You see the name O.J. Simpson today and your brain probably goes straight to the 1994 Bronco chase or the "Trial of the Century." That’s just the reality of his legacy now. But if you were around in the 1970s, or if you’re a total football nerd, you know him as a completely different figure. He wasn't just a player; he was the player.
So, what position was OJ Simpson?
He was a running back. Specifically, he was a tailback who operated with a rare combination of world-class track speed and enough vision to make professional defenders look like they were running in sand. He didn't just play the position; he redefined what a "workhorse" back could look like in a passing-heavy era.
The Position That Made Him a Legend
Simpson played running back for the Buffalo Bills and later the San Francisco 49ers. At 6'2" and about 210 pounds, he had the frame of a modern-day safety but the speed of an Olympic sprinter. Honestly, that’s not an exaggeration—he actually set a world record as part of a 440-yard relay team at USC.
He was the guy you gave the ball to 30 times a game.
In the early 70s, the Bills' offense was basically "hand it to O.J. and pray." It worked. He led the league in rushing four times. He wasn't some bruiser who would just run you over, though he could get tough yards. He was a "slasher." He’d find a tiny crease, hit the "juice" (hence the nickname), and he was gone.
Most people today don't realize how much of a superstar he was. He was the first pick in the 1969 draft. He won the Heisman Trophy at USC by one of the largest margins ever. He was the face of the NFL long before Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes were even thoughts.
2,003 Yards: The 1973 Season
If you want to understand the peak of the what position was OJ Simpson conversation, you have to look at 1973.
Before 1973, nobody had ever rushed for 2,000 yards in a single season. Jim Brown hadn't done it. Gale Sayers hadn't done it. Simpson did it in just 14 games. That is the detail that still blows people's minds. Modern players have 17 games to hit that mark. O.J. averaged 143.1 yards per game that year.
To put that in perspective:
- He broke the 2,000-yard barrier on a snowy field in New York against the Jets.
- He finished with 2,003 yards total.
- He averaged 6 yards per carry, which is borderline video-game logic for that era.
He was the NFL MVP that year, obviously. Watching film of him from '73 is like watching a man playing against boys. He had this way of leaning into a cut that made it look like he was going to fall over, only to accelerate out of it at a speed no one else on the field could match.
Why the Position of Running Back Suited Him
Running backs in the 70s were the kings of the field. The game was more "three yards and a cloud of dust" back then. Simpson changed that. He made the running back position "must-see TV."
He wasn't just a runner. He was a decent receiver out of the backfield, too, though the Bills didn't use him that way as much as they probably should have early on. When Lou Saban took over as coach in 1972, he basically told the offensive line—the "Electric Company"—to just turn the lights on for O.J.
They did. And Simpson became a household name. He was the first pro athlete to really cross over into mainstream celebrity, doing those famous Hertz commercials where he's sprinting through airports. People loved him. He was charismatic, handsome, and seemingly untouchable.
The San Francisco Sunset
By the time he got to the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, the wheels were coming off. His knees were shot. He was older, slower, and playing for a team that was struggling.
He played two seasons in San Francisco, but it wasn't the "Juice" everyone remembered. He retired after the 1979 season with 11,236 rushing yards. At the time, that put him second on the all-time list behind only the legendary Jim Brown.
It’s a weird thing to look back on now. You have this guy who was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, a guy who was literally the most famous athlete in America, and yet his sports career is now almost a footnote to the legal drama that followed decades later.
A Quick Reality Check on the Stats
If you're looking at his career through a modern lens, here is the raw data that solidified his spot in Canton:
- Career Rushing Yards: 11,236
- Touchdowns: 76 (61 rushing, 14 receiving, 1 kick return)
- Pro Bowls: 6
- All-Pro First Team: 5 times
- League Leader in Rushing: 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976
Basically, for a five-year stretch, there wasn't a better football player on the planet.
Beyond the Field
The tragedy of the O.J. Simpson story is how the "running back" part of his life became a secondary detail. When he died in April 2024, the obituaries were a mess of trying to balance his athletic greatness with the double-murder trial and his later stint in a Nevada prison for armed robbery.
But if we're strictly talking football—which is why you're here—the man was a phenomenon.
He played tackle and fullback in high school before moving to the tailback spot that made him famous. That background might explain why he was surprisingly tough for a "speed" guy. He knew how to take a hit, but he preferred to make you miss.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you want to truly appreciate what Simpson did as a running back, do these three things:
- Watch the 1973 highlights: Look for the Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions in 1976 or the 250-yard game against the Patriots. You’ll see a running style that doesn't look like anyone else from that decade.
- Compare the 14-game era: When you hear about modern 2,000-yard rushers like Derrick Henry or Barry Sanders, remember they had more games to get there. Simpson’s 143 yards-per-game average is still the gold standard.
- Research the "Electric Company": A running back is only as good as his blockers. Look up names like Reggie McKenzie and Joe DeLamielleure. Those guys were the unsung heroes who allowed Simpson to become a legend.
O.J. Simpson was a running back who played with a grace and speed that felt futuristic in the 1970s. Whether you view him as a hero or a villain today, his impact on the position of running back is a permanent part of the NFL’s DNA.
