View source for Bo Jackson

{{Short description|American football and baseball player (born 1962)}}
{{distinguish|Boo Jackson}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Bo Jackson
| image         = Bo Jackson, 2011 NCAA Honors Celebration, San Antonio, TX.jpg
| caption       = Jackson in 2011
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1962|11|30}}
| birth_place   = [[Bessemer, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| module        = {{Infobox NFL biography
| embed       = yes
| name        = Bo Jackson
| image       =
| image_size  = 
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| number      = 34
| position    = [[Running back]]
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 1
| weight_lb   = 230
| high_school = [[McAdory High School|McAdory]] <br> ([[McCalla, Alabama]])
| college     = [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] (1982–1985)
| draftyear   = 1986
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = [[List of first overall NFL draft picks|1]]{{efn|Originally selected by Tampa Bay, he refused to play for the Buccaneers and was re-drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in [[1987 NFL draft|1987]] / Round 7 / Pick 183}}
| pastteams   = * [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1987|1990}})
| highlights  = * [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1991 Pro Bowl|1990]])
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (1985)
* [[Walter Camp Award]] (1985)
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|SEC Player of the Year]] (1985)
* [[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year|''SN'' Player of the Year]] (1985)
* [[UPI College Football Player of the Year|UPI Player of the Year]] (1985)
* [[Chic Harley Award]] (1985)
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1985 College Football All-America Team|1985]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1983 College Football All-America Team|1983]])
* [[SEC Male Athlete of the Year]] (1986)
* 3× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1982 All-SEC football team|1982]], [[1983 All-SEC football team|1983]], [[1985 All-SEC football team|1985]])
* [[Auburn Tigers football#Retired numbers|Auburn Tigers No. 34]] retired
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 2,782
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 5.4
| statlabel3  = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 18
| statlabel4  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4  = 40
| statlabel5  = Receiving yards
| statvalue5  = 352
| statlabel6  = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6  = 2
| pfr         = J/JackBo00
| CollegeHOF  = 2042 
}}
| module2       = {{Infobox baseball biography
| embed         = yes
| name          = Bo Jackson
| position      = [[Outfielder]] / [[Designated hitter]]
| bats          = Right
| throws        = Right
| debutleague   = MLB
| debutdate     = September 2
| debutyear     = 1986
| debutteam     = Kansas City Royals
| finalleague   = MLB
| finaldate     = August 10
| finalyear     = 1994
| finalteam     = California Angels
| statleague    = MLB
| stat1label    = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value    = .250
| stat2label    = [[Home run]]s 
| stat2value    = 141
| stat3label    = [[Runs batted in]] 
| stat3value    = 415
| teams         =
* [[Kansas City Royals]] ({{MLB Year|1986}}–{{MLB Year|1990}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{MLB Year|1991}}, {{MLB Year|1993}})
* [[California Angels]] ({{MLB Year|1994}})
| highlights    =
* [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1989]])
* [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award|All-Star MVP]] ([[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1989]])
* [[Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame]]
}}
}}

'''Vincent Edward''' "'''Bo'''" '''Jackson''' (born November 30, 1962) is an American former professional [[baseball]] and [[American football|football]] player. He is the only professional athlete in history to be named an [[All-star#Sports|All-Star]] in [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|two major North American sports]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Flatter |first=Ron |title=Bo knows stardom and disappointment |url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016045.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819172045/http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016045.html |archive-date=August 19, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2007 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Jackson's achievements at the elite levels of multiple sports have given him a reputation as one of the greatest athletes of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erickson |first=Joel A. |date=March 3, 2013 |title=Bo Jackson named 'Greatest Athlete of All Time' by ESPN |url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2013/03/bo_jackson_named_greatest_athl.html |access-date=July 1, 2019 |website=[[List of Advance subsidiaries|AL.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Jackson played [[college baseball]] as an [[outfielder]] and [[college football]] as a [[running back]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]], and won the [[Heisman Trophy]] in 1985. He played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Los Angeles Raiders]] and in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Kansas City Royals]], [[Chicago White Sox]], and [[California Angels]]. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1996.

In 1989 and 1990, Jackson's name became known beyond just sports through the "[[Bo Knows]]" [[advertising campaign]], a series of advertisements by [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], starring Jackson alongside musician [[Bo Diddley]], promoting a [[cross-training]] [[athletic shoe]] named for Jackson.<ref name=":1" />

A 1991 hip injury ended his football career, and his baseball career ended in 1994. Jackson expanded into other pursuits, including the completion of his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in Family and Child Development at Auburn. Jackson still holds the NFL record for most runs for 90+ yards from scrimmage with two.<ref name=":1" /> In addition, Jackson appeared in small roles as an actor in television shows such as ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2012 |title=Bo Jackson on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' |url=https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2012/11/bo-jackson-on-the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air/ |access-date= |website=The War Eagle Reader |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''[[Married... with Children]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=April 9, 2012 |title=Bo Jackson (and his mustache) on 'Married With Children' |url=https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2012/04/bo-jackson-and-his-mustache-on-married-with-children/ |access-date= |website=The War Eagle Reader |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as films such as ''[[The Chamber (1996 film)|The Chamber]]''.

== Early life ==
Jackson, the eighth of ten children, was born on November 30, 1962, and raised in [[Bessemer, Alabama]]. He was named after [[Vince Edwards]], his mother's favorite actor. His family described him as a "wild boar hog," as he would constantly get into trouble.<ref name=":0" />

He attended McAdory High School in [[McCalla, Alabama|McCalla]], where he rushed for 1,175 yards as a [[running back]] as a high school senior. Jackson hit 20 [[home run]]s in 25 games for McCalla's baseball team during his senior season. He was a two-time state champion in the [[decathlon]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Bo Jackson |url=http://www.nsca-lift.org/interview/BoJackson.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425184745/http://www.nsca-lift.org/interview/BoJackson.shtml |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |access-date=October 5, 2009 |website=National Strength and Conditioning Association}}</ref> Both times that he was the [[decathlon]] state champion, he built up such a commanding points lead before the 1500 meters that he never competed in that event. "Distance is the only thing I hate about track," he said.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wolff |first=Alexander |date=September 5, 1984 |title=Bo on the Go |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1984/09/05/bo-on-the-go |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> In 1982, Jackson set state school records for indoor [[high jump]] ({{Height|ft=6|in=9}}) and [[triple jump]] ({{Height|ft=48|in=8}}).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heisler |first=Mark |date=March 30, 1988 |title=IT'S THE BO SHOW, PART II: KANSAS CITY, HERE HE COMES : But He's So Talented, There's No Telling How Far Jackson Can Go |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-30-sp-136-story.html |access-date= |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==College (1982–1986)==
In June 1982, Jackson was selected by the [[New York Yankees]] in the second round (50th overall) of the [[1982 Major League Baseball draft]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=2nd Round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1982&draft_round=2&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> but he instead chose to attend [[Auburn University]] on a football scholarship because he promised his mother he would be the first in the family to go to a major college.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Berkow |first=Ira |date=January 28, 1984 |title=The Jackson Kid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/28/sports/sports-times-jackson-kid-bo-jackson-was-named-for-boar-hog-when-was-boy-comin-up.html |access-date=May 13, 2016 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He was recruited by head coach [[Pat Dye]] and then Auburn assistant coach [[Bobby Wallace (football coach)|Bobby Wallace]] alongside defensive head coach Dominic Sauer. At Auburn, he proved to be a tremendous athlete in both baseball and football. He shared the backfield with [[quarterback]] [[Randy Campbell]], [[Lionel James|Lionel "Little Train" James]] and [[Tommie Agee (American football)|Tommie Agee]].

