What if Bo Jackson stayed healthy
Bo Jackson was one of the most electrifying figures in all of sports, making the Silver and Black No. 34 jersey one of the most recognizable in the world. Unfortunately, Bo Jackson’s career with the team did not last long, as a devastating hip injury derailed what could have been a legendary career.
From 1987-1990, Bo was a big part of bringing the Raiders back to the playoffs, proving to be one of the best running backs in the NFL, and dominating the NFL landscape. Jackson had the potential to be one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, but Raider Nation, along with the rest of the world, will never know just how good he could have been, and for how long.
In Jackson’s last season with the Raiders, the team reached the AFC Championship game, but it was in the Divisional Round where his career came to an end. In a seemingly routine play, Jackson dislocated his hip against the Cincinnati Bengals, and developed necrosis of the hip joint.
That spelled the end of his NFL career, and while the Raiders won the game, and advanced to the AFC title game, the team was not he same without Bo in the backfield. The Raiders lost the AFC Championship Game to the Buffalo Bills 51-3, and would not return to that stage for another ten years.
We still have the highlights, but unfortunately, we will never know how good Bo Jackson and the Raiders could have been in the 90’s.