When Bo Jackson won the 1985 Heisman Trophy in his senior season with the Auburn Tigers, it felt like a lock that he’d be drafted near the top of the 1986 NFL Draft.
That feeling came true when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected the running back first overall.
However, to the shock of the sports world, Jackson decided he wouldn’t play for the Buccaneers. He instead chose to enter his name in that year’s MLB Draft after a visit with Tampa caused the two-sport athlete to be ineligible for his senior season of baseball, something he accused the Bucs of orchestrating.
Jackson went on to be selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the 1986 MLB Draft and after less than 60 minor league games, was promoted to the big league roster.
On Wednesday, the Royals announced that Jackson would be inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame later this summer.
Bo is headed to the Hall!
Congratulations to Bo Jackson on his election to the Royals Hall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/Lp2Qn9G8Ek
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 13, 2024
Jackson went on to play in the NFL after all, spending 1987-90 with the Los Angeles Raiders while still being a member of the Royals, where he remained until 1990 before going on to play for the Chicago White Sox and California Angels.
In his five seasons with Kansas City, Jackson hit .250 with 109 home runs, but his impact of being a two-sport professional athlete who made no shortage of highlight reel plays will last far longer than his statistics.
