Jerome Bettis

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Jerome Bettis
Date of birth February 16, 1972 (age 35)
Place of birth Flag of United States Detroit, Michigan
Position(s) Running back
College Notre Dame
NFL Draft 1993 / Round 1/ Pick 10
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999,
2001, 2004
Awards 1993 Offensive Rookie of the Year
1996 Comeback POY
1996 Steelers MVP
1997 Steelers MVP
2000 Steelers MVP
2001 Walter Payton MOY
Stats
Statistics
Team(s)
1993–1995
1996–2006		 Los Angeles - St. Louis Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers

Jerome Abram Bettis, nicknamed "The Bus" (born February 16, 1972 in Detroit, Michigan), is a former American football halfback for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs of his era, and is fifth on the National Football League's all-time rushing list. He retired in 2006 after a Super Bowl victory in which he ran for 43 yards on 14 attempts.

Contents

[edit] National Football League career

Bettis was picked in the first round (10th overall) of the 1993 NFL draft by the-then Los Angeles Rams. A star even in his rookie year, he rushed for 1,429 yards in 1993, and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. He rushed for over 1,000 in his second season with the Rams but his carries declined as he fell out of favor with the team. He quickly earned the nickname "Battering Ram."

After Rams head coach Chuck Knox retired and was replaced by Rich Brooks, Bettis no longer fit into the team's plans. The Steelers were in need of a running back: Bam Morris, their featured back in the 1995 season, had pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and was cut by the team in June, 1996. Bettis was traded to Pittsburgh that summer with a third round draft pick in exchange for a second round pick in 1996 and a fourth round draft pick in 1997.

His career took an up turn after the trade, and Bettis became an integral part of the Steelers offense. Bettis was a dependable 1,000-yard rusher until 2001. Injuries cost him part of the 2002 season, and began the 2003 season as a back-up to Amos Zereoue. Despite regaining his starting role mid-way through the 2003 season, Bettis again found himself a back-up to start the 2004 season, this time to Duce Staley. But when an injury held Staley out of action mid-way through the year, Bettis stepped in and gained 100+ yards in each of his seven regular season starts, leading to a Pro-Bowl berth for the sixth time in his career. Bettis spent the 2005 season as a full-time short yardage runningback, but managed 101 yards against Chicago in week 14 and scored 3 touchdowns in his final home game against Detroit. Although age had slightly reduced his role, he remained important to the Steelers and was the NFL's 5th leading all-time rusher. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2004. Bettis won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 1996, and in 2002 he was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Bettis was at the center of one of the most controversial calls in NFL history. During a Thanksgiving Day game with the Detroit Lions on November 26, 1998, Bettis was sent out as the Steelers representative for the overtime coin toss. Bettis called "tails" while the coin was in the air but the referee declared that Bettis had called "heads" and awarded first possession of the ball to Detroit, who would go on to win the game. After reviewing the incident, the NFL changed the rule and declared that the call of "heads" or "tails” would be made before the coin was tossed rather than during the coin toss and that at least two officials would be present during the coin toss. Some have joking referred to the new procedure as the "Jerome Bettis Rule". The readers of ESPN voted the incident as the #8 on its list of the top ten worst sports officiating calls of all time. [1]

During the 2004 season, Bettis and New York Jets running back Curtis Martin dueled for position on the all-time rushing yards leaderboard. Bettis entered the season in 6th place all-time and 684 yards ahead of Martin in 9th place. Due to Bettis being the backup in Pittsburgh for the start of the season, Martin was able to pass Bettis in week 13 until the Steelers played their game later in the day and Bettis retook the lead by 6 yards. When the Jets traveled to Martin's home town of Pittsburgh to play the Steelers the following week, both backs would cross the 13,000 yard mark, making this the first time two players crossed the 13,000 yard mark (or other similarly high yardage milestones) in the same game. Their combined career totals were also one of the biggest combined career totals for opposing running backs in history. At the end of the game, Martin would lead Bettis by 9 yards. Two weeks later in week 16, Bettis would again pass Martin and establish himself with a lead of 81 yards. In doing so, Bettis passed Eric Dickerson for 4th place on the all-time list. Bettis sat out the final week of the season, and when Martin rushed for 153 yards that week he passed Dickerson and Bettis for the final time.

After the Steelers' defeat in the 2004 AFC Championship Game on January 23, 2005, Bettis announced that he was considering retirement, but would not make a final decision for several months to prevent the sting of the defeat from clouding his judgment. Later, Bettis agreed to stay with the Steelers for another season. He stated he would love to play in the Super Bowl in 2006 since it was to be played in his hometown of Detroit. His wish came true as the Steelers played in, and won, Super Bowl XL (40) against the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 on February 5th, 2006.