===Collegiate football===
During his time playing for the [[Auburn Tigers football]] team, he ran for 4,303 career yards,<ref name="ESPN SportsCentury">{{cite video |title=[[SportsCentury]] |medium=TV series}}</ref> which was the fourth-best performance in [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) history. Jackson finished his career with an average of 6.6 yards per carry, which set the SEC record (minimum 400 rushes).<ref>{{cite web |date=August 29, 2011 |title=2011 Southeastern Conference Football Media Guide |url=http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=tuRa_2P-Vks=&tabid=480&mid=2555 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930083929/http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=tuRa_2P-Vks=&tabid=480&mid=2555 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |website=[[Southeastern Conference]]}}
</ref>

In [[1982 Auburn Tigers football team|1982]], Jackson's freshman year, Auburn played [[Boston College]] in the [[Tangerine Bowl (1947–82)|Tangerine Bowl]], where Jackson made a one-handed grab on an option pitch. Auburn went on to win the game 33–26 as Jackson rushed 14 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 18, 1982 |title=Auburn quarterback shoots down Boston College |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/anchorage-daily-news-auburn-quarterback/157649255/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |newspaper=[[Anchorage Daily News]] |page=C-5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In [[1983 Auburn Tigers football team|1983]], as a sophomore, Jackson rushed for 1,213 yards on 158 carries, for an average of 7.7 yards per carry, which was the second-best single-season average in SEC history (minimum 100 rushes). In the 1983 [[Iron Bowl|Auburn-Alabama game]], Jackson rushed for 256 yards on 20 rushes (12.8 yards per carry), which at the time was the sixth-most rushing yards gained in a game in SEC history and the second best yard-per-rush average in a game (minimum 20 attempts) in SEC history. Auburn finished the season by winning the [[1984 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]] against [[1983 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]], where Jackson was named [[Most Valuable Player]]. In [[1984 Auburn Tigers football team|1984]], Jackson's junior year (most of which Jackson missed due to injury), he earned Most Valuable Player honors at the [[Liberty Bowl]] after defeating Arkansas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Liberty Bowl MVPs |url=http://www.libertybowl.org/navigation-content-mvp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811012416/http://www.libertybowl.org/navigation-content-mvp |archive-date=August 11, 2007 |access-date=August 18, 2007 |website=[[Liberty Bowl]]}}</ref>

In [[1985 Auburn Tigers football team|1985]], Jackson rushed for 1,786 yards, which was the second-best single-season performance in SEC history. For his performance in 1985, Jackson was awarded the [[Heisman Trophy]] in what was considered the closest margin of victory ever in the history of the award, winning over [[University of Iowa]] quarterback [[Chuck Long]].<ref name="ESPN SportsCentury" /> In 1986, he received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] presented by Awards Council member and Heisman Trophy winner [[Herschel Walker]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#sports |website=[[Academy of Achievement]] |publisher=}}</ref>

Jackson finished his career at Auburn with 4,575 all-purpose yards and 45 total touchdowns, 43 rushing and two receiving, with a 6.6 yards per carry average. Jackson's football number 34 was officially retired at Auburn in a halftime ceremony on October 31, 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=November 1, 1992 |title=BO: TWO SPORTS NOT TOO MUCH RECUPERATING JACKSON SEES NUMBER RETIRED AT AUBURN |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1992/11/01/bo-two-sports-not-too-much-recuperating-jackson-sees-number-retired-at-auburn/ |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Sun Sentinel]] |language=en-US}}</ref> His is one of only three numbers retired at Auburn. The others are 1971 [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Pat Sullivan (American football)|Pat Sullivan]]'s number 7, and the number 88 of Sullivan's teammate and favorite receiver, [[Terry Beasley]]. In 2007, Jackson was ranked #8 on [[ESPN]]'s Top 25 Players In College Football History list.

====Statistics====
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
! colspan="11" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Auburn Tigers football}}"| Auburn Tigers
|-
!|
! colspan="5" style="background:#e7e3e7;"| Rushing
! colspan="4" style="background:#e7e3e7;"| Receiving
|-
!|Year
!|Att
!|Yds
!|Avg
!|Lng
!|TD
!|No.
!|Yds
!|Avg
!|TD
|-
|1982||127||829||6.5||53||9||5||64||12.8||0
|-
|1983||158||1,213||7.7||80||12||13||73||5.6||2
|-
|1984||87||475||5.5||53||5||4||62||15.5||0
|-
|1985||278||1,786||6.4||76||17||4||73||18.3||0 
|-
!Totals!!650!!4,303!!6.6!!80!!43!!26!!272!!10.5!!2
|}

===Collegiate baseball===
Jackson missed much of his senior season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA following a visit with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], which he believes tried to sabotage his baseball career.<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Agostino |first=Jake |date=October 25, 2009 |title=Bo Jackson: What Could Have Been |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/278219-bo-jackson-what-could-have-been |access-date=April 28, 2014 |website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>

In an April 1985 report, a major league scout stated that Jackson's only weakness was a lack of baseball experience. The scout said that he could be one of the all-time greats barring any injuries. He had a minor shoulder injury in the beginning of his collegiate football career, which didn't cause him issues in the long term. The scout also noted that this was his first year playing baseball and he seemed to be a "do it all type of player" and also stated he was "the best pure athlete in America today". At the time, Jackson was 22 years old, and trying to make an even bigger name for himself than he already had in his football career. In this scouting report, Jackson's worth to an MLB team was listed at only $200,000, much less than what he would end up taking home later on in his short-lived careers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Snyder |first=Matt |date=May 7, 2013 |title=Bo Jackson's 1985 scouting report (Hint: He was good at baseball) |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/bo-jacksons-1985-scouting-report-hint-he-was-good-at-baseball/ |access-date=May 13, 2016 |website=[[CBS Sports]]}}</ref>

====Statistics====
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
! YEAR || G || AB || R || H || 2B || 3B || HR || RBI || SB || CS || BB || SO || BA || OBP || SLG || OPS
|-
| 1983|| 26|| 68 || 14 || 19 || 4 || 0 || 4 || 13 || 5 || 2 || 14 || 34 || .279|| .443 || .515 || .958
|-
| 1984 || colspan=16 | ''Injured''
|-
| 1985 || 42 || 147 || 55 || 59 || 5 || 6 || 17 || 43 || 9 || 1 || 26 || 41 || .401 || .500 || .864 || 1.364
|-
| 1986 || 22 || 69 || 21 || 18 || 3 || 2 || 7 || 14 || 5 || 0 || 20 || 30 || .261 || .424 || .652 || 1.076
|-
! TOTALS || 90 || 284 || 90 || 96 || 12 || 8 || 28 || 70 || 19 || 3 || 66 || 105 || .338 || .466 || .729 || 1.195
|}
<ref>{{cite web |title=2013 Auburn baseball fact book |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/13-fact-book.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109035255/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/13-fact-book.pdf |archive-date=November 9, 2016 |access-date=March 20, 2013 |website=[[CBS Sports Network|CSTV]]}}</ref>

