Bo Jackson joins the lineup in Madden NFL 15

Bo Jackson, widely considered the greatest video game athlete of all time thanks to his iconic appearances in the Tecmo Bowl franchise, has at last teamed up with EA Sports' Madden NFL series.

EA Sports announced today that Jackson will join Madden NFL 15 through the game's Ultimate Team mode, and that Jackson also will be featured with the free-to-play Madden NFL Mobile available for Android and iOS devices.

Jackson arrives in Madden Ultimate Team Dec. 22. Anyone logging on then will get "a unique Bo Jackson Item, with boosted stats, to use on their squad for a limited time." There will also be a Bo Jackson-themed solo challenge in the mode. Live Events will allow everyone to play with Jackson even if they don't get his card in Ultimate Team.

He appeared as a powerfully rated running back in NCAA Football 14's inaugural (and only) Ultimate Team last year.

Jackson, the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner, is frequently mentioned with the likes of Jim Thorpe, Muhammad Ali and Babe Ruth as the greatest American athlete of all time. A two-sport standout at Auburn University, Jackson excelled at baseball with the Kansas City Royals, entering the NFL two years after graduation to play pro football as a "hobby."

He is the only athlete to be named an all-star in two professional sports leagues in the United States. His career was cut short by a devastating hip injury in the 1990 NFL playoffs.