Bo Jackson reveals he joined MLB to get revenge on disrespectful Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jackson accuses Tampa of dishonesty during draft saga

Bo Jackson pointed to a private jet visit arranged by the Buccaneers that resulted in him losing his senior baseball eligibility at Auburn.

He said he was assured the trip complied with NCAA rules, only to later discover it did not. Jackson stated the episode solidified his refusal to sign with the franchise.

“What Tampa did was underhanded. They lied to me. How can I play for you when the first thing you did was lie to me and sabotage me? You screwed me over. You lied, and you sabotaged what I believe in.”

“You screwed me out of my senior year in baseball. I’m going to screw you out of a first-round draft pick. Draft me and find out. Watch me.”

Baseball offered alternative after NFL impasse

Jackson explained that pursuing professional baseball was directly tied to his decision not to play for Tampa Bay.

He subsequently signed with the Kansas City Royals and advanced to the major leagues within a year, surprising many who doubted he would return to football.

“I played baseball for one reason: because I wasn’t going to Tampa.”

The standoff ultimately led to him later joining the Los Angeles Raiders while continuing his MLB career.

Throughout the ordeal, Jackson framed the choice as a matter of character. “A man’s integrity is worth everything. If you can’t have that, I don’t want to associate with you. Period.”

The episode remains one of the most notable draft disputes in NFL history and helped shape Jackson’s path as a rare two-sport professional athlete.