O.J. Simpson’s life took on many compelling chapters, including a rise-and-fall of his career on San Francisco’s football fields, up until his 49ers’ farewell.
While O.J. Simpson’s life produced one of the most dramatic rises and fall from grace in American history, his football career was something to behold, too, up until a disappointing homecoming with the San Francisco 49ers in the late 1970s.
Those accolades, however, also enticed the 49ers to make one of the worst trades in franchise history. Instead of a triumphant homecoming, Simpson’s battle-worn knees did not cooperate as he suited up for the 1978-79 49ers amid a transition that Bill Walsh would eventually flip into a Super Bowl-winning dynasty the following decade.
“It was really tough for me, and for everyone on the 49ers, to watch O.J. at the end of his career. He had always been someone I admired, through high school and college. It was really strange thinking that we were on the same team. It was like a dream. Montana countered those deep thoughts by recalling how Simpson and teammate Al Cowlings helped liven up the locker room, even amid an 0-7 start to that 1979 season.
Added Montana in his Audibles book: “O.J. had the ability to make people relax. He kidded everyone and they seemed to enjoy it. He is the kind of guy who also could be kidded. In fact, I think he got a lot of his material from pranks and jokes that had been played on him.”
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