Yet his trio of games may not have been even possible without Madden 22 coins the virtual stardom attained by him during 1989's Tecmo Bowl, the first console game to be granted an authorization through the NFL to show players' name, image and likeness. Today, Jackson in Tecmo Bowl and 1991's Tecmo Super Bowl is considered to be among the best video game avatars. He's also Michael Vick from Madden NFL 2004.
Madden was released for the first time in the form of a PC in 1988 during Jackson's second season in the NFL. However, due to licensing issues as well as a hip injury that occurred during the 1990 NFL season, which forced his early retirement from football. Jackson never played Madden in the course of his career. The year 2014 was the first time Jackson was able to make his Madden debut as a special edition gamer as part of The Ultimate Team game mode.
In a press release on Wednesday afternoon, EA Sports announced that not only will Jackson be back in the game to play for the first time in a while following Madden NFL 15 however, he'll also receive the honor of being an official Madden cover athlete. More than 35 years after his NFL career began in 1987, Jackson is set to grace the cover featuring a digital version of Madden NFL 22. Beginning on Friday, players are once more allowed to play the game virtually. EA Sports also teamed up with Nike to revive the company's iconic Bo Knows ad campaign by adding a digitally rendered model of his signature shoe, which is the Nike Air Bo Turf and incorporating it into the game.
Jackson has become the seventh running back designated as a Madden cover athlete. This follows Eddie George (Madden 2001), Marshall Faulk (Madden 2003), Shaun Alexander (Madden 2007), Peyton Hillis (Madden 12), Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders (both Madden 25).
In the days before the cover reveal, The Undefeated's Aaron Dodson caught up with Jackson to talk about Jackson's Tecmo Bowl days, how Bo Knows came to life and his Madden return and more.
This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
What does it mean to you that you are finally an athlete who covers the sport, 35 years after the start of your career?
The idea has been in development off and on for many years. The timing had to be perfect for my brand. The teaming up with the Madden team to work things out make sure that all the dots are crossed, make sure that all the t's were crossed -- once we got that done, the rest was just going for it. I knew that somewhere in my history I had done something right to be looked at as one of the greatest athletes from over thirty years ago. Madden continues to believe in me to be able to do something similar to this.
Your video game legacy dates back to 1989 when cheap Madden nfl 22 coins you were the star for the Tecmo Bowl. What was it like to see yourself in the past?