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BUFSIMPSON0

O.J. Simpson

Retired

San Francisco 49ers · RB

O.J. Simpson recorded 135 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 11 rostered seasons with San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills.

▶Best highlights

83.2

rush yds/gm

15.9

rec yds/gm

1

playoff games

135

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A researched consensus introduction to O.J. Simpson's defining games.

Editorial methodology and sources

Cross-checked Pro Football Hall of Fame: O.J. Simpson, postseason and milestone context, and verified Athlore box scores. This frozen editorial order balances the highest-leverage indexed appearances with statistical peaks that represent O.J. Simpson's career; no ranking formula runs in the application.

  1. #1. In the Divisional Round against Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers, O.J. Simpson recorded 49 rushing yards, 37 receiving yards in the leading indexed performance of this editorial five. Pro Football Hall of Fame: O.J. Simpson
  2. #2. Against Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, O.J. Simpson recorded 273 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: O.J. Simpson
  3. #3. Against Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, O.J. Simpson recorded 250 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: O.J. Simpson
  4. #4. Against Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, O.J. Simpson recorded 123 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdowns, 71 receiving yards in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: O.J. Simpson
  5. #5. Against Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, O.J. Simpson recorded 96 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdowns, 117 receiving yards in a performance that preserves an essential part of the career record. Pro Football Hall of Fame: O.J. Simpson

Reviewed through 2026-08-11

Divisional Round
1974
BUFFALOBILLS
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
DEC 22, 1974

Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Divisional Round · Dec 22, 1974

49 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 3 rec

Regular Season
1976
BUFFALOBILLS
DETROITLIONS
NOV 25, 1976

Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions

Regular Season · Nov 25, 1976

273 rush yds · 2 rush TD · 0 rec

Regular Season
1973
BUFFALOBILLS
NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
SEP 16, 1973

Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots

Regular Season · Sep 16, 1973

250 rush yds · 2 rush TD · 0 rec

Regular Season
1975
INDIANAPOLISCOLTS
BUFFALOBILLS
NOV 9, 1975

Indianapolis Colts vs Buffalo Bills

Regular Season · Nov 9, 1975

123 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 3 rec

Regular Season
1975
BUFFALOBILLS
MIAMIDOLPHINS
DEC 7, 1975

Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins

Regular Season · Dec 7, 1975

96 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 8 rec

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from O.J. Simpson's indexed NFL box scores.

Career highs: 273 rushing yards · 2 rushing touchdowns

Regular Season
1976
BUFFALOBILLS
DETROITLIONS
NOV 25, 1976

Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions

Regular Season · Nov 25, 1976

273 rush yds · 2 rush TD · 0 rec

Career high: 117 receiving yards

Regular Season
1975
BUFFALOBILLS
MIAMIDOLPHINS
DEC 7, 1975

Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins

Regular Season · Dec 7, 1975

96 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 8 rec

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped O.J. Simpson's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

1966–1984

01
BUFSIMPSON—O.J. Simpson
BUFFERGUSON—Joe Ferguson
BUFDELAMIELLEURE—Joe DeLamielleure

Simpson runs into history

Buffalo Bills · The Electric Company and Ground Chuck

An elite line powered Simpson's 2,003-yard season before Chuck Knox later returned Buffalo to the playoffs with a tougher, balanced roster.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1958–1978

02
SFSIMPSON—O.J. Simpson
SFBRODIE—John Brodie
SFWASHINGTON84Gene Washington

The Shotgun and three NFC title losses

San Francisco 49ers · Searching for the breakthrough

Brodie's passing and Dick Nolan's defense won three straight division titles, but Dallas ended each postseason before a full teardown followed.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1979–1990

03
SFSIMPSON—O.J. Simpson
SFMONTANA16Joe Montana
SFRICE80Jerry Rice

The West Coast offense wins four championships

San Francisco 49ers · Walsh, Montana and the dynasty

Bill Walsh paired precise passing with a rebuilt defense, and Montana's calm produced four Super Bowl victories without a loss.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

NFL rushing yards leader · 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976NFL rushing touchdowns leader · 1973, 197511 NFL seasons135 career games110 career passing yards1 career passing touchdowns11,236 career rushing yards61 career rushing touchdowns203 career receptions2,142 career receiving yards14 career receiving touchdownsJersey: 01 playoff appearancesFirst appearance: Sep 14, 1969Most recent: Dec 16, 1979

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history