==="Bo Over the Top"===
{{main|Bo Over the Top}}
On November 27, 1982, Jackson and the Tigers found themselves embattled with their heated in-state rival, [[Alabama Crimson Tide|Alabama]] (7–3), in the [[Iron Bowl]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. Auburn held a 14–13 halftime lead when Alabama running back [[Paul Ott Carruth]] scored on an eight-yard touchdown run—and then the Crimson Tide added a field goal to make it a 22–14 Alabama lead going into the fourth quarter. Auburn responded as [[Al Del Greco]] made a 23-yard field goal to make it a 22–17 score in the fourth quarter. From Auburn's own 34-yard line, Jackson and company began a long drive as he converted on a 4th-and-1 at the Alabama 42. Jackson, who ran 17 times for 114 yards during this Iron Bowl, continued marching his team downfield as he caught an 8-yard pass from quarterback Randy Campbell down to the Alabama one-yard line. During the huddle, Jackson convinced Coach Dye to let him go over the top of offensive and defensive lines because he was a seven-foot high jumper in high school and the other team wouldn't be expecting it. On fourth down with 2:26 left in the game, Jackson completed the drive by going over the top for a one-yard touchdown run as Auburn (which finished 9–3 in 1982) pulled off a 23–22 victory over Alabama and coach [[Paul "Bear" Bryant]].<ref>{{cite news |date=November 28, 1982 |title=Tigers Claw 'Bama 23-22 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EZ4cAAAAIBAJ&pg=4372,7313517& |access-date=February 6, 2013 |newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] |location=Sarasota, Florida |page=16-B |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

===College track and field===
While at [[McAdory High School]], Jackson competed as a sprinter, hurdler, jumper, thrower and decathlete. His best 100-meter time in high school was 10.44 seconds, but he would later run a 10.39 at Auburn. He also ran the [[100-yard dash]] in 9.54 seconds. As a hurdler, he recorded times of 7.29 seconds in the [[Hurdling|55m hurdles]] and 13.81 seconds in the [[110 metres hurdles|110m hurdles]]. In [[decathlon]], he reached 8,340 points. In the jumping events, he had personal-best jumps of {{Convert|2.06|m|ftin|abbr=unit}} in the [[high jump]], {{Convert|7.52|m|ftin|abbr=unit}} in the [[long jump]] and {{Convert|14.85|m|ftin|abbr=unit}} in the [[triple jump]]. As a thrower, he got top-throws of {{Convert|15.27|m|ftin|abbr=unit}} in the [[shot put]] and {{Convert|45.44|m|ftin|abbr=unit}} in the [[discus throw]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bo Jackson: Auburn, Raiders RB |url=https://www.trackingfootball.com/players/bo-jackson-2860/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024053731/https://www.trackingfootball.com/players/bo-jackson-2860/ |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=September 25, 2016 |website=Tracking Football}}</ref>

Jackson qualified for the NCAA nationals in the 100-meter dash in his freshman and sophomore years. He considered a career in track and field, but sprinting would not gain him the financial security of MLB or the NFL, nor would he have sufficient time to train, given his other commitments. When asked if he ran a 4.12 [[40-yard dash]] at the 1986 [[NFL Scouting Combine]], the fastest time ever recorded in NFL Combine history and a time that has been rumored from several sources,<ref name="raiders.com">{{Cite web |last=Knaak |first=Jerry |date=March 1, 2021 |title=Bo Knows Speed: The real story behind football's most legendary 40-yard dash |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/bo-knows-40-yard-dashes-20411732 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=[[Las Vegas Raiders]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Jackson claimed some of the coaches hand-timed him at 3.9 and 4.0, but that he actually ran a 4.13 electronic-timed 40-yard dash at a pro day at Auburn University.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2016 |title=Bo Jackson ran a 4.13 40-yard dash |url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/14869826 |access-date= |website=[[ESPN]] |language=en}}</ref> He also stated he did not attend the 1986 Scouting Combine: "I did not go because I was already picked to be the first person to go in the draft," Jackson said. "If you're going to be the first person to go in the draft, why should you go to a combine and do all of that?"<ref name="raiders.com"/>

====Personal bests====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Event
!Time (sec.)
!Venue
!Date
|-
|[[100 meters]]
|10.39<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simons |first=Asher |date=December 28, 2013 |title=Sporting Heroes: Bo Jackson's efforts in two sports earn legend status |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/sporting-heroes-bo-jackson-s-efforts-in-two-sports-earn-legend-status-9027688.html |access-date=October 10, 2014 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref>
|4134
|111
|}

==Professional sports career==
===Baseball===
====Kansas City Royals====
Jackson was selected with the first overall pick of the [[1986 NFL draft]] by the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]],<ref name=":2" /> but he refused to play for them because a visit to team facilities that the Buccaneers said was NCAA-approved but was actually not, causing him to miss the remainder of his final college baseball season. Jackson believes that the failure to obtain NCAA approval was deliberate and was intended by the Buccaneers to get him to play football instead of baseball. He vowed not to sign with Tampa Bay should they draft him, but they proceeded anyway. He kept his vow and opted to play baseball for the [[Kansas City Royals]], the defending [[1985 World Series|World Series]] champions, who drafted him in the fourth round (105th overall), in the [[1986 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=4th Round of the 1986 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1986&draft_round=4&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> Shortly after the draft, Jackson signed a three-year contract with the Royals worth just over $1 million. He spent 53 games<ref name="bojxminls">{{cite web |title=Bo Jackson Minor League Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jackso002vin |access-date=February 4, 2013 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> with the [[Memphis Chicks (Southern League)|Memphis Chicks]],<ref name="bnotgwf">{{cite magazine |last=Looney |first=Douglas S. |date=July 14, 1986 |title=Bo's Not One To Go With The Flow |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1986/07/14/bos-not-one-to-go-with-the-flow |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |page=36}}</ref> the Royals' [[Class AA]] [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] affiliate, and was called up to the majors in September 1986. Jackson made his major league debut on September 2 against the Chicago White Sox, and finished the game 1-for-3.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2, 1986 |title=Chicago White Sox vs Kansas City Royals Box Score: September 2, 1986 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198609020.shtml |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> He made the Royals' roster in 1987 as a left fielder, and batted .235 with 22 home runs, 53 RBI and 10 [[stolen base]]s in 116 games.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Bo Jackson Statistics and History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksbo01.shtml |access-date=May 13, 2016 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>

