On June 21, 1986, Bo Jackson, the former Auburn running back who won the Heisman Trophy last season and was the No. 1 pick in the National Football League draft, signed with the Kansas City Royals today, reportedly shunning a $7 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a contract worth less than a million.
”I went with what is in my heart,” Jackson said as he announced his decision and became the first top pick since 1979 who failed to sign with the N.F.L. ”Once I signed on the dotted line, I knew I would never play football again.”
The Heisman Trophy winner will also play in the NFL as a running back with the LA Raiders.
Jackson was picked by the Royals in the fourth round of baseball’s college and high school draft earlier this month, with many teams passing him up on the supposition he would sign a pro football contract.
”My strengths are my speed and arm,” Jackson said. ”I need to work on hitting the curveball. That’s all I need to work on.” Jackson will turn out to be a dynamic player and he always had issues with the curve and sadly his career was halted by a Football injury to his hip.
