What is Al Cowlings' Net Worth?
Al Cowlings is an American retired professional football player who has a net worth of $250 thousand. Although best known for his role in assisting his close friend O.J. Simpson flee the police, he had a substantial career in the NFL. Al drove the Ford Bronco in the chase after the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Contrary to popular belief, this Bronco belonged to Cowlings, who bought an identical model to O.J.'s. He later asserted he was compelled by Simpson to drive under the threat of his friend's suicide.
Early Life
Allen Cedric "A.C." Cowlings was born on June 16, 1947, in San Francisco, California. Raised in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, he attended Galileo High School, where he played football with O.J. Simpson, forging a lifelong friendship. They continued playing together at the City College of San Francisco.
Al furthered his football career at the University of Southern California, being part of the defensive line called "The Wild Bunch," which had a perfect season during his senior year.
NFL
Cowlings was picked in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He started for the first three years but was then traded to the Houston Oilers in 1973. Cowlings played all games for the Oilers in 1973 and 1974, limited to five games with the Rams the following year. After brief stints with the Seahawks and Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, he attempted an NFL comeback with the 49ers in 1979 before retiring.
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O.J. Simpson Trial
In June 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were found murdered. Cowlings claimed he was forced to drive O.J. home under the threat of suicide. The duo's 60-mile slow-speed chase was broadcasted live, turning the 1993 Ford Bronco into an infamous symbol. Al was arrested for aiding Simpson but released due to lack of evidence.
White Ford Bronco
Cowlings' Bronco led the famous low-speed chase through Los Angeles, covering 60 miles and becoming a national icon. Simpson's former agent, Mike Gilbert, purchased it after the chase for $75,000. This vehicle was later displayed in the Alcatraz East Museum in Tennessee.
The vehicle's highest valuation was $23,000 according to Kelley Blue Book. Gilbert sought to sell it for $1 million, with offers reaching up to $500,000, intending to benefit his children. As of now, he remains the owner.
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Personal Life
Al Cowlings dabbled in acting, initially starring in the 1985 film "Bubba Until It Hurts." He had a minor role as Coach Nabors in HBO's "1st & Ten" alongside O.J. Simpson and served as a technical football advisor for "The Last Boy Scout" in 1991.
Cowlings is part of the USC 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame, alongside Junior Seau, John Robinson, and Rodney Peete. The USC Cowlings Residential College honors his name.
In 2018, O.J. Simpson revealed his potential CTE diagnosis and acknowledged that former teammates, including Cowlings, struggle with similar symptoms.
