Is Bo Jackson Related to George Pickens?

By Jason Bolton July 22, 2024 05:43

Photo by AP Photo/Darron Cummings

The narratives of athletes like Bo Jackson and George Pickens unravel tales of extraordinary prowess and achievement. But beyond their feats on the field, an intriguing aspect of their lives draws a parallel that is more personal than professional - a bloodline that ties them together. This familial connection brings a new layer of fascination to their already impressive careers. Although they may have worked at different times, this extraordinary fact remains the same: these two exceptional people are blood-related.

The Rise of Bo Jackson

Vincent Edward Jackson, a.k.a. Bo Jackson, is arguably the most alliteratively nicknamed two-sport athlete to ever exist. Born in 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama, Jackson showed early promise as an athlete. He dominated football and baseball, receiving a scholarship to Auburn University, where he would go on to etch his name into collegiate sports activities lore.

During his college days at Auburn, Jackson was a gridiron giant. He rumbled for 4,303 yards and found the end zone 45 times. His efforts led him to be awarded the 1985 Heisman Trophy, and he became recognized as one of his era's top college football players.

He was so popular that he even managed to find his way onto a baseball field, getting drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1986. He later played with the Royals, California Angels, and Chicago White Sox and was an All-Star selection in 1989.

George Pickens Has Arrived

George Pickens, born in 2001, followed a similar path to athletic greatness. Pickens played his high school ball at Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland.

Pickens landed at the University of Georgia, where he became an instantaneous star. A season ago, in his first year out, he topped the team in receptions, receiving yards, and TDs. Even with injuries during his next two seasons, Pickens still impressed. In 2022, he was the Pittsburgh Steelers' second-round draft pick.

The Familial Connection

It's familial, not coincidental, and the connection between Bo Jackson and George Pickens is generational. Bo Jackson is, in fact, George Pickens's great-uncle.

This new revelation gives us a deeper insight into the similarities between the two athletes. Both come from Alabama, but neither has a strong background in the state and its sporting culture. The fact that Pickens is the great nephew of legendary Bo Jackson only seems to indicate that there are some genes in him as well that scream playmaker and competitor.

Implications and Significance

Bo Jackson's relationship with George Pickens is significant news that reverberates beyond the sports community. Now set to start his professional career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickens can rely on more wisdom and insight from a guy who once strolled through similar shoes as a multi-sport megastar.

As Pickens continues to forge his path in the NFL, he does so with the legacy of his great-uncle Bo Jackson as a guiding light, demonstrating that the roots of athletic greatness can indeed run deep within a family.