252 lbs is what they listed Jerome's weight as. I'm pretty sure that was when he came into the league and they never changed it. He played up around 260 or even 270.
the guys he's running through in this video... #54 Brian Urlacher, #52 Ray Lewis.... the best of the best at their position and the most feared in their era. Bettis was a force.
He went to Notre Dame and went to the NFL after 3 seasons. He promised his mom when he went to the NFL that he would graduate from the University of Notre Dame. He was only 4 courses short of getting his degree so he returned to college and graduated at the age of 50 from the University of Notre Dame to fulfill his promise to his mom.
Father Damo knows Jerome was from Detroit. In America, all the maddest dudes are from the D. Dude ended his career with a Super Bowl in Detroit, his hometown. Hollywood couldn’t write that better. Hell yeah. Good for him.
Yinz is a Pittsburgh word, it's our plural you, like y'all or you lot. We have a rather distinct accent and more than a few unique words around here. It's something that unites all us Yinzers, just like all our teams wearing black and gold does.
The story this video assumes you know: He was drafted by the Rams, after a 2 great seasons, his 3rd year he barely got any carries and production fell way off, the Rams claimed he was a locker room problem and traded him to the Steelers, then drafted “the next big thing” Lawrence Phillips. Less than 2 years later, the Rams released Phillips due to legal issues and poor production. Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, Bettis was proving to be a GREAT locker room guy (all the comments at the start about his leadership, the clip of #39, Willie Parker, hugging him; Parker was the man who replaced Bettis, and Bettis guided his growth, instead of doing what most do, and try and keep the younger player down, Bettis helped him). The highlight of him playing against the Rams was from his first game against them after the trade(1996), where he had 129 yards on only 19 carries and 2 TDs. In February of 2006, he won his only Super Bowl, eXtra Large in his home town of Detroit, while playing for the Steelers. All the crying at the beginning was because the previous season, he was expected to retire and the Steelers fell 1 game short of the Super Bowl, the locker room was devastated because he would retire without a SB. Roethlisbergeer, then a rookie, asked him o give him “one more year” and promised to get him that Super Bowl. Bus gave Ben that one more year. In the Ben highlight video, you saw him making a tackle after Bettis fumbled. THAT fumble was one of the very very few that Bettis ever had. If Bettis had NOT fumbled, that carry would have sealed the Steelers trip to the conference title game (1 away from the SB, same as the previous season), but inexplicably, a colts player got a helmet right on the ball and it came flying out. Ben did everything he could to save the play and made the tackle, to save the game and keep them alive. 2 games later, as promised, they were in SB XL in Bettis’ hometown of Detroit, where Bettis retired after the game holding the SB trophy. When Bettis retired, he was the 5th all-time leading rusher, briefly was 4th all-time until he was passed by Curtis Martin (from University of Pittsburgh and NFL New York Jets), who retired the same year. Bettis is currently 8th all-time in rushing yards. He earned the nickname “the bus” from long-time Steelers announcer, Myron Cope, coming up with the idea because he carried so many people all over the field and was as unstoppable as a runaway bus. P.S. if you ever do more announcer reaction videos, Myron Cope and Mike Lange (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL) are 2 of the most interesting characters to get reactions to. You’ve already reacted to some of Mike Lange’s announcing in the Mario Lemieux Video. Meanwhile, just before the start of that same season, Phillips was arrested for assault for intentionally driving a car into 3 teenagers, because he was mad at them after playing a back-yard football game, he already had warrants out for domestic situations with his girlfriend. The incidents combined for 31 years of prison time. In 2015 he ended the life of his cell-mate, and a few months later, he took his own. I only include the tragic story of Phillips as a contrast, as he was the guy the Rams preferred while calling Bettis a “locker room problem”
Another big RB worth a gander is Christian Okoye. Great highlights, his nickname was The Nigerian Nightmare. He was so athletically gifted that he made it to the NFL despite never having set foot on a football field until the age of 23. He's an often overlooked player.
That’s a good one! That reminds me also of Larry Johnson. He was a beast for like two or three seasons and injuries, just like a lot of other running backs, did him in.
Great vid! Loving the run of Steelers videos Just as some background on Bettis' last year winning the Superbowl, In Roethlisburger's rookie year, they made it to the AFC Championship, losing to the Patriots. Bettis wanted to retire but Roethlisburger asked him for one more year, and promised they would win the Superbowl. They ended up winning the Superbowl the next season, and to make it even better, it was in Detroit which is Bettis' hometown.
and Ben had the biggest bailout in history of the NFL when Bettis fumbled on the 1 against the Colts and Ben was the last person back to stop the TD and to save the game. Then a miracle of FG miss by one of the greatest kickers ever.
