Bo Jackson likely wouldn't have played football if he knew about concussions

Bo Jackson was a rare athlete with the ability to play two sports - football and baseball.

He spent four seasons in the NFL from 1987-1990, before playing only baseball for the rest of his professional sports career, retiring as a 32-year-old in 1994.

But Jackson says had he known the consequences of head injuries, he may never have pursued a football career at all.

"I am one of the fortunate ones.," Jackson told Peter King of MMQB.com. "I don’t think anyone who has ever strapped on the helmet and shoulder pads hasn’t had their bell rung. I had my bell rung once. It’s not anything to play with, now I know that.

"I went and watched the movie (Concussion) and there were people I knew, that I was friends with, that were gone that I didn’t even know they were gone. If I had young kids, to be honest, and if they came and said, 'Dad, I want to play football.' I’d smack them in the mouth. No. No. Because if I'd have known back then what I know now, to be honest with you, I probably would have taken a different path. I probably just would have played baseball."

Jackson also detailed the sole concussion of his football career.

"I had just run over somebody, and I was in the process of stepping on them and going down the field," said Jackson. "Someone came from behind me and hit me right behind the ear. It was like someone short-circuited me. The ball came out and I fell on the ball, so I got it back. Something in my brain was telling me to get up, and don’t let these guys see that you are hurt.

"I got up and walked to the sideline. I got through the crowd and went to sit on the bench, and right when my butt hit the bench, someone grabbed my arm and said, 'You’re on the wrong side, motherf---er.' So yes, I got my bell rung and it’s true. When you get your bell rung, you don’t hear nothing but a (bing). You got 80,000 people screaming, but all you hear is (beeeeeeeeep)."