On July 29, 1988, against the [[1989 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]], Jackson, batting against [[Jeff Ballard (baseball)|Jeff Ballard]], attempted to call time out as Ballard was delivering the ball. The time-out wasn't granted, but Jackson recovered to swing and hit the pitch over the left-field wall for a home run despite taking one hand off the bat at the beginning of the at bat.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 10, 2013 |title=Bo Jackson Moment: The Legendary Timeout Home Run |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSsJQ60q6JU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/GSsJQ60q6JU |archive-date=October 30, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2015 |website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He finished the 1988 season batting .246 with 25 home runs, 68 RBI and a career-high 27 stolen bases in 124 games.<ref name=":3" />

[[File:Bo Jackson 1989 Kansas City Royals uniform.jpg|thumb|right|A replica of Jackson's 1989 Kansas City Royals road uniform]]
Jackson began to show his true potential in 1989, when he was voted to start for the [[American League]] [[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team, and was named the game's MVP for his play on both offense and defense. In the top of the first inning, he caught [[Pedro Guerrero (baseball, born 1956)|Pedro Guerrero]]'s two-out line drive to left-center field to save two runs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 1989 |title=1989 All-Star Game |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/yr1989as.shtml |access-date= |website=[[Baseball Almanac]]}}</ref> Then he led off the bottom of the first—his first All-Star plate appearance—with a monstrous {{convert|448|ft|m|adj=on}} home run against [[Rick Reuschel]] of the [[1989 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]]. [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC-TV]] announcer [[Vin Scully]] exclaimed, "Look at that one! Bo Jackson says hello!" [[Wade Boggs]] followed with his own home run, making them the first pair in All-Star history to lead off the first inning with back-to-back home runs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 1989 |title=1989 All-Star Game Play by Play |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/1989_all_star_game_play_by_play.shtml |access-date= |website=[[Baseball Almanac]]}}</ref> In the second inning, he beat the throw on a potential double play to drive in the eventual winning run. He then stole second base, making him the second player in [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] history to hit a home run and steal a base in the same game (the first was [[Willie Mays]]). Jackson finished the game 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 11, 1989 |title=1989 All-Star Game Box Score, July 11 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1989-allstar-game.shtml |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 1989, Jackson batted .256 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI in 135 games. His 172 strikeouts tied him for 10th most strikeouts in a season for a right-handed batter since 1893.<ref name=":3" /> On July 11, 1990, against the [[1990 Baltimore Orioles season|Orioles]], Jackson performed his famous "wall run", when he caught a ball six strides away from the wall. As he caught the ball at full tilt, Jackson looked up and ran three steps along the wall, to avoid impact and the risk of [[injury]] from the fence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2013 |title=Bo scales the wall in Baltimore |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk3l_L-VJ3w |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/Lk3l_L-VJ3w |archive-date=October 30, 2021 |access-date=July 11, 2018 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

Before Royals games, Jackson used to shoot at a target with a bow and arrow in the Royals clubhouse.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaegel |first=Dick |date=February 28, 2004 |title=Kaegel to cover KC for MLB.com |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040228&content_id=642571&vkey=spt2004news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714104249/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040228&content_id=642571&vkey=spt2004news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |access-date=December 19, 2010 |website=[[Kansas City Royals]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

During the 1990 season, Jackson hit HRs in four consecutive at-bats, tying a Major League record (held by several). His fourth came off [[Randy Johnson]], after hitting his first three before a stint on the [[disabled list]]. Unwilling to pay his $2.375 million salary in 1991 to rehabilitate his football injury, the Royals released Jackson on March 18, 1991.<ref name="siasb">{{cite magazine |last=Wulf |first=Steve |date=April 1, 1991 |title=Say it ain't so, Bo |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/04/01/say-it-aint-so-bo-a-hip-injury-put-two-sport-superstar-bo-jackson-on-the-sidelines-and-opinions-varied-wildly-as-to-how-long-he-would-remain-there |access-date=July 19, 2024 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |page=34}}</ref>

On March 13, 2024, the Royals announced that Jackson had been elected to the Royals Hall of Fame and would be inducted before the team's June 29 game against Cleveland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rieper |first1=Max |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Bo Jackson to be inducted into Royals Hall of Fame |url=https://www.royalsreview.com/2024/3/13/24099496/bo-jackson-to-be-inducted-into-royals-hall-of-fame |work=Royals Review |publisher=[[SB Nation]]}}</ref>

====Chicago White Sox and California Angels====
Only 16 days after Jackson was released by the Royals, the [[Chicago White Sox]] offered him a three-year deal, guaranteeing $700,000 per season with a performance-based upside of $8.15&nbsp;million over the term.<ref>{{cite news |author=Chass |first=Murray |date=April 4, 1991 |title=White Sox Decide to Gamble on Bo Jackson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/04/sports/baseball-white-sox-decide-to-gamble-on-bo-jackson.html |access-date=November 14, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> White Sox co-owner [[Jerry Reinsdorf]] stated they did not anticipate him to play all seasons while he addressed his hip issues and [[avascular necrosis]]. Jackson played two seasons appearing in 23 games in 1991 and 85 games in 1993. He appeared on White Sox' disabled roster during the [[1992 Chicago White Sox season|1992 season]] due to completing hip replacement surgery earlier that year.<ref name="hip replacement">{{cite news |date=April 5, 1992 |title=Bo Jackson Has Hip Replacement Surgery |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-05-sp-998-story.html |access-date=November 14, 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> It was with the White Sox that he made his only post-season appearance in the [[1993 American League Championship Series]]. In three games, Jackson was hitless in 10 at-bats with three walks and a run scored as the White Sox lost to the [[1993 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] in six games.<ref name=":3" />

While with the White Sox, Jackson promised his mother that once he returned from his hip replacement surgery in 1993, he would hit a home run for her. Before he could return, his mother died. In his first at-bat after surgery, he hit a home run to right field. Jackson recovered the ball by trading an autographed bat for it, and stated he planned to have it bronzed and placed on her dresser.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 10, 1993 |title=Jackson Hits Homer in Debut, Dedicates Ball to His Mother |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-10-sp-21223-story.html |access-date=November 14, 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

On January 31, 1994, Jackson signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]].<ref name="Naples">{{Cite web |date=February 1, 1994 |title=Bo officially an Angel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/802046534/?terms=%22matt%20cammuso%22%20tulane |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=[[Naples Daily News]] |via=[[Ancestry.com|Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Newhan |first=Ross |date=January 31, 1994 |title=It's a Done Deal: Bo Jackson's an Angel |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-31-sp-17399-story.html |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He played in 75 games, batting .279 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI before the season was cut short by the 1994–95 baseball [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike]].<ref name=":3" /> After the season, Jackson decided to retire at age 32. "I got to know my family," he said, "That looks better to me than any $10 million contract."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=April 24, 1995|title=Bo Jackson Quits Baseball; Says "Family Looks Better than $10 Million Contract."|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTkDAAAAMBAJ&q=bo+jackson+retire+%22that+looks+better+to+me+than+any+%2410+million+contract.+%22&pg=PA46|journal=Jet}}</ref>

