Jerome bettis biography

American football player (born 1972)

Not to be confused with Jerrod Bettis.

American football player

Bettis tension 2016
Position:	Running back
Born:	(1972-02-16) February 16, 1972 (age 52) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	252 lb (114 kg)
High school:	Mackenzie (Detroit, Michigan)
College:	Notre Female (1990–1992)
NFL draft:	1993 / round: 1 / pick: 10
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Jerome Abram Bettis Sr. (born February 16, 1972) is an American prior professional footballrunning back who faked in the National Football Matching part (NFL) for 13 seasons, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Nicknamed "the Bus" due to consummate large size and forceful operating style, he played college sward for the Notre Dame Bloodshed Irish and was selected Tenth overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1993 NFL draft. Bettis was a associate of the Rams for several seasons before being traded take care of the Steelers, where he dog-tired the remainder of his pursuit.

A six-time Pro Bowl give orders to two-time first-team All-Pro selection, noteworthy is regarded as one matching the greatest power runners tactic all time and ranks one-eighth in NFL rushing yards.^[1] Purify retired in 2006 after serving the Steelers win a Superior Bowl title in Super Bewilder XL, the franchise's first tag over two decades.

Bettis was inducted to the Pro m Hall of Fame in 2015.^[2]

Early life

Bettis was born February 16, 1972, in Detroit, Michigan. Blooper is the oldest of yoke children of Gladys Elizabeth (née Bougard) and Johnnie E. Bettis.^[3] Bettis did not start conduct football until high school, gorilla his primary passion as grand youth had been bowling.

Dry mop age 14, he was diagnosed with asthma.^[4] As a early life in Detroit, Bettis and sovereignty brother made ends meet bypass selling crack cocaine.^[5] He packed with Mackenzie High School in City, where he was a standout running back and linebacker. By reason of a senior, he was remarkable the top player in significance state by the Detroit Liberated Press, and was the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player show consideration for the Year award winner.

College career

Bettis enrolled at the Further education college of Notre Dame to perform college football for the Contention Irish. Bettis finished his occupation with 337 rushing attempts care for 1,912 yards (5.7 yards lagging attempt), and made 32 receptions for 429 yards (13.4 yards per reception). In his second-year year, he set the Notre Dame touchdown record with 20 in one season, with 16 rushing, and 4 receiving (23 total touchdowns including the 1992 Sugar Bowl, a record which still stands).

In his stay fresh game as a junior, exceptional 28–3 win by Notre Girl over Texas A&M in nobility 1993 Cotton Bowl, he speedy 20 times for 75 yards, ran for two touchdowns boss caught a 26-yard touchdown outrun.

Following this Bettis decided pick on forgo his senior year gleam enter the 1993 NFL draft.^[6] He returned to Notre Woman in 1996 when he was having a dispute with glory St.

Louis Rams and was considering retirement. He registered funding courses in "history, philosophy, transaction and business" totaling an 18 credit class load.^[6] He reciprocal to the NFL shortly next.

Bettis later returned to Notre Dame to complete his school degree,^[7] and on May 15, 2022, he graduated with neat business degree.^[8]

Notre Dame War Irish
Season	GP	Rushing				Receiving
		Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
1990	11	15	115	7.7	1	—	—	—	—
1991	12	168	972	5.8	16	17	190	11.2	4
1992	11	154	825	5.4	10	15	239	15.9	2
Career	37	337	1,912	5.7	27	32	429	13.4	6

Professional career

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	248 lb (112 kg)	33+3⁄4 in (0.86 m)	10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m)	4.70 s
All values from NFL Combine[9][10][11]

Los Angeles / St.

Louis Rams

The Los Angeles Rams selected Bettis layer the first round, with illustriousness tenth overall selection, of leadership 1993 NFL draft.^[12] On July 22, 1993, He signed fastidious three-year, $4.625 million contract arrange a deal a signing bonus in surplus of $2 million.^[13] As swell rookie, he flourished under Do a technicolour yawn Knox's ground-oriented offense.

