NFL, MLB Legend Bo Jackson Gives Up $21M Judgment Awarded in Extortion Case
January 15, 2025
Former MLB All-Star and NFL Pro Bowler Bo Jackson is giving up his $21 million judgment in an extortion case involving his niece and nephew.
Per Rosie Manins of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jackson agreed to settle his civil extortion case against Thomas Lee Anderson and Erica M. Anderson, also known as Erica Anderson Ross.
In a court filing on Tuesday (h/t ESPN.com), Jackson and the Andersons reached a private agreement to resolve the dispute after two mediation sessions.
Jackson originally won the $21 million judgment in February 2024 after he said in a lawsuit that Thomas and Erica were attempting to extort him with threatening messages and posts on social media, public allegations that painted him in a negative light and public disclosure of private information with the goal of causing emotional distress.
In addition to the financial judgment, Thomas and Erica were ordered to stay at least 500 yards away from Jackson and banned from any type of direct or indirect contact with him.
ESPN's report noted Cobb County Superior Court Judge Jason D. Marbutt issued an order on Wednesday vacating his February ruling at the request of Jackson and the Andersons.
Jackson is one of the best two-sport athletes in history. He won SEC Player of the Year and the Heisman Trophy at Auburn in 1985 and then had a four-year NFL career with the Los Angeles Raiders from 1987 to '90 before suffering a dislocated hip in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 1991.
Along with his football career, Jackson had an eight-year MLB career from 1986 to '94. He was named to the All-Star team and finished 10th in AL MVP voting in 1989 while playing for the Kansas City Royals.
Jackson finished his NFL career with 3,134 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in 38 games. He hit .250/.309/.474 with 141 homers in 694 MLB games with three different teams.
