Nike brought back some of the 80’s nostalgia this year when they released a couple of colorways from the Bo Jackson shoes series. Bo Jackson is considered one of the greatest athletes in history, being the first to play baseball and football in the North American Major Leagues in the same year, being named an All Star in both of them. During 1986 to 1994 he played in the NFL for Los Angeles Riders and in MLB for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals.
In the late 1980s, Nike was pushing the boundaries of athletic footwear design, aiming to create products that catered to the evolving needs of athletes across various disciplines. Bo Jackson’s reputation as a cross-sport phenomenon aligned seamlessly with Nike’s ambitions to redefine athletic footwear. This alignment led to a partnership that would not only shape the trajectory of sports marketing but also revolutionize the concept of athletic endorsements. The Bo Jackson shoes series came only second to Michael Jordan’s deal with Nike that started around the same time.
While Bo Jackson does not have an official endorsement shoe from Nike he’s been heavily linked with the Nike Air Trainer SC which he promoted at the time during the iconic “Bo Knows’ ‘ campaign. It was a campaign that showcased his sporting abilities and versatility which aligned perfectly with the goal Nike was trying to reach with their new trainers. This campaign, combined with the innovative Nike Air Trainer SC shoes, became a beacon of cross-training excellence and a reflection of Bo Jackson’s larger-than-life persona.
The History of Bo Jackson Shoes
Decades after their release the Bo Jackson shoes series continues to be some of the most sought after on the market. This is despite the fact that their comfort level is outdated when compared to modern trainers. In the last three decades Nike retroed these models numerous times. Aside from these models the brand used the “Medicine Ball” colorway to come up with some memorable editions of the Nike Dunk High in 2007, Nike Air Trainer Max 360 in 2014 and the Nike Trainer Huarache in 2015 just to name a few. Given the popularity of the colorways and the models released in that era we can only expect more released every year.