In his eight baseball seasons, Jackson had a career batting average of .250, hit 141 home runs and had 415 RBI, with a [[slugging percentage]] of .474. His best year was 1989, with his effort earning him All-Star status. In 1989, Jackson ranked fourth in the American League in both home runs, with 32, and RBI, with 105.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1989 American League Batting Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1989-batting-leaders.shtml |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Notable achievements====
* AL All-Star (1989)
* 1989 [[All-Star Game]] MVP
* 1993 AL Comeback Player of the Year Award
* 10th in the 1989 AL MVP race
* 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1989)
* 20-Home Run Seasons: 4 (1987–1990)
* 20-Stolen Base Seasons: 2 (1988–1989)
* 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1989)

====MLB statistics====
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year
! rowspan="2"|Team
! rowspan="2"|G
! colspan="14" style="background:#e7e3e7;"| Standard batting
|-
!|AB
!|R
!|H
!|2B
!|3B
!|HR
!|RBI
!|SB
!|CS
!|BB
!|SO
!|BA
!|OBP
!|SLG
|-
|1986||[[1986 Kansas City Royals season|KCR]]||25||82||9||17||2||1||2||9||3||1||7||34||.207||.286||.329
|-
|1987||[[1987 Kansas City Royals season|KCR]]||116||396||46||93||17||2||22||53||10||4||30||158||.235||.296||.455
|-
|1988||[[1988 Kansas City Royals season|KCR]]||124||439||63||108||16||4||25||68||27||6||25||146||.246||.287||.472
|-
|1989||[[1989 Kansas City Royals season|KCR]]||135||515||86||132||15||6||32||105||26||9||39||172||.256||.310||.495
|-
|1990||[[1990 Kansas City Royals season|KCR]]||111||405||74||110||16||1||28||78||15||9||44||128||.272||.342||.523
|-
|1991||[[1991 Chicago White Sox season|CHW]]||23||71||8||16||4||0||3||14||0||1||12||25||.225||.333||.408
|-
|1992||[[1992 Chicago White Sox season|CHW]]||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|1993||[[1993 Chicago White Sox season|CHW]]||85||284||32||66||9||0||16||45||0||2||23||106||.232||.289||.433
|-
|1994||[[1994 California Angels season|CAL]]||75||201||23||56||7||0||13||43||1||0||20||72||.279||.344||.507
|-
!colspan=2|TOTALS!!694!!2,393!!341!!598!!86!!14!!141!!415!!82!!32!!200!!841!!.250!!.309!!.474
|}

===Football===
During his junior and senior years at Auburn, Jackson transitioned his focus to baseball and became increasingly vocal about his unwillingness to play in the NFL.<ref name=":4">{{cite news |last=Heisler |first=Mark |date=April 29, 1987 |title=1987 Draft : In 7th Round, Raiders Draft Jackson--But He Says He's a Baseball Player |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-04-29-sp-1384-story.html |access-date=September 18, 2012 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

A month before the [[1986 NFL draft]], [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] owner and Alabama alum [[Hugh Culverhouse]] took him on a private jet to visit with the team and get a physical during his senior baseball season. Jackson was told by the Buccaneers that the trip had been cleared by the NCAA and SEC. In truth, it had not, and because the SEC barred athletes from being professional in one sport and amateur in another, he was declared ineligible near the tail end of his senior baseball season. Years later, Jackson told ESPN that he has long believed the Buccaneers sabotaged his collegiate baseball career "because of the season I was having". He was so angry at the Buccaneers' actions that he vowed never to play a down for them, going as far as to tell Culverhouse, "You draft me if you want. You're going to waste a draft pick. I can promise you that."<ref name="When Bucs blew it by drafting Bo Jackson">{{cite news |author=Auman |first=Greg |date=April 25, 2015 |title=When Bucs blew it by drafting Bo Jackson |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/when-the-bucs-blew-it-by-drafting-bo-jackson/2226917/ |access-date=November 13, 2019 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref>

Jackson's collegiate baseball coach, [[Hal Baird]], told the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' that no one from either camp mentioned the trip to him, and feared the worst when Jackson told him that the trip had been paid for. Baird maintained that had he known about the trip, he would have told Jackson about the SEC rule that barred him from playing professional football while being an amateur in baseball. Along similar lines, Dye told the ''Times'' that once Jackson concluded that the Tampa Bay trip was "a tactical move", it ended any chance of him ever playing for the Buccaneers.<ref name="When Bucs blew it by drafting Bo Jackson"/>

Despite this, the Buccaneers selected Jackson with the first overall pick in the 1986 draft.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=1986 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986/draft.htm |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> Jackson turned down the Buccaneers' $7.6 million, five-year contract in favor of a $1.07 million, three-year contract with the [[Kansas City Royals]], and the Buccaneers forfeited his rights before the [[1987 NFL draft|1987 draft]].<ref name="Say It Ain't So: Tampa Bay Buccaneers">{{cite magazine |author= |date= |title=Say It Ain't So: Tampa Bay Buccaneers |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/02/12/sayitaintso_buccaneers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010618011420/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/02/12/sayitaintso_buccaneers/ |archive-date=June 18, 2001 |access-date=February 21, 2001 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Choosing to sleep in rather than attend the 1987 NFL draft, Jackson found out that he was selected in the seventh round (183rd overall) by the [[Los Angeles Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1987 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1987/draft.htm |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> Initially, Jackson stated he would continue to focus on baseball and would not sign, but his interest was piqued when he learned Raiders owner [[Al Davis]] was a fan of Jackson and receptive to Jackson playing both baseball and football.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> A five-year, $7.4 million contract was negotiated where Jackson would be permitted to play the entire baseball season with the Royals and would report to the Raiders once the MLB season was finished even if it meant missing NFL games. In addition to this, Davis gave Jackson the highest salary of any non-quarterback player in NFL history, and Jackson would receive a reported $500,000 signing bonus plus another $500,000 if he returned the following year in 1988.<ref name="Raiders : Bo to Get $1 Million Just for Signing and Returning">{{cite news |author=Heisler |first=Mark |date=August 14, 1987 |title=Raiders : Bo to Get $1 Million Just for Signing and Returning |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-14-sp-839-story.html |access-date=November 13, 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Report Details Jackson's Raider Contract">{{cite news |date=August 1, 1987 |title=Report Details Jackson's Raider Contract |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/01/sports/nfl-camps-report-details-jackson-s-raider-contract.html |access-date=November 13, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Jackson joined the Raiders in time for their Week 8 matchup against the [[1987 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], where he rushed for a total of 37 yards on eight carries. Jackson shared the backfield with [[Marcus Allen]], himself an All-Pro and former Heisman Trophy winner, but eventually supplanted him as the featured running back despite being listed as the team's [[fullback (American football)|fullback]]. Perhaps his most notable performance in his rookie season came on ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' against the [[1987 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] in Week 12. Prior to the game Seahawks [[linebacker]] [[Brian Bosworth]] insulted Jackson and promised in a media event before the game to contain Jackson. Jackson responded by running over Bosworth on his way to a touchdown near the goal line. He also made a 91-yard run in the second quarter, to the outside, untouched down the sideline. Jackson rushed for 221 yards that night and two touchdowns. He added a third with a reception. The 221 yards was a single-game record for the Raiders at the time.

