Jerome Bettis « All Pro Sports & Entertainment Inc.

Jerome Bettis

Jerome Bettis – Pittsburgh Steelers, Running Back

Height: 5’11”
Weight: 255 lbs.
College: Notre Dame
Hometown: Detroit,

Super Bowl XL Champion
1993 Offensive Rookie of the Year
1996 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2001
Six time Pro Bowl Selection (93, 94, 96, 97, 01, 04)
Three time All-Pro Selection (93, 96, 97)
5th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 13,662 yards

The Beginning

Jerome Bettis was born in Detroit, MI to Johnny and Gladys Bettis. He grew up playing sports and mostly enjoyed bowling and ice skating. To this day, he credits much of his success to his loving parents and siblings. Jerome began his football playing days at Mackenzie High School in Detroit, where he was a standout running back and linebacker. He was rated the top player in the state of Michigan by the Detroit Free Press and was the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year award winner. He began playing football at the University of Notre Dame in 1990. He finished his career there with 337 rushing attempts for 1,912 yards and 32 receptions for 429 yards.

The NFL

Bettis went into the NFL Draft in 1993 and was picked 10th overall by the Los Angeles Rams. His first year in the NFL, he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year for his astonishing 1,429 rushing yards. In 1996, Bettis, along with a third round draft pick, were traded by the Rams to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a second round pick in 1996 and a fourth round pick in 1997. Bettis went on to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons with the Steelers between 1996 and 2001. In 1997, Bettis rushed for a career high 1,665 yards in the team’s first 15 games.

Besides being known for his outstanding performance on the field, 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 Phil Luckett declared that Bettis had called “heads” and awarded possession to Detroit, who went on to win the game before Pittsburgh had the chance to have possession. 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 and that at least two officials would be present during the coin toss. Some have jokingly referred to the new procedure as the “Jerome Bettis Rule”. The readers of ESPN The Magazine voted the incident as #8 on it’s list of the Top Ten Worst Sports Officiating Calls of All Time.

Bettis ended his very successful career with the Steelers after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL in 2006 in his hometown of Detroit, MI. He said, “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”. Bettis officially announced his retirement standing on the Champion’s podium, holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy. He finished his 13 NFL season career as the NFL’s 5th leading all-time rusher with 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns. Although the Steelers no longer retire numbers, they have not reissued Bettis’ #36 since he retired and it is generally understood that no Steeler will ever wear that number again.

After Retirement

On January 31, 2006, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the Detroit City Council presented the Key to the City of Detroit to Bettis and declared the week Jerome Bettis Week for being “a shining example of what a kid with a dream from Detroit can accomplish with hard work and determination.” The next day, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm declared February 1, 2006 to be Jerome Bettis Day in the State of Michigan.

Bettis signed as a studio commentator for NBC’s new Football Night in America Sunday night pregame show where he stayed until 2008. He also signed on to be a commentator with the NFL Network where he still works today.

In 1997, Bettis founded the “Bus Stops Here” Foundation which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “improve the overall quality of life for troubled and underprivileged children by offering the opportunities to help them succeed in life”. Through the “Bus Stops Here” Foundation, Bettis has spread the word about living successfully with asthma, and has helped numerous underprivileged children in reaching their dreams through programs like ‘Dreams Come True – Trip of a Lifetime’, celebrity golf outings, and football camps, just to name a few.

Jerome Bettis Enterprises, Inc. is the nerve center for all of Bettis’ endeavors outside of football. Under the Enterprise name is the “Bus Stops Here” Foundation, The Bus 36 Brand, and Urban Mortgage. Being one of the most recognizable and most popular players on and off the field, The Bus 36 Brand allows Bettis to market himself more effectively and use that popularity to transcend the brand into endless boundaries. The Bus 36 brand includes restaurants, apparel, endorsement deals, and private development. Urban Mortgage is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA and is a leader in home loan, borrowing, credit repair and refinancing programs. There is also an office in Detroit, MI headed by Bettis’ father.

Bettis and his wife Trameka live in Atlanta, GA with their daughter Jada and son Jerome. They also maintain a residence in Pittsburgh, PA.

Other Accomplishments

Has a restaurant called Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36, which was opened on Pittsburgh’s North side on June 5, 2007. Since it’s opening, it has been voted Pittsburgh’s best sports restaurant every year
Is currently the host of the Jerome Bettis Show on WPXITV in Pittsburgh
Has written two books: Driving Home: My Unforgettable Super Bowl Run (2006) and My Life in & out of the Helmet (2008)
Was featured in the new book titled “NFL Dads Dedication to Daughters”, a book produced by the NFLPA and A Call to Men to show that these gridiron heroes are taking the necessary steps to help protect their little girls in a world that sometimes treats women harshly

Has Been Corporate Partners with: