With the opening of the new Highmark Stadium on the horizon, NFL’s Buffalo Bills have officially revealed that they won’t be honoring their former running back O.J. Simpson in any capacity.
According to People magazine, the Bills will honor a number of iconic players closely tied to the franchise in its new family circle year that focuses on the history of the famed NFL fame. However, one notable name that won’t be featured anywhere in the display is O.J. Simpson, who played nine out of 11 seasons in the NFL with the Bills as the team’s premier player.
“We have made an organizational decision that he is not a fit to display inside our new stadium and family circle,” said Bills COO Pete Guelli in a statement shared with People.
Despite his impressive performance on the field, Simpson remains more readily known for his controversial personal life, including his highly publicized 1995 murder trial in which he was acquitted for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.
Originally, Simpson was the first name featured on the Bills’ Walk of Fame, his name continuing to hang on display even after his arrest and related trial. Similarly, Simpson’s name has remained in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since his induction in 1983.
So far, the Bills have revealed that Simpson’s name is “likely the only” from the old stadium that won’t make the transition to Highmark Stadium’s new display.
The Bills’ new stadium officially held its opening ceremony earlier this month on June 23, with its first regular-season game set to take place on September 17 against the Detroit Lions.
The cost of the new stadium is estimated at around $2.1 billion. Previously, the Bills had called Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium its home venue from 1973 until 2025. Since January 4 of this year, “The Ralph” has shut down, with its scheduled demolition expected to take place in 2026 or 2027.
