The Buffalo Bills have decided to exclude O.J. Simpson from any official recognition at their newly opened stadium, marking a clear break from the former running back’s complicated legacy, the team’s chief operating officer, Pete Guelli, said over the weekend.

Simpson, who played for the Bills during the 1970s and became the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, had long held a place on the team’s wall of fame at their previous home stadium. However, Guelli confirmed that Simpson’s name will not appear in the new stadium’s “Family Circle,” a dedicated display area intended to honor the franchise’s all-time great players.

“We have made an organizational decision that he is not a fit to display inside our new stadium and Family Circle,” Guelli stated. This move reflects the team’s ongoing effort to distance itself from Simpson following the high-profile criminal charges he faced in 1994 for the murder of his former wife and her friend. Simpson passed away from prostate cancer in April 2024 at the age of 76.

The Bills had gradually severed formal ties with Simpson since the mid-1990s, refraining from acknowledging his presence at games despite his occasional attendance due to personal connections within the organization. The team’s former venue, known as Highmark Stadium, is currently being demolished as part of the transition to the new facility.

Last week, the Bills officially opened their new $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium, located just across the street from the previous site. The new stadium is designed with modern amenities and features the “Family Circle” display as a prominent gathering area for fans to celebrate the franchise’s history, deliberately excluding Simpson from its roster of honorees.

The decision to leave Simpson out of the new stadium’s honors reflects the complex balance the Bills face in commemorating their sports history while acknowledging the broader implications of Simpson’s controversial personal life.