Bo Jackson, an iconic figure in both the NFL and MLB, recently opened up about a pivotal decision that shaped his legendary career. Known for his extraordinary athletic prowess, Jackson remains one of the greatest "What Ifs" in NFL history, largely due to a hip injury in 1991 that cut short his football journey. Yet, another intriguing chapter in his story is his refusal to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite being their No. 1 overall draft pick in 1986.
Jackson shared this story on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast, shedding light on why he turned down a lucrative contract from the Buccaneers. It all began when Hugh Culverhouse, the team's owner at the time, flew Jackson on a private jet to visit the team.
This visit, which took place during Jackson's senior baseball season at Auburn, was not sanctioned by the NCAA and SEC. Their rules prohibited athletes from being professionals in one sport while maintaining amateur status in another.
As a result, Jackson was declared ineligible for his senior baseball season. Feeling betrayed by Culverhouse, Jackson refused to play for Tampa Bay, despite the team offering him a contract exceeding $7 million.
"A man's integrity is worth everything," Jackson emphasized. "And if you can't have that, then I don't want to associate with you, period."
Jackson's resolve was unshakeable. He couldn't see himself playing for an organization that, in his eyes, had lied and sabotaged his beliefs.
He recalled telling Culverhouse, "You screwed me out of my senior year in baseball. I'm going to screw you out of your first-round pick."
True to his word, Jackson did not sign with the Buccaneers. Instead, he inked a three-year deal with MLB's Kansas City Royals for $1.07 million.
For Jackson, this decision transcended money; it was about principle. He refused to align with a team he felt had disrespected him.
Eventually, Tampa Bay relinquished their draft rights to Jackson before the 1987 draft. This allowed him to be selected again, this time by the Los Angeles Raiders, who embraced his dual-sport ambitions.
Jackson's NFL career spanned four seasons with the Raiders, where he amassed 2,782 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns over 38 games. In MLB, he played eight seasons with the Royals, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels, achieving a .250 batting average, .309 on-base percentage, and .474 slugging percentage, along with 141 home runs and 415 RBIs.
Bo Jackson's steadfast adherence to his values paid off, even if his athletic career was eventually curtailed by injury. By 1992, he had left football, and by 1995, he had stepped away from baseball. Yet, he left an indelible mark on both sports, doing it on his own terms.