He played at 5'11" and between 245 and 260lbs--heavier as he got older but still had great feet and quickness. Drafted in 1st round by the Rams--Steelers traded to get him early on.
Bettis finished his 13 NFL seasons as the NFL's 5th all-time leading rusher with 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns. He also caught 200 passes for 1,449 yards and 3 touchdowns and threw 3 career touchdown passes. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2004.
Jerome was arguably the heart of the team. After every playoff game the Steelers won in the 2005 playoffs: Ben would give the game ball to Jerome saying “I’ve gotten you one step closer, I’ve got more to give you.” After they beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl 40, Ben gave Jerome that last game ball he promised him 🥹
Ted Johnson of the Patriots tore both biceps. They tore in two different seasons, clean tears too, off the bone. Both times it was a Bettis run that caused the injury. Arm tackle at your own peril. He also has the best stat line in football history, 5 carries for 0 yards and 3 Touchdowns.
The crying by Hines Ward was because they lost the AFC Championship game to go to the Super Bowl and they thought that Jerome would retire and they didn't get him a championship but he came back for one more year and they made it and won the Super Bowl
Those pictures at the end were him in high school. He went to college at Notre Dame. There will never be another like The Bus. The speed and agility for someone his size was remarkable.
My favorite thing about Bettis was in the 2000s when the Steelers signed running back Deuce Staley, who became the starter. Bettis went along with being the backup without a single complaint and even supported Staley in public. When Staley got hurt, Bettis was back in the starting role. That kind of thing could have destroyed the chemistry/morale of many workplaces.
Late in his career, particularly in his final season, he was the Steelers' "closer". Younger, faster running backs got most of the carries, but when they got inside the opponents 5 yard line, or some other critical short yardage situation, Jerome was put in to bull the ball over the line. The run that was shown of him bulling over Brian Urlacher, helped start a four game winning streak to end the season, and qualify them as a wild card for the playoffs, and eventually the Super Bowl.
Bettis is one of the all time greats! He was not so heavy early in his career and much faster when he played for the Rams but still had the power. IF you guys are keen on power running backs you'll need to check out 70's backs, Robert "The Tank" Holmes (KC Chiefs), Larry Csonka (Dolphins), John "The Diesel" Riggins (Jets/Redskins), and John Brockington (Packers).
He truly was a monster of a running back. These clips are indicative of the way he ran, through and over dudes as often as around them. And keep that in mind when thinking of this; he made it to 5th all time running back in terms of yards playing that way! Just crushing dudes beneath his cleats and bouncing them off like beach balls. It was a joy and privilege to watch him work here in Pittsburgh.
I was born in 02, the very tail end of his career so I don't remember watching him play. But, my dad was born in '62 and would always talk to me about how by the second half it looked like the other team was trying to avoid tackling the bus because of how much punishment he'd inflict on you before you were able to bring him down
Jerome Bettis was Power Running back he began his career with a Rookie of the year with the Los Angeles Rams! But he belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers and a bust in Pro Football Hall Of Fame
Hall of Famer, Jerome Bettis! I almost forgot how amazing he was until watching all of those highlights. Seeing him win a championship in his hometown -- the first Steelers Super Bowl win I saw in my lifetime after always hearing about the 70s Steelers - was incredible. I went to Disney World to see him and Hines Ward the next day. 😊
Bettie is a really good guy as well as a great player. We lived in Pittsburgh and he came to my daughter's class in high school and talked with the kids. My daughter isn't a sports fan but he still made an impression on her.
The Bus what a legend and as a Steelers fan it was great watching him play. And I feel in any sport its always good to retire after just winning a championship. A true Class Act and a perfect fit for the black and gold.
The Stags was the name of his high school football team the Mackenzie High Stags in Detroit. He also changed his life when he was young. He used to sell drugs with his brother on the streets in Detroit when he was young before he went to college.
So glad I grew up in Pittsburgh getting to experience Bussy and the following decade or so of Steelers football. Never knew what was going to happen week to week, just that you were gonna get an excuting game. The Steelers/Ravens rivalry was unlike anything else. When they played primetime it was like a huge event across the country, everyone watched. The city was ELECTRIC on gamedays!
Hines Ward was crying because he and Big Ben and the rest of the Steelers team were unable to get a Superbowl win for The Bus that year, having lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The following year The Steelers did ride The Bus to a Superbowl win.
4:32 that was an iconic run by Jerome. Playing the Bears in Pittsburgh, he literally ran over one of the best linebackers in the NFL at the time, Brian Urlacher.
Not only was Jerome a beast of a running back, he also had the best feet for a big man too. The way he was able to shift his feet and body for his size was crazy.
