July 30, 2013

MVP Profile: O.J. Simpson, 1975

Running Back, Buffalo Bills



Age: 28
7th season in pro football & with Bills
College: Southern California
Height: 6’1”   Weight: 212

Prelude:
Following an outstanding college career capped by winning the 1968 Heisman Trophy, the highly-coveted Simpson was drafted by the Bills with the first overall pick in the combined AFL/NFL draft. His pro career started slowly, as he was used sparingly and missed time due to injury during his first three seasons, never carrying more than 182 times or gaining more than 742 yards. However, the return to Buffalo of Head Coach Lou Saban in 1972 marked a change as Simpson became the centerpiece of the offense and led the NFL in rushing with 1251 yards, earning 1st-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He followed that up in 1973 by shattering the single-season rushing record with 2003 yards and gaining consensus MVP honors. While his rushing total dropped to 1125 yards in ’74, Simpson still received consensus 1st-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors for the third straight year and the Bills reached the postseason.

1975 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 329 [1]
Most attempts, game - 34 (for 126 yds.) vs. NY Giants 10/20
Yards – 1817 [1]
Most yards, game – 227 yards (on 28 carries) at Pittsburgh 9/28
Average gain – 5.5 [1]
TDs – 16 [1, tied with Pete Banaszak]
200-yard rushing games – 1
100-yard rushing games – 8

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 28      
Most receptions, game – 8 (for 117 yds.) at Miami 12/7
Yards – 426
Most yards, game - 117 (on 8 catches) at Miami 12/7
Average gain – 15.2
TDs – 7 [9, tied with five others]
100-yard receiving games – 1

All-Purpose yards – 2243 [2, 1st in AFC]

Scoring
TDs – 23 [1]
Points – 138 [1]

Awards & Honors:
AFC Player of the Year: Sporting News
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st team All-AFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
Pro Bowl

Bills went 8-6 to finish third in the AFC East while leading the NFL in total offense (5467 yards), rushing yards (2974), scoring (420 points), and touchdowns (57).

Aftermath:
Simpson led the NFL in rushing for the fourth time in five years in 1976 with 1503 yards and received All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition for the fifth and last time (he had also been chosen to one AFL All-Star Game). Injuries in 1977 limited him to seven games and he was dealt to the 49ers, where he spent his last two seasons (1978 and ’79). Upon retirement, he had gained 11,236 rushing yards, the second-highest total up to that time. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1985.  

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). 

[Updated 11/29/14]