In his rookie season, Jackson rushed for a total of 554 yards on only 81 carries for a 6.8 yards per carry average. He played in seven games, starting five, and scored a total of six touchdowns (four rushing, two receiving). The next year, Jackson played in ten of the Raiders' sixteen games with nine starts, recording a total of 580 yards and three touchdowns.

Jackson's 1989 season was his best in the league. In eleven games, with nine starts, Jackson rushed for a total of 950 yards with a 5.5 yards per carry average and four touchdowns. In his abbreviated 1990 campaign, Jackson rushed for 698 yards and was selected to the only Pro Bowl of his career.

Jackson sustained an NFL career-ending hip injury from a seemingly routine tackle at the end of a 34-yard run in a playoff game on January 13, 1991, against the Bengals.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |date=November 15, 2019 |title=Greatest Moments: 1990 AFC Divisional Playoff |url=http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Greatest-Moments-1990-AFC-Divisional-Playoff/3522bcb4-cb60-41e1-b5b1-937b71492910 |access-date=November 15, 2019 |website=[[Las Vegas Raiders]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcovPe9Ckxo|title=Bo Jackson injury|website=[[YouTube]]|date=February 13, 2015 |access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref>

In his four seasons in the NFL, Jackson rushed for 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns with an average yards per carry of 5.4. He also caught 40 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson's 221 yards on November 30, 1987, just 29 days after his first NFL carry, is still a ''Monday Night Football'' record.

====NFL statistics====
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| 7 || 81 || 554 || 6.8 || 91T || 4 || 16 || 136 || 8.5 || 23 || 2
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| 10 || 136 || 580 || 4.3 || 25 || 3 || 9 || 79 || 8.8 || 27 || 0
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| 11 || 173 || 950 || 5.5 || 92T || 4 || 9 || 69 || 7.7 || 20 || 0
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 Los Angeles Raiders season|LA]]
| 10 || 125 || 698 || 5.6 || 88 || 5 || 6 || 68 || 11.3 || 18 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 38 !! 515 !! 2,782 !! 5.4 !! 92 !! 16 !! 40 !! 352 !! 9.1 !! 27 !! 2

|}

==Hip injury==
Jackson's athletic career was affected by an injury to his left hip. In his last football game, the playoff victory over the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in January 1991, Jackson suffered a dislocated hip following a tackle. In the film ''You Don't Know Bo'', Jackson claimed that when he realized his injury on the field, he [[Reduction (orthopedic surgery)|popped his hip back into the socket]], which damaged the blood vessels supplying blood to the hip.<ref>ESPN [[30 for 30]]: "You Don't Know Bo"</ref> While doctors did not find proof that Jackson reset his hip, they did discover that there was a fracture of one of Jackson's hip bones, as well as traumatic chondrolysis (loss of the thin layer of cartilage that lines the ball-and-socket hip joint) and [[avascular necrosis]] (death of bone tissue) of the [[femoral head]].<ref name="nytimes2018">{{Cite news |last=Altman |first=Lawrence K. |date=March 20, 1991 |title=Jackson's Case Is Dividing The Doctors |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/20/sports/jackson-s-case-is-dividing-the-doctors.html |access-date=July 11, 2018 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref> He would be forced to retire from football, and was then cut by the Royals in spring training. Jackson would return to competition with the White Sox toward the end of the 1991 baseball season but did not play the 1992 season while having his hip replaced.<ref name="hip replacement"/>

==Popularity==
==="Bo Knows"===
{{main|Bo Knows}}
Jackson became a popular figure for his athleticism in multiple sports through the late 1980s and early 1990s. He endorsed Nike and was involved in a popular ad campaign called "[[Bo Knows]]" which envisioned Jackson attempting to take up a litany of other sports, including [[tennis]], [[golf]], [[luge]], [[auto racing]], [[ice hockey]], and playing [[blues]] music with [[Bo Diddley]], who scolded Jackson by telling him, "You don't know Diddley!"<ref name="bo3">{{cite web |date=March 20, 2000 |title=Best Spots of the 90's |url=http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/best_spots_90s/90s_112.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311111642/http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/best_spots_90s/90s_112.jsp |archive-date=March 11, 2007 |access-date=March 19, 2007 |website=[[Adweek]]}}</ref> This "Bo Knows" marketing campaign was for the release of the Nike Air Trainer I, or Air Trainer SC, a cross-training shoe, the first of its kind.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 20, 1994 |title=Idea to link cross-training with athlete Bo Jackson, featured in this Joe Pytka-directed spot . READY, SET, BO HOW NIKE, WIEDEN'S RISWOLD 'JUST DID IT' FOR CROSS-TRAINING |url=http://adage.com/article/news/idea-link-cross-training-athlete-bo-jackson-featured-joe-pytka-directed-spot-ready-set-bo-nike-wieden-s-riswold-cross-training/86671/ |access-date=December 17, 2015 |website=[[Ad Age]]}}</ref>

===Homage===
The [[Chikara (professional wrestling)|CHIKARA]] [[professional wrestling]] [[tag team]] the Throwbacks (baseball player [[Dasher Hatfield]] and football player [[Mark Angelosetti|Mark "Mr. Touchdown" Angelosetti]]) had a finishing move called "Bo Jackson".<ref>{{cite web |author=Ford |first=Kevin |date=July 29, 2012 |title=CHIKARA Give 'Em The Axe |url=https://chikaraspecial.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/give-em-the-axe/ |access-date=July 26, 2015 |website=The CHIKARA Special}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 15, 2014 |title=CHIKARA Podcast-A-Go-Go 395 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3QzIEM2ZfM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/D3QzIEM2ZfM |archive-date=October 30, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2015 |website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1992, the American hip-hop group [[A Tribe Called Quest]] referenced Jackson in their song "[[Scenario (song)|Scenario]]."

In 1995, Jamaican [[dancehall]] artist [[Ini Kamoze]] referenced Jackson in his biggest single, "[[Here Comes the Hotstepper]]."

In 1997, [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]] referenced Jackson in her song "[[Big Bad Mamma]]."
 
Radio personality [[James Golden (radio personality)|James Golden]] adopted the stage name "Bo Snerdley" in homage to Jackson. ("Snerdley" was a last name that Golden's employer, [[Rush Limbaugh]], frequently used as a [[placeholder name]].)<ref>{{cite web |date=October 22, 2021 |title=It's Mr. Snerdley! James Golden On His New Book About Rush |url=https://www.clayandbuck.com/its-mr-snerdley-james-golden-talks-his-new-book-on-rush/ |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Clay & Buck |publisher=[[Premiere Networks]]}}</ref>

Detroit rapper [[Boldy James]] named his 2021 album with [[The Alchemist (musician)|The Alchemist]] after Jackson, as well as using his likeness for his 2021 album ''Super Tecmo Bo''.

