O.J.’s Football Fame

In 1973, Simpson became the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season; he is the only player to do so in 14 games.

averaged 143 rushing yards per game, still the best single-season, yards-per-game average in history.

Two years later, he averaged 130 rushing yards per game, currently sixth best all time.5 Simpson’s 160 rushing and receiving yards per game that season is second only to Priest Holmes’s 163 yards per game in 2002,6 his 1.64 touchdowns per game is eighth all-time, and (for kicks) his 25.4 fantasy points per game is seventh.

Ten players in history averaged 125-plus rushing yards per game in a season, which equates to 2,000-plus yards over 16 games.

Players who averaged 125+ yards per game in a season (2,000+ yards over 16 games) In 1973, Simpson combined volume and efficiency better than anyone in history.10 His 6.0 yards per carry that season is best among the 90 times a player averaged 22 or more carries per game in a season; it is seventh best among the 1,500-plus times a player averaged 12 or more.11 Simpson’s 1973 and 1975 seasons sparkle, but beyond those two all-time performances, he had only one excellent season (197612) and two very good seasons (1972, 1974) a decidedly short prime compared to those of many other elite backs.

The best single-season averages from career rushing leaders such as Emmitt Smith (first all-time), Curtis Martin (fourth), LaDainian Tomlinson (fifth) and Jerome Bettis (sixth) were about as good as Simpson’s third-best season, but they delivered sustained production throughout their careers.