I've been a lifelong Raiders and 49ers fan, both have had some great half backs like Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Roger Craig, Frank Gore just to name a handful. Two of my favorites period were Jerome Bettis and Mike Alstott. Big, bruising, agile, unselfish leaders and good all around dudes
Built like a lineman, playing weight around 250, but with speed and agility. He had a less than stellar rep when he came to the Steelers, but became an elite player for Pittsburgh. He was from Detroit, and his final game was winning the SBXL (45) as a Steeler, in Detroit. He'd intended to retire the year before, but the Steelers lost the AFC Championship game, and didn't get to the SB. As a rookie QB, Ben Roethlisberger talked him into returning for that one more year, promising they'd get there. And they did. Stags were his high school team, he played his college ball with the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame.
Number 54 Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL history. For Jerome Bettis to run over him is something. Urlacher doesn't miss many tackles in his career.
Bettis was listed at 250lbs starting his rookie year and it never changed his whole career. It was a running joke toward the end of his career. I would say Big Ben at 240 is also pretty silly.
Jerome Bettis is the best! He played at Notre Dame and was a legend there as well. You guys should watch his Notre Dame highlights. He also narrated a fantastic short documentary on the history of the Notre Dame/Michigan rivalry, which goes all the way back to when the universities first began to play football. It’s called, “Onward Notre Dame- the Michigan Rivalry”.
Jerome was 6'3 260+, when he got downhill, he was a problem. When defenses forced him horizontal, he had the best hips for a big back, period. Some games you were lucky you could hold him to 4 yds per carry. He was such a great sportsman and teammate, was highly respected league wide. A leader amongst men, Ambassador to the game and a teammate for life.
The NFL gave access to his last season(s) similar to what they're doing to Jason Kelce now. Remember his knees being so shot, that his toddler had already been conditioned to climb a few steps at a time in their house then wait on the steps for Jerome to reach them. It was the 1st time I saw what playing in the NFL does to your body..
You guys need to do a video on HINES WARD. Amazing all around player and man !! Played with all of his heart and gave every play his all out effort, all without an ACL in his knee. He was a QB at the University of Georgia and became the Best all around WR in Steelers history !! He is the player interviewed about how Jerome taught him how to be a leader and the player crying because they lost the previous AFC Championship and Bettis was going to retire. They promised him if he came back the next year they would win him a Super Bowl, that's the ending to this video, The Bus going out as a Champion in his hometown of Detroit in front of his parents and friends !! HINES WARD was the MVP of that Super Bowl. Please do a reaction video of Hines. He will be in the Hall of Fame shortly.
Gotta love watching The Bus taking 90’s era middle linebackers for a ride…. Cool video, also forgot just how nimble he could be. And how fast in open space, he’s *not* slow. At least compared to a bunch of exhausted defenders dragging ass from having to pull this dude to the ground for 3 1/2 Quarters can you imagine. Automatic 5 yards after halftime.
Bettis's recorded weight was 252lbs (just under six feet tall). His true weight was almost certainly more - probably closer to 275lbs, especially later in his career. Some criticized his lack of fitness, mostly because they felt he didn't "look the part" of an NFL running back. To be fair, he didn't look the part of an NFL running back. But, despite the back fat and belly roll, I never recall seeing him appear to fade late in games. And he maintained enough speed and agility to be an effective player throughout his career. Pittsburgh fans, as well as old school purists, absolutely loved the guy. The fact that he is a genuinely decent person helped.
Check out Christian Okoye. He's another of the monstrous running backs from the NFL. He formed a backfield tandem in Kansas City with Barry Word. Two of the biggest backs to play in the same backfield together, they were a frightening pair. Christian didn't even start playing the game until he was 23 years old.
My dad absolutely loved watching him play, and he was a niner's fan. lol. But I grew up watching Bettis and he was a style I was not used to lol. So it made football really fun. Also, notice #52 from the Ravens in this compilation try.
I actually delivered a pizza (well, 5 of them and a few hoagies) to him way back when I worked at pizza outlet in hampton during my winter break from college. Apparently it was kind of a tradition for him and a few other players to bulk up with lots of carbs the day before a game. Nice guy, nice tip too :)
In case you don't know, Pittsburgh has a unique dialect accent like no other. One small piece of that is the characteristic use of yinz instead of you guys--as in Are yinz goin'...fill in the blank, or see yinz later. It is Pittsburgh's own version of youse guys that some NYCers use or y'all that some people in the South use. You would likely need a translator (like me as I am from the Burgh) to make it so that you could understand a conversation between 2 people from Pittsburgh. So see yinz later--um goin' dahn Irwin n'nat.
