Bo chose baseball—turning down a five-year, $7.6 million offer by the Bucs to sign with the defending world champion Kansas City Royals. The Royals, who drafted Bo in the fourth round of the 1986 amateur draft, offered Bo a three-year deal worth $1.066 million.
Many questioned Bo for turning down the largest contract given to a rookie in NFL history, but Bo's decision was simple. He said, “My first love is baseball, and it has always been a dream of mine to be a major-league player.”
Bo spent just 53 games in the minor leagues in 1986 before debuting on Sep. 2, 1986. In his first at-bat in the major leagues, he hit an infield single against future Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton.
Bo's name reappeared in the 1987 NFL Draft because he did not sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the year before. The Los Angeles Raiders selected Jackson in the seventh round of the draft with the 183rd overall pick.
Owner Al Davis supported Bo's decision to play football and baseball and convinced Jackson to sign by offering him a four-year contract with a full-time starting running back's salary and the understanding that Bo would only play part-time because of the conclusion of the baseball season.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals gave Bo lots of playing time in the 1987 season. Jackson played in 116 games—clubbing 22 home runs and driving in 53 runs. He displayed his versatility and speed by also stealing 10 bases and recording nine outfield assists. However, he batted only .235 and ranked fourth in the American League with 158 strikeouts.
Following the end of the baseball season, Bo broke out his shoulder pads and joined the Los Angeles Raiders. He played in seven games that season—five of them as a starting running back.
He rushed for 554 yards and four touchdowns on just 81 carries for a ridiculous 6.8 yards per carry. He also caught 16 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
The signature game of Bo Jackson's career as a professional football player occurred on Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks—29 days after his NFL debut. Seahawks' linebacker Brian Bosworth, who had just signed the largest contract by a rookie in NFL history in April of 1987, insulted Bo and promised to contain Jackson during the game.
Rule No. 2: Do not insult Bo Jackson.
Bo Jackson rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries. He also caught a touchdown pass while providing the football world with two of the most memorable runs of all time—a two-yard touchdown run in which he literally ran through Bosworth at the goal line and a 91-yard sprint untouched down the sideline in which he ran past the end zone and into the tunnel leading to the locker room.
His 221 yards rushing is still a Monday Night Football record.
Bo had two months following the season to rest before it was time to report for spring training. This would be his routine for the next three seasons. In between, there were highlights...many highlights.
In the 1988 baseball season, Jackson smacked 25 home runs, drove in 68 runs, and stole 27 bases. His combination of power and speed ranked him third in the American League.
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