O.J. Simpson had strong connections to San Francisco, but when he died at 76 after battling cancer, the city’s institutions that shaped his early years remained silent. Traditionally, sports teams share condolences when a former player passes away, especially one like Simpson who achieved significant success. Yet, none of Simpson’s former teams acknowledged his death, including the Buffalo Bills, where he is honored. Simpson excelled at Galileo High School, City College of San Francisco, and later played for the San Francisco 49ers, but none of these institutions publicly commented on his passing. This silence highlights the controversial legacy surrounding Simpson due to his involvement in the 1994 murder trial of his ex-wife. Despite his troubled childhood in San Francisco, his interactions with sports icons like Willie Mays inspired him to turn his life around and focus on his talents, which were noted by those who witnessed his athletic abilities in the city.
