College Career

Bettis's time at Notre Dame showcased the emergence of a powerful and talented running back. From 1990 to 1992, "The Bus" rumbled through opposing defenses, displaying a rare combination of size, speed, and agility. He quickly became a fan favorite, known for his punishing running style and ability to break tackles. Bettis contributed significantly to the Fighting Irish's success, helping them maintain their reputation as a national powerhouse. His impressive performances earned him national attention and set the stage for a highly anticipated professional career. While his college career was shorter than some, Bettis left a lasting impression on Notre Dame football.

Road to the NFL

The St Louis Rams selected Jerome as their first-round pick and 10th overall in the 1993 NFL Draft. In just his first season as a Pro, Bettis received Rookie of the Year honors as he was second in yardage in the League that year and third in total yards from scrimmage per ProFootballHOF.com.

Career Reboot

A few years later, he was famously traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he remained for the balance of his 13-year career. He led the Rams in rushing in three seasons and the Steelers in 8. When he retired, he had amassed 13662 yards rushing, which at the time listed him as the fifth-highest total in NFL history.

He was an All-Pro in several seasons and played in 6 Pro Bowl games. Jerome Bettis was selected for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015’s class of inductees.

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 (1993–1995)

✦ Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005)

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

✦ Pro Football Hall of Fame

Stats at Pro Football Reference
Jerome Bettis. (2025, February 9). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Bettis