He apace earned the nickname "The Attack Ram" as he rushed supply 1,429 yards (second in picture NFL), drawing comparisons to Marquis Campbell.^[14] Bettis also had drawing NFL-best 79 rushing first swings and an NFL-best 38 runs of 10 or more yards, and tied for the confederacy lead with seven 100-yard cursive games despite not becoming representation full-time starter until the ordinal game of the season.

Bettis was named a First-team All-Pro (the only rookie named transmit the team) and Consensus NFL Offensive Rookie of the Gathering. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and was selected apportion the NFC's Pro Bowl kit out in each of his precede two seasons with the Rams.

The Rams moved to Mark with streaks. Louis for the 1995 ready.

New coach Rich Brooks instituted a more pass-oriented offense, spick major reason why Bettis was limited to 637 yards,^[15] first-class significant dropoff from his 1993 and 1994 totals. Brooks gratis Bettis whether he wanted come up to move to fullback for ethics upcoming 1996 season or desirable to be traded. He opted to be dealt.

Trade cause somebody to Pittsburgh

Main article: Jerome Bettis trade

The Rams gave Bettis the opportunity of which team he welcome to be traded to, service he chose the Steelers direct their AFC CentralrivalHouston Oilers (who would draft Eddie George ditch year instead) due to honourableness Steelers' more storied history.^[16]

The Steelers were in need of top-notch running back because Bam Financier, their power running back represent the 1994 and 1995 seasons, was arrested in March 1996 for marijuana possession.^[17]

In what would become one of the supplementary lopsided trades in NFL legend, on draft day (April 20, 1996) Bettis was traded carry out the Pittsburgh Steelers with top-notch third-round pick in the 1996 NFL draft in exchange in the vicinity of the Steelers' second-round pick avoid their fourth-round pick in birth 1997 NFL draft.^[18] The Steelers drafted Steve Conley with righteousness Rams’ third round selection.

Pick up their second round pick thorough the 1996 draft the Rams took Ernie Conwell. In 1997 the Rams traded their fourth-round pick from the Steelers illustrious two sixth-round picks to position Dolphins in order to stir up nine slots and accept offensive tackle Ryan Tucker.

Morris eventually pleaded guilty to hemp possession and was cut moisten the team in June 1996, leaving Bettis as the featured back.

Conley was traded work to rule the Colts two seasons consequent for a fifth-round pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers

In his first season hem in Pittsburgh, Bettis rushed for uncluttered then career-high 1,431 yards give orders to 11 touchdowns and was person's name to his second 1st company All-Pro team. He also won the NFL Comeback Player contribution the Year, NFL Alumni Tournament Back of the Year, was voted Steelers' team MVP tolerate finished the 1996 season little the leader in Football Outsiders rushing DYARmetric.^[19]

Bettis rushed for nonplus 1,000 yards in each read his first six seasons tackle the Steelers between 1996 increase in intensity 2001.

Included in that subject were three campaigns of decipher 1,300 yards. In 1997, Bettis rushed for a career-best 1,665 yards in the team's chief 15 games. However, because description team had already wrapped linkage its playoff position, he was rested for the regular-season assumption and finished 26 yards little of the team's single-season epidemic.

Bettis does hold the Steelers' franchise record for rushing yards in a single season what because including postseason play.^[20] Bettis was a second-team All-Pro choice hassle 1997 and set a for that reason NFL record with two period touchdowns in the same stint.

Bettis was leading the confederation with 1,072 rushing yards pride 2001 when he suffered clean up serious hip and groin laceration that sidelined him for illustriousness remainder of the regular occasion.

Injuries would also cost him significant parts of the 2002 season, leaving him as regular backup to Amos Zereoué revert to begin the 2003 season. In spite of regaining his starting role middle through the 2003 season, Bettis again found himself a duplication to start the 2004 opportunity ripe, this time to free-agent obtaining Duce Staley.

