Bo Jackson is a retired professional athlete who played both football and baseball at a high level.
He was born on November 30, 1962, in Bessemer, Alabama.
Jackson attended Auburn University, where he played football and baseball.
In football, Jackson played as a running back and was known for his exceptional speed and power.
He was drafted by the NFL’s Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 and played for them until 1990. In baseball, Jackson played as an outfielder and was known for his strong arm and power hitting.
He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1986 and played for them until 1990.
Jackson’s career was cut short by a hip injury he sustained while playing football, but he is still widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in both football and baseball, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Jackson has also been involved in various business ventures and charitable causes.
He has worked as a spokesperson for Nike and has been involved in several charitable organizations, including the Bo Jackson Give Me A Chance Foundation, which helps underprivileged children.
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Bo Jackson Career
Bo Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, having excelled in both football and baseball at the highest levels.
He is particularly well-known for his impressive feats of strength, speed, and agility, as well as his unique ability to dominate in multiple sports.
Bo Jackson was born Vincent Edward Jackson on November 30, 1962, in Bessemer, Alabama. He grew up in a working-class family and was an all-around athlete in high school, playing football, baseball, and running track.
After graduating, he received scholarship offers from several major college football programs, ultimately choosing to attend Auburn University.
At Auburn, Bo Jackson quickly established himself as one of the most talented and explosive running backs in the country. In his three seasons with the Tigers, he rushed for 4,303 yards and 43 touchdowns, averaging an impressive 6.6 yards per carry.
He also won the 1985 Heisman Trophy, awarded to the best player in college football, and was named an All-American in both 1983 and 1985.
Despite his success on the football field, Bo Jackson also had a passion for baseball. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 1982 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft but chose to focus on football at Auburn.
However, after completing his college career, he decided to pursue both sports professionally.
In 1986, Bo Jackson was drafted first overall in the NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he opted to play baseball instead, signing with the Kansas City Royals.
He made his MLB debut on September 2, 1986, and went on to hit 22 home runs and steal 10 bases in just 103 games, earning him the 1986 American League Rookie of the Year Award.
Despite his success in baseball, Bo Jackson still had unfinished business in football. In 1987, he signed with the Los Angeles Raiders and made an immediate impact, rushing for 554 yards and five touchdowns in just seven games.
He followed that up with his best season in 1989, rushing for 950 yards and four touchdowns in just 11 games, and earning a spot in the Pro Bowl.
Unfortunately, Bo Jackson’s football career was cut short by a devastating hip injury he suffered during a playoff game in January 1991.
He underwent hip replacement surgery and attempted a comeback with the Raiders in 1993, but was unable to regain his previous form and retired from football later that year.
Bo Jackson continued to play baseball until 1994 when a players’ strike forced the cancellation of the rest of the season.
In his eight-year MLB career, he hit 141 home runs, stole 82 bases, and earned a reputation as one of the best outfielders in the game.
Despite his relatively short career in both sports, Bo Jackson’s legacy has endured.
He is remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time, known for his incredible speed, power, and athleticism, as well as his ability to excel in multiple sports.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
What is Bo Jackson’s Net Worth, Career Earnings, and Salary?
Bo Jackson has a net worth of $25 million.
Some consider Bo Jackson the greatest athlete in history. He was certainly the best athlete of his generation and was one of the most important celebrity product endorsers in history.
Bo and Michael Jordan took Nike to unbelievable heights in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
| Net Worth | $24 million |
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1962 |
| Place of Birth | Bessemer |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6ft |
| Profession | Baseball player, American football player, Businessperson, Actor, Athlete |
| Nationality | United States of America |
Career Earnings and Contracts
During his professional career, Bo earned $6.8 million in baseball salary and $6.1 million in football salary.
Combined that’s the same as around $20 million after adjusting for inflation.
More importantly, Bo earned tens of millions of dollars from endorsements, most notably from Nike and Gatorade.
In 1986 Bo was offered $100,000 per year from Nike if he just played baseball. They offered $1 million if he also played in the NFL.
At the peak of his playing career, Bo was operating under a 5-year $7.4 million contract with the Los Angeles Raiders and a one-year $2.4 million deal with the Kansas City Royals while earning $500,000 per year from Pepsi and AT&T (combined), $1 million from Nike and $1 million from Gatorade.
On a per-year basis in the early 1990s, Bo was earning $6 million from salary and endorsements. That’s the same as $11 million today after adjusting for inflation.
