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Bo Jackson Facts & Worksheets

Bo Jackson a multi talented African American athlete in baseball, football, and track considered as one of the greatest all-around athletes in history.

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Bo Jackson a multi talented African American athlete in baseball, football, and track considered as one of the greatest all-around athletes in history. The first athlete to play professional baseball and football in the same year. He was annually awarded as the best collegiate football player in the United States where he was twice named a consensus All-American running back in 1883 and 1985. At age 28, he became a public figure worldwide in 80’s and 90’s resulting with several television commercials for Nike with his popular “Bo Knows” the sport in question and several endorsements from different companies.

See the fact file below for more information on Bo Jackson or alternatively, you can download our 29-page Bo Jackson worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Early Life: Birth and Early childhood

  • Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson a Track, Baseball and Football Superstar player born on November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama. He was the eight of the ten children of Florence Bond and A.D. Adams. A family of brothers who love Sports.
  • Jackson had behavioral problems after his father left them. His mother was unable to support them with her job a s housekeeper.
  • He was a troublemaker, stubborn and hard headed. He was breaking windows,committed stealing, beating up kids and hired kids to beat up other kids for him.
  • Jackson, described by his brother a wild and strong as a wild boar nicknamed him “Bo” from the word Wild Boar.
  • Bo was the fastest and strongest kid in his school the McAdory High School in McCalla, Jefferson County so events like 1500 meters and pole vault attracted him wherein he won pole vault for the State of Alabama.
  • At age 13, Bo had take on jobs in order to payback the loss of the Baptist Minister’s pigs which Bo had killed by throwing rocks on them. As a result of being a troublemaker his mother send him to reform school to change his ways.
  • Jackson did not want to be sent away, rather than getting into trouble he focused himself into sports.

College and Adult life

  • In 1982, New York Yankees offered him a contract for the 1982 Major League Baseball draft. But, he turns it down to go to college in Auburn University as Auburn Scholar in football in which he joined the Auburn Tiger football team with an official jersey number #29.
  • At Auburn he stand out in track, baseball and football. And earned the following notable achievements:
    • Three-Time-All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Two-Time-All American Selection.
    • Set record to rush for 4,303 yards – the 4th Best Performance in SEC history.
    • Runs for 1213 yards which was the 2nd best single-season average in SEC history.
    • Leading his team to victories – winning the 1983 Sugar Bowl against Michigan and at the 1984 Liberty Bowl after defeating Arkansas he earned the Football Most Valuable Player in both the Sugar and Liberty Bowls.
    • Once again, he averaged 6.4 yards per rush and was the best single-season average in SEC history.
    • Winning over University of Iowa team the Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Chuck Long, after rushing for 1,786 yards and 17 touchdowns Bo was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1985.
    • Auburn’s second all-time leading scorer with 45 touchdowns in 1985.
    • With constant excellent performance and victories as a sprinter, hurdler, jumper, thrower and decathlete, he qualified for the US NCAA nationals
  • In 1987 he tied the knot with Linda Jackson a clinical psychologist. The couple had three children namely Garrett, Nicholas and Morgan.

