Running back Jerome Bettis was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nicknamed the “Bus”, Bettis began his career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1993, but Bettis made his mark on the NFL during his decade playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jerome Bettis Last Game Was Super Bowl Win in Hometown
Bettis played his last game in the NFL winning the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks in his hometown Detroit, Michigan in the 2005 season. The induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio will be on August 8, 2015 and may coincide with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Hall of Fame game on August 9th.
As reported by Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Gazette, Bettis said, “I played the game of football with passion, with the desire to be a champion and in that drive to become a champion I have now put myself on the most sacred ground that a football player could ever be in and that’s the Hall of Fame.”
2015 Hall of Fame Class
Joining Bettis in the 2015 Hall of Fame’s 2015 Class are seven others: Wide receiver Tim Brown (Bettis’ teammate at Notre Dame), linebacker/defensive end Charles Haley, deceased linebacker Junior Seau and guard Will Shields. Center Mick Tinglehoff was elected as a seniors candidate and former team general managers Ron Wolf and Bill Polian.
Bettis finished with 13,622 rushing yards, which is still sixth most in NFL history. Bettis rarely missed any games and played in 192 which is third most in NFL history. Bettis has 3,479 carries which is fourth most for running backs.
Bettis made six Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams during his 13 year career. Bettis was the NFL consensus Rookie of the Year in 1993. At 260 pounds, Bettis was known for his bruising running style and finishing games.
Greatest Closer of All Time
His former coach for the Steelers Bill Cowher called Bettis the “greatest closer of them all.” With a lead of 10 points, Bettis’s teams were 108-1-1.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said Bettis “gave so much to us. He came to us and really at a time when we needed leadership, on and off the field, who could take us where we wanted to go. He drove the Bus and took the whole team with him. The timing was perfect, it was an important time and a lot of great years.”
