Jerome Bettis

Jerome Bettis Speaker Biography

Jerome Bettis is a former Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back, and he is one of the best all-time running backs in the NFL (5th overall in rushing). Bettis was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2001, and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Bettis began his football career at Notre Dame. He finished his college career at Notre Dame averaging 5.7 yards per carry and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams 10th overall in 1993. He was named NFL Co-Rookie of the Year and also earned Sporting News Rookie of the Year and Rams MVP honors. Bettis followed the team in their move to St. Louis in 1995 before being traded to the Steelers prior to the 1996 season, where he spent the remaining 10 seasons of his illustrious career.2006 Super Bowl champion Jerome Bettis is one of the National Football League’s most popular players and the fifth best rusher of all-time and a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

Bettis ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 13,662 yards and is one of six players in NFL history to rush for 13,000 yards. He is one of only eight players in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards for eight or more seasons. He ranks third in NFL history with 3,369 rushing attempts. Bettis was selected to the Pro Bowl six times, including his rookie season.“The Bus” finished his NFL career in January 2006 after 13 seasons, retiring immediately following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit.

After his retirement from football, Bettis was a football analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio show from 2006 until 2009 and an analyst at ESPN from 2013 until 2017.

Outside of football, Jerome Bettis established “The Bus Stops Here Foundation” in 1996 to help improve the quality of life for disadvantaged and underprivileged children. In 2002, he was named the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year for his community involvement and work by his foundation. 

To book sports speaker Jerome Bettis, contact Executive Speakers Bureau at 901.754.9404.