OJ was inducted in 1985, roughly 10 years before the murders and the trial. The NFL does not seem to have a policy for removing members from the HOF, so blame the NFL.
Buffalo Bills legend O.J. Simpson remains enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite his legal issues -- and that isn't by mistake.
www.sportscasting.com
By rule, the Pro Football Hall of Fame does not remove enshrinees after election. That extends to those who have served prison time, those with controversial backgrounds, and anything in between.
“Once elected, nothing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s bylaws allows for the removal of a Hall member,” the Hall of Fame told ProFootballTalk in 2020.
Recall that OJ was found Not Guilty in his Criminal Trial. The civil trial? Different animal. However, OJ was convicted of other criminal charges in 2008 and served prison time. For his on-the-field exploits, OJ absolutely belongs in the HOF. He was amazing to watch in his prime. I recall watching the snowy day in Buffalo where he hit 2003 yards.
In any case, I agree that any "character" concerns about Russell are unlikely to impact his HOF bid, absent some sort of criminal conviction, which would seem very unlikely. Given that, Russell will be enshrined, or not, based on his on-field accomplishments.
The Seahawks never made it past the Divisional Round of the playoffs after that SB49 season, despite the Hawks D again being #1 in scoring defense in 2015. In the 2015 postseason, Divisional playoffs, 10-6 Hawks vs 15-1 Panthers,
Wilson threw the pick-6 to Luke Kuechly, plus another pick, and the Panthers led 31-0 at halftime, pretty much game over though garbage-time points made the final 31-24. Russell never did elevate the Seahawks in the playoffs after the 2014 season.
I've given up on caring whether or not Russell gets enshrined into the HOF; there are valid arguments FOR and AGAINST. Had Russell converted on the last SB49 drive, whether by handing to Lynch, or keeping on a Read Option run, QB sneak, or a pass, and the Hawks won the game, I would be on the First-Ballot HOF bandwagon. Against Belichick's defense, in those circumstances, that would have indeed been a huge accomplishment. It's fair to say that Bevell's crap goal line play-call royally screwed Russell over, but also fair to say Russell didn't elevate his game in that moment to overcome the crap play-call.