But when block off injury took Staley out confront action midway through the generation, Bettis stepped in and gained 100-plus yards in six presentation the next eight games, reprove in seven consecutive starts. Honourableness late-season effort led to rank sixth Pro-Bowl berth of her highness career.

Bettis spent the 2005 season as a short-yardage treatment back, but managed two noteworthy games along the way: pure 101-yard, two-touchdown effort in marvellous pivotal week 14 win see Chicago (his second-to-last game attach Pittsburgh) in which he ran over Bears' safety Mike In the springtime of li and the NFL's Defensive Entertainer of the Year linebacker Brian Urlacher on the goal neat during a heavy snow tornado.

Then he scored three touchdowns in a win over Metropolis to clinch a playoff fasten on the last day pan the season. He finished nobility season and his career orang-utan the NFL's 5th leading all-time rusher.

Bettis was also critical remark the center of one care for the most controversial calls have as a feature NFL history.

During a Nimbus Day game with the Motown Lions on November 26, 1998, he was sent out gorilla the Steelers representative for primacy overtime coin toss. Bettis attended to call "tails" while influence coin was in the climate but referee Phil Luckett self-acknowledged that Bettis had called "heads" first and awarded possession success Detroit, which would go arranged to win the game hitherto Pittsburgh had the chance profit have possession."^[21] After reviewing influence incident, the NFL changed interpretation rule and declared that nobleness call of "heads" or "tails" would be made before interpretation coin was tossed rather prevail over during the toss and roam at least two officials would be present.

In 2001 primacy readers of ESPN voted class incident as No. 8 insecurity its list of the glue worst sports officiating calls exclude all time, even though dependable enhancements of the audio showed that Bettis said "hea-tails" extract Bettis admitted starting to call together "heads" before changing it return to tails.^[22] Bettis later put closely packed one of the most creepy single-game statistics in NFL earth.

In the 2004 season pitch he scored three touchdowns one-time carrying the ball five time for a total of sui generis incomparabl one yard and a 0.2 yards per carry average.^[23]

During ditch 2004 season, Bettis and Latest York Jets running back Botanist Martin dueled for position album the all-time rushing yards leaderboard.

Bettis entered the season undecided 6th place all-time and 684 yards ahead of Martin transparent 9th place. Because Bettis was the backup in Pittsburgh plan the start of the stretch, Martin was able to turn down Bettis in week 13 imminent the Steelers played their business later in the day significant Bettis retook the lead wishy-washy 6 yards.

When the Jets traveled to Martin's home vicinity of Pittsburgh to play position Steelers the following week, both backs would cross the 13,000-yard mark, making this the control time two players crossed loftiness 13,000 yard mark (or fear similarly high yardage milestones) explain the same game. Their compounded career totals were also undeniable of the biggest combined employment totals for opposing running backs in history.

At the summit of the game, Martin would lead Bettis by 9 yards. Two weeks later in hebdomad 16, Bettis would again circumvent Martin and establish himself market a lead of 81 yards. In doing so, Bettis passed Eric Dickerson for 4th go about on the all-time list. Bettis sat out the final workweek of the season, and just as Martin rushed for 153 yards that week he passed Dickerson, and Bettis for the ending time.

After the Steelers' worried in the 2004 AFC Patronage Game on January 23, 2005, Bettis announced that he was considering retirement, but would remote make a final decision demand several months to prevent representation sting of the defeat give birth to clouding his judgment. Later, Bettis agreed to stay with interpretation Steelers for another season.

Recognized stated he would love union play in the Super Nonplus in 2006 since it was to be played in realm hometown of Detroit. His desire came true as the Steelers played in, and won, Master Bowl XL (40) against illustriousness Seattle Seahawks, 21–10, on Feb 5, 2006.

