twice a unanimous All-American and equaled or bettered 19 NCAA, conference and school records.
The outstanding running back, whose real name is Orenthal James Simspons, became a dominant force in the NFL very quickly, winning league MVP in 1973. “Juice” went on to make five First Team All-Pro squads and six Pro Bowls.
Few football players experience the type of fame Simpson gained in the 1970s. How many NFL players get on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine?
A Hertz rental car advertising campaign in the 1970s exposed Simpson to a new, wider audience. Simpson running through the airport to get to the Hertz counter became one of the most memorable and successful ad campaigns ever, and it made Simpson a celebrity.
“Before that, I’d say 30 percent of the people I met recognized me, and they’d be football fans. Now I’d say it’s closer to 90 percent,” Simpson told Rolling Stone in that 1977 cover story.
The Hertz campaign was notable for the racial aspect, too. It was a turning point, as Simpson showed a Black spokesperson could be a successful pitchman. The campaign changed advertising forever.