Bettis finished his 13 NFL seasons as the NFL's 5th all-time leading rusher with 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns. He also caught 200 passes for 1,449 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Most people think Bettis acquired the nickname The Bus from legendary Steelers radio color commentator Myron Cope; but Myron only popularized the nickname after hearing a brother of a fellow Notre Dame alumni call Jerome "Bussy" in Green Bay. Although some would think otherwise, the nickname had no association with wearing a black and gold uniform; it actually comes from his ability to carry multiple defenders on his back, like a bus ride, during his carries. It was during the Green Bay broadcast that Cope starting using the nick name "The Bus." Jerome credits someone at the Notre Dame school newspaper with first using the now famous nickname.

[edit] Off the field

  • Bettis is the co-host of a WPXI television sports program called The Jerome Bettis Show.
  • Now resides in Munhall, Pennsylvania during the off season
  • He began a charity called the Bus Stops Here Foundation to aid underprivileged children in 1997.
  • He did a commercial that was a remake of Joe Greene's famouse commercial.
  • His book, "Driving Home: My Unforgettable Super Bowl Run" came out in September 2006, published by Triumph Books.
  • He is now a commentator for the NFL network and a NBC studio analyst for Football Night in America.

[edit] The road to Super Bowl XL

Shortly after the Steelers lost the 2004-2005 AFC Championship game to the eventual Super Bowl XXXIX champion New England Patriots, Ben Roethlisberger approached Bettis. He promised Bettis that if he came back for one last season, he would get him to the Super Bowl. Apparently, it was this promise that got Jerome Bettis to play one last season. In 12 NFL seasons, Bettis had reached the playoffs 5 times, but had never been in the Super Bowl.

In week 17 of the 2005 NFL season, Bettis rushed for 41 yards and three touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. The Steelers won 35-21 and thanks to Bettis' three touchdowns, they clinched a playoff berth. When Bill Cowher pulled Bettis from the game late in the fourth quarter, he was given a standing ovation from the Steeler fans. This game would be the last home game (not including the neutral-site Super Bowl) for Jerome Bettis.

Bettis contributed 52 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers' wildcard playoff victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on January 8. After their wildcard win, Ben Roethlisberger revealed to the team that he promised to Bettis that he would get him to the Super Bowl, in order to get him to come back for the 2005 season.

On January 15, 2006, Bettis was the center of one of football's most memorable endings in a divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. While the Steelers offensive attack was mostly pass driven during the game, Bettis ran well, taking in 46 yards on 17 rushes, including one touchdown. When the Steelers took possession of the ball on the Indianapolis 2 yard line with 1:20 remaining in the game, leading 21-18, the outcome seemed almost certain. The first play from scrimmage went to the surehanded Bettis, who had not fumbled once the entire year. As Bettis ran towards the end zone, Colts linebacker Gary Brackett popped the ball out of Jerome's hands, where it was picked up by cornerback Nick Harper, (seeming another sign of the Sports Illustrated cover jinx) who was stopped from returning the fumble all the way for a touchdown by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Ultimately, however, Bettis's mistake did not result in a Steelers loss, as Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46-yard game-tying field goal, ending the game with a 21-18 Steelers victory.

The next week, the Steelers were set to face off against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. Bettis, who had never been to a Super Bowl in his storied career, delivered a rousing speech to his teammates the day before the game, asking them to "Just get me to Detroit," his hometown, where Super Bowl XL was to be played. Bettis's wish was granted, as he and the Steelers advanced to Super Bowl XL with a 34-17 win over the Broncos, led by Ben Roethlisberger's arm and Bettis's 39 yards on 15 carries, including a touchdown. After the game was over, Bettis found his parents in the crowd and mouthed the words "We're going home" to them.

In front of a crowd that was estimated by NFL analysts in attendance to be "80% - 90% Steeler fans" (as evident by the influx of "Terrible Towels" seen waving in the crowd), Pittsburgh would go on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, 21-10. Bettis rushed for 43 yards on 14 carries; an average of 3.1 yards per carry.

Asked about the possibility of retirement, Bettis announced, "It's been an incredible ride. I played this game to win a championship. I'm a champion [now], and I think the Bus' last stop is here in Detroit." Thus, Jerome Bettis officially announced his retirement standing on the champions' podium, holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Hines Ward, the MVP of the game, said during the Super Bowl commercial; "I'm going to Disney World and I'm taking The Bus!"

