It’s been more than three decades since Bo Jackson last laced up a pair of football cleats. And yet his legend continues to grow.
That’s because as great as he was on the field, he is also great off of it.
Case in point is the revelation that last May, following the horrific mass shooting at a school in Uvalde Texas, Jackson stepped up to donate $170,000 to cover funeral costs for the 19 children and two adult victims.
At the time, Jackson’s donation was made anonymously, which is why the details of it are just now coming out.
If you’re wondering what connection Jackson — an Alabama native — has to this community, it’s almost none.
“Uvalde is a town that sticks in your mind. Just the name,” Jackson told ESPN. “I don’t know a soul there. It just touched me.”
Jackson — a father of three — was clearly affected deeply by this tragedy. As he expressed in a tweet after the shooting.
America…let’s please stop all the nonsense. Please pray for all victims. If you hear something, say something. We aren’t supposed to bury our children. I’m praying for all of the families around the country who have lost loved ones to senseless shootings. This cannot continue.
— Bo Jackson (@BoJackson) May 25, 2022
To an active NFL player or team, $170K is probably not a lot of money. But to most everyone else — even Jackson — it’s a significant amount.
“I know every family there probably works their butts off just to do what they do,” Jackson continued. “The last thing they needed was to shell out thousands of dollars for something that never should have happened.”
Bo was inspirational as a two-sport star in his playing days. And continues to be an inspiration to this day for his efforts.