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But his string of games wouldn't be even possible without the virtual stardom he garnered in 1989's Tecmo Bowl, the Madden nfl 22 coins first console game that earned an authorization through the NFL to include players' name, picture and likeness. In the present, Jackson in Tecmo Bowl and 1991's Tecmo Super Bowl is considered one of the greatest video game avatars. He's also Michael Vick from Madden NFL 2004.

Madden was released for the first time for PC in 1988 during Jackson's sophomore season in the NFL. But due to licensing issues and a hip injury during his 1990 NFL season, which forced him to take an premature retirement from football, Jackson did not appear in Madden during his playing years. In 2014, Jackson played his Madden debut with the special-edition player as part of The Ultimate Team game mode.

On Wednesday, EA Sports announced that not only will Jackson return to the field as he hasn't played ever since Madden NFL 15 and Jackson will also get the distinction of becoming an official Madden cover player. In the next 35 years, nearly 35 years since his NFL career began in 1987, Jackson is set to grace the cover featuring a digital version of Madden NFL 22. And beginning Friday, gamers will once again be in a position to play alongside him in virtual reality. EA Sports also teamed up with Nike to re-create the brand's famous Bo Knows ad campaign by adding a digitally rendered model of his signature footwear that is, his Nike Air Bo Turf to the gaming.

Jackson will be the seven running backs to have been designated as a Madden cover-athlete, following Eddie George (Madden 2001), Marshall Faulk (Madden 2003), Shaun Alexander (Madden 2007), Peyton Hillis (Madden 12), Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders (both Madden 25).

Before the cover unveiling, The Undefeated's Aaron Dodson caught up with Jackson to talk about Jackson's Tecmo Bowl days, how Bo Knows came to life in his Madden return and more.

It has been edited for clarity and to length.

What is it like for you to finally be a cover player for the game, 35 years after your career started?

The idea was in the planning intermittently for several years. The time had to be the right one for my brand. In collaboration with the Madden people to work things out check all the i's and cross all the t's -- once we got that done, everything else was just about going for it. I knew that somewhere in my history I'd done the right thing to cheap Madden 22 coins continue to be looked at as one of the iconic athletes of more than thirty years ago. Madden believes in me to make a decision like this.