Officially, this football season will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Bo Jackson’s Heisman Trophy-winning Auburn campaign in 1985.
Auburn announced that it will commemorate Jackson during the 2025 Iron Bowl matchup against Alabama in observance of that milestone. The Iron Bowl game will take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 29.
According to a statement from Auburn athletic director John Cohen, Bo Jackson has represented Auburn in a world-class way in his athletic, professional, and charitable activities ever since he moved to the Plains in 1982. In Auburn’s and the SEC’s legendary history, Bo’s 1985 season is regarded as one of the best. On the 40th anniversary of Bo’s Heisman Trophy season, we have the distinction of paying tribute to him.
The only other Heisman winner in the program’s history, after Pat Sullivan in 1971, was Jackson in 1985. The only Auburn player to win it since is Cam Newton, who took home the honor in 2010.
Jackson was a standout baseball and football player at Auburn from 1982 to 1986. Before Tre Mason broke it in 2013, his 1,786 yards in 1985 set an Auburn single-season record. He is the football program’s all-time best rusher. Jackson, on the other hand, gained 1,786 yards in 11 games, but Mason gained 1,816 yards in 14.
Jackson’s stellar collegiate career opened doors for him in the NFL and Major League Baseball. Before a hip injury ended his professional football career, he spent four seasons with the Oakland Raiders.
During his eight-year MLB career, Jackson played for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals. He won the American League Comeback Player of the Year award in 1993 and the MVP award in the 1989 MLB All-Star Game during that time.
For AL.com, Peter Rauterkus writes about Auburn athletics. You may email him at [email protected] or follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus.
