The
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jerome “The Bus" Bettis is
considered one of the best running backs in NFL
history. Fifth on the National Football League's
all-time rushing list, he began his football career
at the University of Notre Dame. In 1993, he
was selected in the first round of the NFL draft as
the 10th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams.
Bettis had a successful rookie season by winning
co-rookie of the year, Rams MVP, and the Sporting
News Rookie of the Year.
In 1996, Jerome was traded to the
Pittsburgh Steelers for two second round draft
picks. In his first season with the Steelers
he rushed for over 1,400 yards and had a 220 yd game
against his old team the Los Angeles Rams.
Bettis was named Steelers MVP in 1996 & 1997. He was
named to the Pro Bowl in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997,
2001, and 2005.
In 1997, Jerome Bettis Enterprises
(J.B.E) was established. J.B.E is a
full-service sports marketing firm. Jerome used the
firm to introduce his own line of apparel, manage
his endorsements and produce his website,
www.thebus36.com. Bettis has been involved in
a plethora of marketing campaigns including Nike,
Ford, and EA Sports. He has a relationship
with the Pharmaceutical Company GlaxoSmithKline,
which focuses on his struggle with asthma.
Along with Jackie Joyner-Kersee, he has headed the
Asthma All-Stars program, a program which educates
youth on productive living with asthma.
Jerome also founded The “Bus Stops
Here" Foundation, a non-profit organization.
He has established a scholarship program for
graduating seniors from his Alma Matter, McKenzie
High School. He hosts the legendary Reggie McKenzie
Football Camp each summer, where he was formerly a
camper himself.
In 2002, Bettis was the recipient
of The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
This award is given annually by the NFL honoring a
player's volunteer and charitable works as well as
excellence on the field.
After the Steelers' defeat in the
2004 AFC Championship Game on January 23, 2005,
Bettis announced that he was considering retirement.
Because he did not want the sting of the defeat to
cloud his judgment, Bettis agreed to stay with the
Steelers for another season. The factor that
finalized his decision was the 2006 Super Bowl to be
played in his hometown of Detroit. The Steelers
defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL by a
score of 21 to 10. This was the Bus’s last
game-and his dream come true. When asked by
Mike Tirico if his career was over Jerome replied, "It's
been an incredible ride and there's always a time
when you have to call it quits. I played this game
to win a championship. I'm a champion and I think
the Bus...the Bus’s last stop...is here in Detroit."
"That's the greatest feeling
in the world, to actually have an opportunity to
hold that Lombardi Trophy, and not hold it because
somebody gave it to you. You hold that trophy
because you’ve earned it and you won it. That's the
most amazing feeling in the world. It's a
feeling I've been waiting for 13 years and I'm just
glad I was able to come back and hoist that trophy
and take it back to Pittsburgh."
As the last of the congratulations
are pouring in and the Steelers are preparing to
defend their Super Bowl Championship, The Bus is
gearing up to travel down a new road.
Immediately following the ring ceremony in
Pittsburgh, Bettis left the field to head to the
analysts booth. Here he will begin his new career
with his new team, NBC Sports, as a Sunday Night
Football Commentator.
“It won’t be difficult at
all," Bettis said during a conference call to
talk about his career move. “The nature
of this business is to call it as you see it. If you
look at my track record in Pittsburgh, I’ve always
told the truth. Honesty is the best policy. If a guy
is not playing well, he knows it. I’m just telling
the truth. As long as I call it like I see it I’ll
be fine."
