Cowboys, O.J. Simpson crossed paths sparingly

Thursday’s news of the death of O.J. Simpson was met with mixed emotions around the sporting world and society at large. While no one can ignore the unspeakably tragic loss of two lives and the criminal behavior that irrevocably stained his legacy over the past three decades, it’s equally impossible to overstate the impact Simpson, who was 76, had on the game of football in his early years.

Simpson rose to prominence as one of the greatest running backs the sport has ever seen and dominated the 1970s in a way that few athletes have been capable of. Simpson’s era also coincided with the first ascension of the Dallas Cowboys into an NFL force, so it’s no surprise that there were a handful of moments when the star player and the rising franchise crossed paths.