===Video games===
Called "the greatest athlete in video game history",<ref name="The Greatest Athlete In Video Game History Returns Next Week">{{cite web |last=Good |first=Owen |date=July 3, 2013 |title=The Greatest Athlete In Video Game History Returns Next Week |url=https://kotaku.com/the-greatest-athlete-in-video-game-history-returns-next-646123270 |access-date=July 6, 2013 |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=}}</ref> Jackson's digital counterpart was nicknamed by fans "Tecmo Bo" since being featured in the 1989 video game ''[[Tecmo Bowl]]'' for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], where he is all but untacklable.<ref>{{cite web |last=Simmons |first=Bill |date=February 8, 2014 |title=Totally wired for Madden '03 |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/simmons/020814.html |access-date=March 21, 2014 |website=[[ESPN]] |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Azpiri |first=Jon |date=February 5, 2004 |title=Video game fame |url=http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2004/02/05/sports_video/index.html |access-date=March 21, 2014 |work=[[Salon.com]]}}</ref> Players would make the popular move of running Bo all the way back to his own one-yard line, then run 99 yards for a touchdown with defenders literally bouncing off him. Referencing his video game character, Jackson was featured in a 2016 advertisement for the [[Kia Sorento]], with Jackson driving the car into a virtual stadium (a second ad features Brian Bosworth with Jackson referencing the infamous ''Monday Night Football'' touchdown run).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/watch-kias-bo-jackson-tecmo-bowl-ad-is-marketing-perfection-on-multiple-levels/|title=WATCH: Kia's Bo Jackson 'Tecmo Bowl' ad is marketing perfection on multiple levels|last1=Brinson|first1=Will|date=September 10, 2016|website=[[CBS Sports]]|access-date=September 11, 2016}}</ref>

Jackson has his own video game for the original [[Game Boy]] portable gaming system, ''Bo Jackson's Hit and Run''. The game featured both baseball and football. Released around the same time was ''[[Bo Jackson Baseball]]'' for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] system and [[IBM]]-compatible computers. Jackson can be unlocked as a player in ''[[ESPN NFL Football]]''. Jackson made an appearance in the 2004 video game ''[[NFL Street 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Robinson |first=Jon |date=December 8, 2004 |title=NFL Street 2: The Legends Part 2 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/08/nfl-street-2-the-legends-part-2 |access-date=July 26, 2015 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> Jackson also made his first appearance in the modern Madden series, ''Madden 15'' and ''Madden 16''. He later returned in [[Madden NFL 20]] as part of the Madden Ultimate Team 10th Anniversary promo, before getting a community-made Golden Ticket card.

===Television===
Jackson was a character in ''[[ProStars]]'', an [[NBC]] [[Saturday morning cartoon]] show which also features [[Wayne Gretzky]] and [[Michael Jordan]] fighting crime and helping children. He made cameos in several television episodes.

==Life after sports==
[[File:File-Bo Jackson Football Autograph at Third US Army Sept 12, 2007.jpg|thumb|right|Jackson signed autographs for American soldiers in September 2007.]]
In 1995, Jackson completed his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in Family and Child Development at Auburn<ref name=":1" /> to fulfill the promise he made to his mother.<ref name="ESPN SportsCentury"/>

Through the 1990s, Jackson dabbled in acting, having made several television guest appearances first on ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'' in 1990 as well as ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'', ''[[Moesha]]'', and ''[[Married... with Children]]''. He later appeared in small roles in the films ''[[The Chamber (1996 film)|The Chamber]]'', ''[[The Pandora Project]]'' and ''[[Fakin' Da Funk]]''.<ref>{{IMDb name|id=0413313|name=Bo Jackson}}</ref>

Jackson served as the President of the HealthSouth Sports Medicine Council, part of [[Birmingham, Alabama]]-based [[HealthSouth Corporation]].<ref name=":1" />

The [[Chicago White Sox]] chose Jackson to throw the [[ceremonial first pitch]] before Game 2 of the [[2005 World Series]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Platt |first=Ben |date=October 23, 2005 |title=Jackson throws first pitch to Ventura |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051023&content_id=1257722&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122113946/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051023&content_id=1257722&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=[[Chicago White Sox]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> The White Sox went on to win that game on a ninth-inning walk-off home run, then swept the [[Houston Astros]] for their [[Curse of the Black Sox|first championship in 88 years]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Gonzales |first=Mark |date=October 26, 2005 |title=Extra! Extra! Sox win! |url=http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-051025soxgamer,1,7741610.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704144615/http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-051025soxgamer,1,7741610.story |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |access-date=July 19, 2024 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

In 2007, Jackson became part-owner and CEO of the new Bo Jackson Elite Sports Complex, an {{convert|88000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} multi-sport dome facility in [[Lockport, Illinois]]. His other investments include food company N'Genuity. In 2009, he reflected on his business career launched upon his sports success, "I was good for sports, but sports was great to Bo Jackson."<ref>{{cite web |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |date=April 15, 2009 |title=Bo Jackson is thriving outside the lines |url=http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/other/04/15/0415sptcol.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716133016/http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/other/04/15/0415sptcol.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=January 17, 2011 |website=[[Austin American-Statesman]]}}</ref>

In 2007, Nike released a set of [[Nike Dunk]] shoes honoring Bo Jackson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Rocky |date=November 12, 2007 |title=Nike "Bo Jackson" Dunk High Pack |url=https://eukicks.com/nike-bo-jackson-dunk-high-pack/ |access-date= |website=EUKicks |language=en-US}}</ref> The set featured three colorways based on previously released Nike shoes: the "Bo Knows" Trainer I, Trainer 91 and Medicine Ball Trainer III.<ref>{{cite web |last=Halfhill |first=Matt |date=November 12, 2007 |title=Bo Jackson Trainer Dunk Highs |url=http://www.nicekicks.com/bo-jackson-trainer-dunk-highs/ |access-date=March 21, 2014 |website=Nicekicks}}</ref>

On May 9, 2009, Jackson delivered the [[commencement speech]] at Auburn University's graduation ceremony, about the benefits of stepping out of one's [[comfort zone]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gribble |first=Andrew |date=March 10, 2009 |title=AU FOOTBALL: Bo talks life after football |url=http://www.oanow.com/oan/sports/college/article/au_football_bo_talks_life_after_football/71884 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512213953/http://www.oanow.com/oan/sports/college/article/au_football_bo_talks_life_after_football/71884/ |archive-date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=May 10, 2009 |newspaper=[[Opelika-Auburn News]] |publisher=[[Auburn University]]}}</ref>

In 2009, he joined the board of Burr Ridge Bank and Trust. In 2013, the bank was acquired by First Community Financial Bank, who retained him as a board member. In 2017, First Community was acquired by [[Busey Bank]], and Jackson left the board.

