Remembering the O.J. Simpson Bronco Chase on Its 31st Anniversary

LOS ANGELES, California — June 17, 2025, marks 31 years since one of the most unprecedented moments in American television history unfolded. On that day in 1994, O.J. Simpson, a former football star and actor, led police on a slow-speed chase through Los Angeles in a white Ford Bronco. He was wanted in connection with the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.

The chase began with Simpson reportedly claiming he was suicidal. His friend, Al Cowlings, was driving the Bronco, with Simpson in the back seat. During the event, Cowlings called 911 to inform them of the situation, saying Simpson had a gun to his head and wanted to go to his ex-wife’s gravesite.

The chase was surreal, capturing the attention of millions across the country as it interrupted the 1994 NBA Finals. Viewers watched the split-screen coverage, where basketball announcer Marv Albert tried to commentate the game while Tom Brokaw provided updates on the chase.

As the Bronco slowly navigated through traffic, it became a cultural phenomenon. By the time it reached Simpson’s Brentwood home, more than 95 million viewers were tuned in. Amid the chaos, fast-food chain Domino's reported a surge in pizza sales, surpassing even those seen on Super Bowl Sunday.

Over the following decades, the infamous chase has been the subject of documentaries and TV series, including the notable episode titled “June 17, 1994,” which relives that day’s events through raw footage.

Despite Simpson’s later acquittal of murder charges in a criminal trial, his involvement in the high-profile case forever altered television broadcasting and true crime storytelling in America. As the world remembers the chase today, it remains one of the most iconic moments in television history.