium or within our family circle,” said Pete Guerri, President of Business Operations for the Bills.

This new Family Circle will honor the team’s history with a statue of an American bison and plaques commemorating past legends dressed in the team’s blue and red colors.

Simpson, who sadly passed away two years ago, had a notable NFL career primarily with the Bills, where he played nine of his eleven seasons. He even led the league in rushing four times, hitting over 2,000 yards in a single season back in 1973.

However, his on-field achievements were overshadowed by the infamous murder trial surrounding the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994—often termed the murder trial of the century.

Although Simpson was acquitted in the highly publicized case, he was later deemed responsible for the deaths during a civil trial in 1997, ultimately ordered to pay $33.5 million to both the Brown and Goldman families.

His troubles didn’t end there. He served nine years in prison for a robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas in 2007, before being released in November 2017.

Interestingly, Simpson continued to assert his innocence regarding the murder allegations throughout his life, until he passed away in April 2024 after a battle with prostate cancer, at the age of 76.

This situation allows Simpson, who was the first player inducted into the Bills’ Wall of Fame, to remain part of the team’s legacy at Orchard Park, their previous home.