Jerome Bettis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jerome Bettis

Bettis in 2016
No. 36
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1972-02-16) February 16, 1972 (age 53) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	252 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school:	Mackenzie (Detroit, Michigan)
College:	Notre Dame (1990–1992)
NFL Draft:	1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
Career history
Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams (1993) Pittsburgh Steelers (1996)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XL) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1993) NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1996) Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2001) 2× First-team All-Pro (1993, 1996) Second-team All-Pro (1997) 6× Pro Bowl (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004) PFWA All-Rookie Team (1993) Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 13,662 Rushing average: 3.9 Rushing touchdowns: 91 Receptions: 200 Receiving yards: 1,449 Receiving touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Jerome Abram Bettis Sr. (born February 16, 1972) is a famous American former professional football player. He was a powerful running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. People called him "the Bus" because he was big and ran with great force. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Los Angeles Rams picked him 10th overall in the 1993 NFL draft. Bettis played for the Rams for three seasons. Then he was traded to the Steelers. He finished his amazing career there.

Jerome was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times. He was also a first-team All-Pro twice. Many consider him one of the best power runners ever. He ranks eighth in NFL rushing yards. Jerome retired in 2006. This was after he helped the Steelers win a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XL. It was the team's first Super Bowl win in over two decades. Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Early Life and Football Start

Jerome Bettis was born on February 16, 1972, in Detroit, Michigan. He is the oldest of three children. His parents are Gladys Elizabeth and Johnnie E. Bettis. Jerome did not start playing football until high school. His main hobby as a kid was bowling.

At age 14, he found out he had asthma. He went to Mackenzie High School in Detroit. There, he became a star running back and linebacker. In his senior year, the Detroit Free Press called him the top player in Michigan. He also won the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year award.

College Football Career

Bettis went to the University of Notre Dame to play college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He played for three seasons. During his time there, he ran for 1,912 yards. He also caught 32 passes for 429 yards.

In his second year, he set a Notre Dame record. He scored 20 touchdowns in one season. Sixteen of these were rushing touchdowns. Four were receiving touchdowns. This record still stands today. He left Notre Dame early to join the 1993 NFL Draft. He later returned to Notre Dame in 1996 to take more classes. He finally earned his business degree on May 15, 2022.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams picked Bettis in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft. He was the tenth player chosen overall. In his first year, he did very well. He rushed for 1,429 yards, which was second best in the NFL. He was called "The Battering Ram" because of his strong running.

Bettis was named a First-team All-Pro. He was the only rookie to get this honor. He also won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his first two seasons. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl both years.

In 1995, the Rams moved to St. Louis. Their new coach wanted a team that passed the ball more. This meant Bettis ran less, and his yards dropped. The coach asked if he wanted to move to fullback or be traded. Bettis chose to be traded.

Joining the Pittsburgh Steelers

Bettis playing in a 2005 game.

Bettis chose to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. He liked their history. On April 20, 1996, he was traded to Pittsburgh. This trade became famous because it worked out so well for the Steelers.

In his first year with the Steelers, Bettis had a great season. He rushed for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named to his second 1st team All-Pro team. He also won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He was voted the Steelers' team MVP.

Bettis rushed for over 1,000 yards in his first six seasons with the Steelers (1996-2001). In 1997, he rushed for a career-best 1,665 yards. He holds the Steelers' record for rushing yards in a season, including playoff games.

Injuries affected Bettis in 2001 and 2002. He became a backup player. But in 2004, he got his starting spot back due to another player's injury. He then rushed for over 100 yards in seven straight games. This earned him his sixth Pro-Bowl trip.

In 2005, Bettis was mostly a short-yardage runner. He had two big games. In one, he ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns in the snow. In another, he scored three touchdowns to help the Steelers make the playoffs. He finished his career as the NFL's 5th all-time leading rusher.

The Coin Toss Incident

In 1998, during a Thanksgiving Day game, Bettis was involved in a famous coin toss. He seemed to say "tails" while the coin was in the air. But the referee said he called "heads" first. The other team got the ball and won. After this, the NFL changed the rule. Now, players must call "heads" or "tails" before the coin is tossed. Also, at least two officials must be present.

Rivalry with Curtis Martin

In 2004, Bettis and New York Jets running back Curtis Martin were close in all-time rushing yards. They kept passing each other on the list. In one game, both players passed 13,000 career rushing yards. This was the first time two players reached such a high milestone in the same game. Martin ended up passing Bettis for good at the very end of the season.

The Final Season and Super Bowl XL

After the 2004 playoffs, Bettis thought about retiring. But Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers quarterback, made him a promise. He told Bettis that if he came back for one more season, he would get him to the Super Bowl. Bettis decided to play one more year. He really wanted to play in the Super Bowl in 2006. It was going to be in his hometown of Detroit.

His wish came true! The Steelers played in and won Super Bowl XL (40). They beat the Seattle Seahawks 21–10 on February 5, 2006.

In the 2005 playoffs, Bettis had a key moment. In a game against the Indianapolis Colts, he fumbled the ball near the end zone. It looked like a disaster. But Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made a game-saving tackle. The Colts kicker then missed a field goal. The Steelers won!

The next week, Bettis gave a powerful speech to his teammates. He asked them to "Just get me to Detroit." They did! The Steelers beat the Denver Broncos 34–17. After the game, Bettis found his parents in the crowd. He mouthed the words "We're going home" to them.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Retirement from Football

After winning the Super Bowl, Bettis announced his retirement. He said, "I played this game for a championship. I'm a champion, and I think the Bus' last stop is here in Detroit." He made this announcement while holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The Steelers have not officially retired Bettis' #36 jersey. However, no other player has worn it since he retired. It is understood that no Steeler will ever wear it again. His number joins others like Terry Bradshaw and Hines Ward that are unofficially retired.

On January 31, 2006, the mayor of Detroit gave Bettis the Freedom of the City. They also declared the week "Jerome Bettis Week." This was to honor him as an example of hard work. The Governor of Michigan also declared February 1, 2006, as Jerome Bettis Day.

Post-Football Career

Bettis speaking at a sports convention.

After retiring, Bettis became a studio commentator for NBC Sports. He worked on their Football Night in America show. He also became an NFL analyst for different ESPN programs, like SportsCenter.

Bettis opened a restaurant called "Jerome Bettis' Grille 36" in Pittsburgh. He also appeared in a TV show called The Office. In 2019, he starred in a Geico commercial. He also appeared in an episode of the CBS show The Neighborhood.

Jerome Bettis also helps children. His foundation sponsors the Jerome Bettis Asthma and Sports Camp every year. This camp is for children who have asthma. He has also given over 1000 pairs of cleats to kids in Detroit schools.

On January 31, 2015, Bettis was voted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame. He returned to NBC to help present the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLIX. In 2022, he completed his college degree in business from the University of Notre Dame.

Personal Life

Bettis has given money to both Democratic and Republican political candidates. He has supported people like Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and George W. Bush. In 2008, Bettis joined Barack Obama on a campaign visit. He also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.