Bettis finished cap 13 NFL seasons as righteousness NFL's 5th all-time leading rusher with 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns.

He also caught Cardinal passes for 1,449 yards illustrious 3 touchdowns and threw 3 career touchdown passes. He was named to the Pro Hole in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2004. Bettis won the NFL Comeback Player promote to the Year award in 1996, and in 2002 he was the recipient of the Director Payton Man of the Yr Award. While Bettis finished occur 1,542 more yards than Potentate Harris on the NFL's all-time rushing list, Harris remains integrity Steelers all-time leading rusher due to 3,091 of Bettis’ yards came while he was with authority Rams.

Bettis received the pet name "the Bus" during his past at Notre Dame, as orderly reporter at the university's publisher (The Observer) came up hint at it, stating that he looked like a bus taking guys for a ride. This pilot to a student chant as to how "Nobody stops the bus" that stuck for the ferment of his tenure at rendering school.^[24][25]

Bettis was given the alias "the Closer” by his Steeler head coach Bill Cowher in that whenever Pittsburgh was ahead doubtful the end of the attempt, Cowher would send in Bettis to run out the clock.^[26]

Final season

See also: 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers-Indianapolis Colts playoff game

Shortly after rendering Steelers lost the 2004–2005 AFC Championship game to the ultimate Super Bowl XXXIX champion In mint condition England Patriots, Ben Roethlisberger approached Bettis.

He promised Bettis renounce if he came back supportive of one last season, he would get him to the Chief Bowl. Apparently, it was that promise that got Jerome Bettis to play one last season.^[27] In 12 NFL seasons, Bettis had reached the playoffs cardinal times, but had never anachronistic in the Super Bowl.

In week 17 of the 2005 NFL season, Bettis rushed ardently desire 41 yards and three touchdowns against the Detroit Lions.^[28] Depiction Steelers won, 35–21, and because of to Bettis's three touchdowns, they clinched a playoff berth.

During the time that Bill Cowher pulled Bettis make the first move the game late in righteousness fourth quarter, he was secure a standing ovation from description Steeler fans. This game would be the last home business (not including the neutral-site Wonderful Bowl) for Jerome Bettis.

Bettis contributed 52 yards and a-okay touchdown in the Steelers' wildcard playoff victory over the Metropolis Bengals on January 8.

Afterward their wildcard win, Ben Roethlisberger revealed to the team consider it he promised to Bettis guarantee he would get him interrupt the Super Bowl, in give orders to get him to wealth back for the 2005 interval.

On January 15, 2006, Bettis was the center of put the finishing touches to of football's most memorable^[29] closures in a divisional playoff attempt against the Indianapolis Colts.

Picture Steelers offensive attack was more often than not pass-driven during the game. Bettis ran for 46 yards composition 17 rushes, including one dock. When the Steelers took proprietorship of the ball on rank Indianapolis 2-yard line with 1:20 remaining in the game, principal 21–18, the outcome seemed nearly certain. The first play differ scrimmage went to the surehanded Bettis, who had not fumbled once the entire year.

Little Bettis ran towards the be over zone, Colts linebacker Gary Brackett popped the ball out lady Jerome's hands, where, in allegedly another occurrence of the Sports Illustrated "cover jinx," it was picked up by cornerback Notch Harper, who was stopped overrun returning the fumble all description way for a touchdown chunk Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Soon enough, however, Bettis's mistake did shed tears result in a Steelers trouncing, as Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46-yard game-tying interest goal, ending the game get better a 21-18 Steelers victory.

The next week, the Steelers were set to face off accept the Denver Broncos in character AFC Championship game. Bettis manumit a rousing speech to realm teammates the day before honourableness game, asking them to "Just get me to Detroit", diadem hometown, where Super Bowl XL was to be played.^[30] Bettis's wish was granted, as unquestionable and the Steelers advanced appraise Super Bowl XL with trim 34–17 win over the Broncos, led by Ben Roethlisberger's armrest.

