Jerome Bettis: Career retrospective | Yardbarker

Jerome “The Bus” Bettis was built in Detroit, Michigan. Bettis played fullback and linebacker at MacKenzie High School. He was an instant sensation on the football field. When his high school career was all said and done, Bettis committed to Notre Dame. 

Bettis entered the prestigious halls of Notre Dame as a wide-eyed football phenom determined to turn his NFL dreams into reality. He transformed into a star with the Fighting Irish. After playing in a limited role in his freshman year, Bettis bulldozed his way to 1,162 scrimmage yards and a record-breaking 20 total touchdowns, the most in a single season in Notre Dame history. Bettis’ record still stands today. Bettis delivered again in his junior year, leading the Fighting Irish to victory in the Cotton Bowl. Bettis entered the 1993 NFL Draft after his junior year. 

No one questioned Bettis’ game-wrecking talent. He looked like a first-round pick when he stepped onto the field for Notre Dame. In the 1993 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams drafted Bettis in the first round with the 10th pick. The kid from Detroit made it to the NFL.

Bettis packed his bags and prepared to launch his NFL career in sunny Los Angeles. 

Rams head coach Chuck Knox brought a run-first mentality to LA. Knox moved Bettis from fullback to halfback. The position change paid dividends immediately. Bettis introduced himself to the NFL with 1,429 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. When it was all said and done, Bettis ran away with the NFL Rookie of the Year award. 

Bettis was the talk of the town in LA. The young superstar was enjoying life in the City of Angels. Many believed he was the next big thing in the NFL, given that he played for a big market team near the bright lights of Hollywood. Eventually, Bettis’ tough running style earned him the nickname “The Battering Ram.” It stuck with him for his entire tenure with the Rams. 

The Rams relocated to St. Louis in 1995. They also fired head coach Chuck Knox and hired Rich Brooks as his replacement. The Rams’ new offense featured many more passing concepts — and receiving wasn’t Bettis’ strong suit. He was a power back. He was phased out of the new offense and finished with career lows in carries and rushing yards in 1995. The frustration of the Rams’ losing ways also caused tension between Bettis and the team. It seemed The Battering Rams’ days in LA were numbered. 

In April 1996, Jerome Bettis was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a stockpile of draft picks. Bettis was joining one of the most storied franchises in all of football. It marked a new chapter in Bettis’ career. 

The trade turned out to be a great move for the Steelers. He was a perfect fit for the blue-collar city of Pittsburgh. He was on a team with a ground-and-pound philosophy again, and Bettis put up big numbers. He rushed for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to his third Pro Bowl nod. In his first game against the Rams, Bettis rushed for 129 yards and two scores as the Steelers defeated them 42-6. Bettis won Comeback Player of the Year for resurrecting his career and leading the Steelers to the playoffs.

Bettis rushed for 1,000 yards or more for six years in a row (1996-2001). During this time, he was the Steelers’ lead back. He had more than 300 carries every season and was basically the Steelers’ offense. You knew he was getting the ball, and you still couldn’t stop him. He finished in the top five for MVP voting in 1996 and ’97, respectively. This was the prime of his career. 

Bettis exemplified Steelers football with his bruising running style. Eventually, the Pittsburgh sports media nicknamed him “The Bus” for his power, size, and strength. Standing at 5-foot-11, 252 pounds, Bettis was not easy to bring down. Also, a school bus is traditionally black and yellow, the same as the Steelers’ colorway. The nickname was perfect for the power back.

When the Steelers played the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 1998, the game looked like a normal Turkey Bowl. It would be remembered forever. The game was tied at 16, and Bettis went to the 50-yard mark for the overtime coin toss. He called tails. The ref thought he said heads. The coin toss came up tails. The Lions won the ball and marched down the field, where they’d kick the game-winning field goal to win the game 19-16. It’s one of the wildest things to happen in a Thanksgiving football game. 

2001 was a great year for Bettis. The Bus got into high gear, rushing for 1,072 yards and four touchdowns. He won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. It’s one of the most prestigious trophies in pro football. The Walter Payton Award is given to a player who does good on and off the field through their play on the gridiron and their work in philanthropy.

When the mid-2000s rolled by, Bettis was entering his 30s — the danger zone for running backs. He started to miss games because of injury and took on a lesser role. Instead of being the team’s workhorse back, Bettis was used as a closer and a goal-line back. Bettis didn’t care what his role with the team was. He just wanted to win. 

When the Steelers landed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the 2004 NFL Draft, he immediately impacted the team. Bettis took him under his wing and mentored the rookie quarterback. Bettis rushed for 941 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to his last Pro Bowl season. The Steelers went 15-1 that year but lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. 

Bettis had accomplished everything a running back could at this point in his career. The only thing left to do was win a Super Bowl. He got close in 1997, 2001, and 2004 but lost in the AFC Championship Game. Heartbroken by previous playoff losses, Bettis decided to give it one more try in the 2005 season before retiring. 

The Bus wasn’t broken down yet. But at 33, he galloped for a career-low 368 yards and nine touchdowns. He missed a string of games early in the 2005 season, and the Steelers faced the prospect of missing the playoffs at 7-5. Then, Bettis caught fire. 

The Bus drove the Steelers to the playoffs. On the way, he ran over Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. The iconic play became a defining moment in his career and encapsulated his will to win. The Steelers’ playoff push was successful as they went 11-5 and clinched a playoff berth.

When you look at NFL playoff history, a No. 6 seed had never won three road playoff games and the Super Bowl — until the 2005 Steelers came around. Led by The Bus, they ran over the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos on the way to Bettis’ first Super Bowl appearance. Ben Roethlisberger saved the day with a season-saving tackle against the Colts. There was only one game left to play for football immortality. 

In front of a hometown crowd in the city of Detroit, Bettis and the Steelers won Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10. Bettis finished the day with 14 carries and 43 yards. It was a storybook ending to his career. Through all the highs and lows, Bettis would retire on top. 

Bettis was the power back of his generation. He logged 3,479 carries for 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns in 192 career games. As of 2022, he ranks eighth all-time in career rushing yards and 11th all-time in career rushing touchdowns. 

More importantly, Bettis was a selfless leader during his time with the Steelers. He treated the highest-paid players and the practice squad guys the same way. It’s a big reason they won so much when he was there. No Steeler has worn No. 36 since he retired. 

The Bus has kept himself busy since retiring. He settled into a role as a football analyst. He also appeared in episodes of The Office and The Neighborhood as himself. During the 2021-22 academic year, Bettis re-enrolled at Notre Dame and earned a business degree. Expect to hear from more Bettis as he continues succeeding in retirement.

The last stop for The Bus was Canton. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2015. It was a well-deserved honor for the Steelers legend.