[edit] After Retirement

In February 2006, at the 2006 Winter Olympics, NBC Sports announced that Bettis had been signed as a studio commentator for NBC's new Football Night in America Sunday night pregame show.


On Tuesday, April 18, 2006, Bettis and his parents teamed up with Don Barden, chairman and chief executive officer of PITG Gaming LLC, in order to get a casino called the Majestic Star, on Pittsburgh's North Side. Their plan would aid the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins with funding for a new ice arena. Barden said that he would give $7.5 million a year for 30 years to help build a new arena [2].

Bettis is also in talks to open a restaurant on Pittsburgh's North Side called "Jerome Bettis' Grill 36".[3]

On May 21st, 2006 Bettis received an honorary Doctoral degree from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan for providing remarkable benefits to young people. He will be awarded the Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, recognizing his leadership in founding the innovative “Cyber Bus” program that to date has enabled some 120 Detroit middle and high school students to both build and use the latest computer technology.

The Steelers did not issue Bettis' #36 jersey in 2006. While the Steelers do not officially retire numbers, given Bettis' popularity and likely induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it is not likely that any Steeler will wear #36 again.

Before the Steelers' home opener of the 2006 NFL season, a large school bus drove onto the field, and Bettis stepped out to a massive crowd ovation. He was one of several Steelers players being honored as part of the celebration of their five Super Bowl victories; Lynn Swann and Franco Harris were also present.

Bettis makes a cameo as himself in season 3 of the NBC comedy series The Office. Signing autographs at a paper convention, Michael Scott tries to invite him to a room party, which Bettis declines. Later, Michael claims Bettis is nicknamed "The Bus" because he is afraid of flying.

Bettis also appeared in a commercial for Monday Night Football, where he's handed the keys to a bus that happens to belong to John Madden.

[edit] Trivia

  • Bettis' parents, Gladys and Johnnie, have been present at every one of Jerome's games in his entire football career except for two: one in Mexico and one in Japan. Both games were unimportant preseason matchups. A shot captured by cameras at the end of Super Bowl XL showed his mother, Gladys, in tears following the Steelers' victory.
  • As a child, Bettis suffered greatly from asthma, and still does to some extent. He is now a spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline's Asthma Control Test, and has appeared in advertisements in various media to promote it, including a commercial that paid homage to Coca Cola's famous "Mean Joe" Greene advertisement.
  • Bettis is an avid bowler and has several perfect (300) games to his credit. In April, the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame announced Bettis would be the first inductee into its Celebrities Bowling Hall of Fame, according to the Associated Press.
  • He is the 5th leading rusher in NFL history.
  • Bettis is a part owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve.
  • Bettis was the subject of 80 football cards in his rookie year of 1993.
  • Bettis, along with Steelers owner Dan Rooney and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, helped design the Steelers’ Super Bowl rings, which feature five diamond Lombardi trophies – representing the Steelers’ five total Super Bowl victories – a bejeweled Steelers’ logo, the athlete’s name and the final score of Super Bowl XL.
  • In Pittsburgh, Bettis has his own line of submarine sandwiches, chicken wings, mustard, barbeque sauce, and other products.
  • Bettis has said he was nicknamed “Baby Huey” as a kid because he was “bigger than normal and cried a lot.”
  • Bettis’s humanitarian work includes his The Bus Stops Here foundation, which works to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged and underprivileged children, and his work with the American Lung Foundation to increase asthma awareness.

[edit] Quotes

"I played this game to win a championship. I am a champion, and I think The Bus’ last stop is here in Detroit." – Bettis announcing his retirement following the Steelers’ Super Bowl victory in his hometown of Detroit.

"I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and I hate Michigan." - Jerome Bettis at a Notre Dame pep rally prior to the Notre Dame - Michigan game on September 16th, 2006. [4]

"I played this game to lose some weight and look at me now I didn't lose an ounce"

[edit] Career

  • In 1997, Bettis reached 1,000 rushing yards in only nine games, the fastest to reach that mark in Steelers’ history.
  • During his rookie year with the Rams, Bettis was one of only eight rookies to rush for 200 yards in a single game, was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was the first Rams rookie since Eric Dickerson to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Preceded by
Derrick Brooks and Jim Flanigan		 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
2001		 Succeeded by
Troy Vincent
Preceded by
Jim Harbaugh
Garrison Hearst		 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award
1996		 Succeeded by
Robert Brooks
Persondata
NAME Bettis, Jerome Abram
ALTERNATIVE NAMES The Bus
SHORT DESCRIPTION Former American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers
DATE OF BIRTH February 16, 1972
PLACE OF BIRTH Detroit, Michigan, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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