On July 12, 2010, Jackson threw the ceremonial first pitch before the 2010 Home Run Derby at [[Angel Stadium]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Mike |date=July 12, 2010 |title=David Ortiz Defeats Hanley Ramirez to Win 2010 Home Run Derby |url=https://nesn.com/2010/07/home-run-derby-live-blog-allstars-set-to-blast-off-in-city-of-angels/ |access-date=July 22, 2019 |website=[[NESN]] |language=en}}</ref> and participated in the celebrity softball game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woike |first=Dan |date=July 12, 2010 |title=Salmon stars in celebrity softball game |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2010/07/12/salmon-stars-in-celebrity-softball-game/ |access-date=July 22, 2019 |website=[[The Orange County Register]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2010, he was named a 2011 winner of the [[Silver Anniversary Awards (NCAA)|NCAA Silver Anniversary Award]], given annually to six former NCAA student-athletes for distinguished career accomplishment on the 25th anniversary of their college graduation.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/NCAA/Media+and+Events/Press+Room/News+Release+Archive/2010/Awards+and+Scholarships/20101201+Silver+Award+Rls |title=NCAA Names Silver Anniversary Winners |publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] |date=December 1, 2010 |access-date=April 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205115128/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Fncaa%2FNCAA%2FMedia+and+Events%2FPress+Room%2FNews+Release+Archive%2F2010%2FAwards+and+Scholarships%2F20101201+Silver+Award+Rls |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 22, 2014, Jackson rejoined the Chicago White Sox as an ambassador for the team – joining the ranks of [[Frank Thomas (designated hitter)|Frank Thomas]], [[Minnie Miñoso]], [[Carlton Fisk]], [[Ron Kittle]], [[Carlos May]], and [[Bill Melton]].<ref>{{cite web |title=White Sox welcome back Bo Jackson as Team Ambassador |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140122&content_id=66972626 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322030420/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140122&content_id=66972626 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |access-date=June 18, 2015 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]] |type=Press release}}</ref>

Jackson was inducted into the [[Baseball Reliquary]]'s [[Baseball Reliquary#Shrine of the Eternals|Shrine of the Eternals]] in 2016.<ref name="BRSOTE Inductees">{{Cite web |title=Shrine of the Eternals – Inductees |url=http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919092503/http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2019 |website=[[Baseball Reliquary]]}}</ref> Jackson's number 34 jerseys are still sold by the Las Vegas Raiders.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bo Jackson Las Vegas Raiders Jerseys |url=https://www.nflshop.com/?query=bo%20jackson&_ref=p-HP:m-TYPEAHEAD:i-r-0c-0:po-0&tarol=tag%3Aa-801%3Bhint%3At-3443 |access-date=May 13, 2016 |website=[[Fanatics, Inc.|NFL Shop]]}}</ref>

Working with his brand Promise Nutraceuticals, Jackson announced a line of [[CBD Oil|CBD]] products called Hero Brand CBD in November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bo Jackson, Promise Nutraceuticals Launch Hero Brand CBD |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/bo-jackson-promise-nutraceuticals-launch-hero-brand-cbd-2021-11-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117194028/https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/bo-jackson-promise-nutraceuticals-launch-hero-brand-cbd-2021-11-17 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |website=[[MarketWatch]] |language=EN-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Jackson is married to Linda, a [[rehabilitation counseling|rehabilitation counselor]], and has three children.<ref name="Bob Nightengale">{{cite news |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |date=July 12, 2010 |title=Bo Jackson reflects on past life 21 years after his All-Star blast |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/allstar/2010-07-11-bo-jackson-all-star-game-bo-knows_N.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712170822/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/allstar/2010-07-11-bo-jackson-all-star-game-bo-knows_N.htm |archive-date=July 12, 2010 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Jackson and his family live in [[Burr Ridge, Illinois]].

In a 2017 interview with ''[[USA Today]]'', Jackson said he never would have played football if he had known the health risks associated with it. "I wish I had known about all of those head injuries, but no one knew that. And the people that did know that, they wouldn't tell anybody," he said. "The game has gotten so violent, so rough. We're so much more educated on this CTE stuff ([[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]), there's no way I would ever allow my kids to play football today."<ref>{{cite news |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |date=January 12, 2017 |title=Bo Jackson's startling hindsight: 'I would have never played football' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2017/01/12/bo-jackson-football-cte-mlb/96492338/ |access-date=January 13, 2017 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |publisher=[[Gannett]]}}</ref>

Jackson is known to frequently [[Illeism|refer to himself in the third person]], a habit he has had since his childhood due to his severe [[stutter]] which made it difficult for him to say "I".<ref>{{cite web |last=Weinreb |first=Michael |title=Bo knows best |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=bojackson |access-date=April 16, 2020 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

Jackson's great-nephew, [[Shedrick Jackson]], plays for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shedrick Jackson |url=https://www.bengals.com/team/players-roster/shedrick-jackson/ |website=[[Cincinnati Bengals]]}}</ref>

==Charity==
In an effort to help his native state of Alabama, Jackson began a fundraiser known as "Bo Bikes Bama". The event began after a series of tornadoes devastated Alabama on April 27, 2011. The tornadoes claimed hundreds of lives and left many Alabama residents without power. The bike tour lasted five days where Jackson visited towns that had been demolished by the series of tornadoes. Bo was accompanied on this tour by celebrities such as [[Scottie Pippen]], [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], [[Lance Armstrong]], and [[Brett Favre]]. The five-day gran fondo was a one-time event, but has become an annual<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bobikesbama.com/the-ride/ride-details/|title=Ride Details|website=Bo Bikes Bama|access-date=July 15, 2018|language=en}}</ref> maximum single-day gran fondo lasting approximately 62 miles. Today, the "Bo Bikes Bama" campaign has raised over $1.1 million for the Alabama Governor's Emergency Relief Fund.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baer |first=Rebecca Angel |date=June 26, 2013 |title=Bo knows charity |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/06/26/us/iyw-bo-jackson/index.html |access-date=February 28, 2019 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bobikesbama.com/the-story/bos-story/ |title=Bo's Story |work=Bo Bikes Bama |date=April 27, 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>

In 2022, Jackson donated $170,000 to pay for the funeral expenses for the victims' families following the [[Robb Elementary School shooting|massacre of 19 children and two adults]] in [[Uvalde, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Vertuno |first=Jim |date=July 21, 2022 |title=Touched by Uvalde, Bo Jackson donated to pay for funerals |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-shootings-texas-a480febf50ac834b715d20e27018c4ab |access-date=July 22, 2022 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball|American football}}
*[[List of multi-sport athletes]]
* [[List of athletes who played in Major League Baseball and the National Football League]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Gutman, Bill, ''Bo Jackson'', 1991, Simon Spotlight Entertainment
*[[Ellen Emerson White|White, Ellen Emerson]], ''Bo Jackson: Playing the Games'', 1990

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{College Football HoF|2042}}
* {{Heisman|bo-jackson}}
* {{Baseballstats|mlb=116446|espn=1744|br=j/jacksbo01|fangraphs=1006290|brm=jackso002vin|retro=J/Pjackb001}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=bo-jackson |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=J/JackBo00 |rotoworld= }}
* {{IMDb name|nm0413313}}
* {{sabrbio|32056fe8}}

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