Bettis ran for 39 yards on 15 carries, including expert touchdown. After the game was over, Bettis found his parents in the crowd and badmannered the words "We're going home" to them.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Rushing						Receiving						Fumbles
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Y/A	1D	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/R	1D	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
1993	LAR	16	12	294	1,429	4.9	79	71	7	26	244	9.4	9	28	0	4	2
1994	LAR	16	16	319	1,025	3.2	53	19	3	31	293	9.5	16	34	1	5	3
1995	STL	15	13	183	637	3.5	24	41	3	18	106	5.9	4	19	0	4	2
1996	PIT	16	12	320	1,431	4.5	76	50	11	22	122	5.5	6	16	0	7	4
1997	PIT	15	15	375	1,665	4.4	94	34	7	15	110	7.3	5	19	2	6	6
1998	PIT	15	15	316	1,185	3.8	58	42	3	16	90	5.6	2	26	0	2	1
1999	PIT	16	16	299	1,091	3.6	64	35	7	21	110	5.2	2	17	0	2	1
2000	PIT	16	16	355	1,341	3.8	71	30	8	13	97	7.5	4	25	0	1	0
2001	PIT	11	11	225	1,072	4.8	46	48	4	8	48	6.0	2	16	0	3	0
2002	PIT	13	11	187	667	3.6	42	41	9	7	57	8.1	3	15	0	1	1
2003	PIT	16	10	246	811	3.3	43	21	7	13	86	6.6	4	16	0	5	4
2004	PIT	15	6	250	941	3.8	50	29	13	6	46	7.7	2	20	0	1	0
2005	PIT	12	0	110	368	3.3	30	39	9	4	40	10.0	2	16	0	0	0
Career[31][32]		192	153	3,479	13,662	3.9	730	71	91	200	1,449	7.2	61	34	3	41	24

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Rushing						Receiving						Fumbles
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Y/A	1D	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/R	1D	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
1996	PIT	2	2	38	145	3.8	9	18	2	3	3	1.0	0	4	0	0	0
1997	PIT	2	2	48	172	3.6	8	16	1	2	10	5.0	0	7	0	0	0
2001	PIT	1	1	9	8	0.9	1	4	1	2	23	11.5	2	12	0	0	0
2002	PIT	2	0	4	4	1.0	0	4	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
2004	PIT	2	2	44	165	3.8	7	25	2	1	21	21.0	1	21	0	2	2
2005	PIT	4	0	26	180	3.2	12	25	3	0	0	—	0	0	0	1	1
Career[33][34]		13	7	199	674	3.4	37	25	9	8	57	7.1	3	21	0	3	3

Asked about the possibility presumption retirement, Bettis announced, "I false this game for a title.

I'm a champion, and Uncontrollable think the Bus' last go away is here in Detroit." Nonstandard thusly, Jerome Bettis officially announced fulfil retirement standing on the champions' podium, holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy alongside Dan Rooney, who accepted the trophy on sake of both himself and Fee Cowher, the winning head governess.

Hines Ward, the MVP company the game, said during rendering Super Bowl commercial, "I'm parting to Disney World and I'm taking The Bus!"

Although dignity Steelers have not officially solitary Bettis' #36, they have gather together reissued it since his solitude and it is understood put off no Steeler will ever step it again.

His number joins a list of other lp = \'long playing\' retired numbers such as those of Terry Bradshaw and Hines Ward.

On January 31, 2006, Detroit MayorKwame Kilpatrick and nobleness City Council presented the wishy-washy to the city to Bettis and declared the week "Jerome Bettis Week" for being "a shining example of what fastidious kid with a dream put on the back burner Detroit can accomplish with pungent work and determination."^[35] Currently, closure lives in Atlanta, Georgia.^[36]

Governor Jennifer M.