Professional Sports Career

  • He was selected the first overall pick of the 1986 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( Professional American Football franchised).
  • In the same year, he signed his first career contract with the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball for the world series champions, wearing a Jersey number #34.
  • He spent 53 games with the Memphis Chicks. He managed to hit 22 home runs and 10 stolen bases as a left fielder.
  • In 1987 he signed contract with L.A. Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He made a record breaking 221-yard rush in which his team won against Seattle Seahawks. He ran for Riders for 2,782 yards on 515 carries with 16 touchdowns.
  • With a monstrous 448 foot and for his play for both on offense and defense in his baseball team against San Francisco Giants he was named the American League All Star Game MVP in 1989.
  • In that same year, Royals against Seattle Mariners would win the game 5-3 in 13 innings, but Jackson had a remarkable throw that had traveled some 300 feet in the air air to Royals catcher Bob Boone .
  • With 171 strikeouts, this tied him for 10th most strikeouts in a season and 30 home run season 1 and a 100 RBI Seasons: 1 in 1989.
  • In 1990 He established a career highs with the most consecutive at-bat four 20 home runs Seasons: 4 (1987 – 1990) and 105 runs batted in.
  • Bo earned Pro Bowl honours over 10 games with 5 touchdowns and rushed for 698 yards earning him the first athlete to make all-star teams in two major North American sport.
  • Bo suffered hip injury while playing for the Raiders play-off games against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 13, 1991.
  • Failure to respond well to his physical rehabilitation the Raiders released him on March 18, 1991.
  • Bo joined Chicago White Sox as a free agent on April 3, 1991. Wearing a jersey number #8. Jackson, played with two seasons appearing in 23 games.
  • In 1992 Bo undergoes hip replacement surgery and missed the entire football season.
  • For exemplifying the spirit and integrity of “the greatest athlete of all time.” he was awarded Jim Thorpe Legacy Award 1992.
  • Bo dedicating his comeback to his late mother who died in cancer in the same year – he signed contract to White Sox on April 3, 1993. And, on his first play he incredibly hit on his first swing. As a result Nike released a full page ad the “Bo Knew”.
  • Bo plays for White Sox on American League West Championship. For 1st place finished with a record of 94-68 .
  • However, In six game White Sox lost against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993.
  • During this time, he was awarded with AL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Overall for that season he had hit 16 home runs and 45 RBIs.
  • In 1994 he signed a contract with California Angels as a free agent. Wearing a jersey number #22. Unfortunately, Bo retires following the 1994 season.
  • In 1995 Jackson fulfilled his promise to his mother and graduated in BS in Family and Child Development in Auburn University.
  • Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Jackson a Celebrity and a Businessman

  • Jackson a popular public figure had a series of TV commercial series for Nike the “Bo Knows” the sport in question an advertising campaign featuring Bo playing baseball with fellow baseball player Kirk Gibson the “Bo knows Baseball”.The “Bo knows football” with quarterback Jim Everett. Following with another series playing different sports with Michael Jordan and with some among famous sports superstar.
  • Bo appeared in several TV guestings on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “Lois & Clark”, “Married with Children” and ‘Naked Babies’.
  • Bo also appeared in small roles in the movie The Chamber and Fakin’ Da Funk.
  • Bo became the President of the HealthSouth Sports Medicine Council, Birmingham. And, a “Go For It” Roadshow Healthsouth spokesman.
  • Jackson together with John Cangelosi formed an 88,000 square miles multi-sport dome facility namely Bo Jackson Sports Complex in Lockport, Illinois.
  • Bo invested in a food company the N’Genuity and continued on investing in some areas of business as well.
  • His Bo Jackson Enterprise is a foundation known as “Give me a Chance Foundation” had an annual charity event the Bo Jackson Celebrity Charity Golf Classic and the Bo Bikes Bama.
  • Ranked #8 on ESPN’s Top 25 Players In College Football History list 2007
  • Bo became an Ambassador to the team for Chicago White Fox on Jan. 22, 2014.
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Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Bo Jackson across 29 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Bo Jackson worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Bo Jackson who is a multi talented African American athlete in baseball, football, and track considered as one of the greatest all-around athletes in history. The first athlete to play professional baseball and football in the same year. He was annually awarded as the best collegiate football player in the United States where he was twice named a consensus All-American running back in 1883 and 1985. At age 28, he became a public figure worldwide in 80’s and 90’s resulting with several television commercials for Nike with his popular “Bo Knows” the sport in question and several endorsements from different companies.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Bo Jackson Facts
  • Jackson Personal Life
  • Bo as a Kid
  • Bo on Auburn University
  • Sports Career Timeline
  • Notable Awards Timeline
  • A Celebrity and Life After Sports
  • Words Search
  • What’s the Difference
  • Bo Famous Quotes

 

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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