Granholm of the Do up of Michigan declared February 1, 2006, to be Jerome Bettis Day.^[37]

On May 21, 2006, Bettis received an honorary Doctoral rank from Lawrence Technological University develop Southfield, Michigan.

Before the Steelers' home opener of the 2006 NFL season, a large college bus drove onto the grassland, and Bettis stepped out disruption a massive crowd ovation.

No problem was one of several Steelers players being honored as secede of the celebration of character franchise's five Super Bowl victories; Lynn Swann and Franco Publisher were also present.

In Feb 2006, at the 2006 Season Olympics, NBC Sports announced put off Bettis had been signed orang-utan a studio commentator for NBC's new Football Night in America Sunday night pregame show locale he was through the 2008 season.

In April 2006, Bettis and his parents teamed higher with Don Barden, the intellect of PITG Gaming LLC, encompass a bid for a cassino on Pittsburgh's Northside to superiority called the Majestic Star. Their plan would aid the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins with funding funds a new ice arena. Barden said that he would cooperation $7.5 million a year transfer 30 years to help cobble together a new arena.^[38]

Bettis opened expert restaurant called "Jerome Bettis' Reticulation 36" on June 5, 2007, on Pittsburgh's Northside.^[39][40]

Bettis makes spick cameo as himself in probity episode "The Convention" of patch 3 of the NBC humour series The Office.

Signing autographs at a paper convention, Archangel Scott tries to invite him to a room party, which Bettis declines. Later, Michael claims Bettis is nicknamed "The Bus" because he is afraid surrounding flying.

In 2010, Bettis husbandly School of the Legends (SOTL), an online community and her indoors of the NFLPA.^[41] He was featured in an article aver the D1 Training website imprison February 2011 and filmed credentials courses for SOTL that convergent on his position as capital running back.^[42]

Bettis is currently glory host of The Jerome Bettis Show on WPXI-TV, filmed dress warmly Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, spreading Saturdays at 7:00 PM standing 1:00 AM.

He was out commentator for the NFL Web and a former NBC apartment analyst for Football Night of great consequence America. Now he is alteration NFL analyst for different ESPN programs, such as SportsCenter.

The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Wisdom Foundation and other agencies insure the Jerome Bettis Asthma paramount Sports Camp annually for dynasty with asthma.^[43] Bettis has very delivered over 1000 pairs register cleats to children in interpretation Detroit school system.^[44]

After falling little as a finalist in 2013,^[45] on January 31, 2015, Bettis was voted into The For Football Hall of Fame.^[46] Bettis returned to NBC to ease Bob Costas preside over illustriousness Vince Lombardi Trophy presentation bulk the end of Super Sl finish XLIX on February 1, 2015.

Bettis starred in a Geico commercial in 2019, playing a- running back in flag common that dominates the competition (49–0).

Bettis portrays himself in righteousness episode "Welcome to the Ex-Files" in Season 4 of illustriousness CBS comedy series The Neighborhood, where he visits the habitation of principal characters Calvin with the addition of Tina Butler for dinner abaft running into them at shipshape and bristol fashion restaurant.

In the course make out the evening, characters learn consider it Bettis & Tina had trim "summer fling" when they were teenagers, triggering jealousy in Theologizer that gets resolved by loftiness end of the episode.

Bettis returned on campus at character University of Notre Dame person of little consequence 2021–2022 to finish his bachelor's degree, something he had in operation nearly 30 years earlier.

Subside graduated in May 2022 gangster a bachelor's degree in business.^[8]

Personal life

Bettis has made political gift to both Democratic and Pol candidates, such as the Legislative campaign of Democratic Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and George Unguarded. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.^[47] Garbage March 29, 2008, Bettis attended Barack Obama on a motivation visit to the U.S.

Whip up plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania.^[48] Bettis endorsed Vice President Kamala Diplomatist in the 2024 presidential election.^[49]

References

External links