Thanks for the context Greg. We did get an awesome care package from a Steelers fan and in there was a book for the terminology differences which was awesome.
There's a reason why his nickname is "The Bus" once he got going, he wasn't stopping till he got to his destination, be it the End Zone or line to gain.
The thing is, running backs who run with power are not rare at all in the NFL. In fact, the position of fullback was basically dedicated to them. Bettis had just enough finesse, and ability to read the play, to stand out above the rest. There was more to his play than just running forward, although he did that better than everyone else.
I saw little story on what a Bettis day off is like after a game day. He has these extra sturdy rails in his staircase to support his weight because he literally had to lean on the rail to get downstairs. his body was so beat up after game day that he could hardly move.
Oof. I feel that. I never played in the NFL but I did some damage to one knee with bad bowling form and at my peak I was 347 lbs (I'm 5'11", same as Bettis). I've lost weight since, thankfully, which has helped a lot.
I’m glad yinz liked the package and the shout out was amazing. Thanks. Loved the video. Should check out Hines Ward, the best blocking wide receiver.
Thank you again Tracy 🙏 We really appreciated it!
The bus is from Detroit. So he won the Super Bowl in his hometown. Unreal!!!!
Ben promised to bring the Bus home and he delivered baby! Just a wonderful story
252 lbs is what they listed Jerome's weight as. I'm pretty sure that was when he came into the league and they never changed it. He played up around 260 or even 270.
the guys he's running through in this video... #54 Brian Urlacher, #52 Ray Lewis.... the best of the best at their position and the most feared in their era. Bettis was a force.
Yeah, even Ray knew about the Bus.
There's a very iconic play at 4:40 where The Bus runs over Brian Urlacker. Urlacker was one of the best defenders in the league.
He went to Notre Dame and went to the NFL after 3 seasons. He promised his mom when he went to the NFL that he would graduate from the University of Notre Dame. He was only 4 courses short of getting his degree so he returned to college and graduated at the age of 50 from the University of Notre Dame to fulfill his promise to his mom.
Meaningless degree for him.
@@areguapiriwasn't meaningless to him or his mother. 🤦🏾♂️
Any promise you keep for your Mama is not meaningless
@areguapiri that's the point. He didn't need to, but he did.
He may never use his degree but a promise to mom is a promise you have to keep. Respect
Hines ward would be a amazing reaction the best blocking receiver ever
Father Damo knows Jerome was from Detroit. In America, all the maddest dudes are from the D.
Dude ended his career with a Super Bowl in Detroit, his hometown. Hollywood couldn’t write that better. Hell yeah. Good for him.
🙌🙌
Yinz is a Pittsburgh word, it's our plural you, like y'all or you lot. We have a rather distinct accent and more than a few unique words around here. It's something that unites all us Yinzers, just like all our teams wearing black and gold does.
The story this video assumes you know:
He was drafted by the Rams, after a 2 great seasons, his 3rd year he barely got any carries and production fell way off, the Rams claimed he was a locker room problem and traded him to the Steelers, then drafted “the next big thing” Lawrence Phillips. Less than 2 years later, the Rams released Phillips due to legal issues and poor production. Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, Bettis was proving to be a GREAT locker room guy (all the comments at the start about his leadership, the clip of #39, Willie Parker, hugging him; Parker was the man who replaced Bettis, and Bettis guided his growth, instead of doing what most do, and try and keep the younger player down, Bettis helped him). The highlight of him playing against the Rams was from his first game against them after the trade(1996), where he had 129 yards on only 19 carries and 2 TDs. In February of 2006, he won his only Super Bowl, eXtra Large in his home town of Detroit, while playing for the Steelers. All the crying at the beginning was because the previous season, he was expected to retire and the Steelers fell 1 game short of the Super Bowl, the locker room was devastated because he would retire without a SB. Roethlisbergeer, then a rookie, asked him o give him “one more year” and promised to get him that Super Bowl. Bus gave Ben that one more year. In the Ben highlight video, you saw him making a tackle after Bettis fumbled. THAT fumble was one of the very very few that Bettis ever had. If Bettis had NOT fumbled, that carry would have sealed the Steelers trip to the conference title game (1 away from the SB, same as the previous season), but inexplicably, a colts player got a helmet right on the ball and it came flying out. Ben did everything he could to save the play and made the tackle, to save the game and keep them alive. 2 games later, as promised, they were in SB XL in Bettis’ hometown of Detroit, where Bettis retired after the game holding the SB trophy. When Bettis retired, he was the 5th all-time leading rusher, briefly was 4th all-time until he was passed by Curtis Martin (from University of Pittsburgh and NFL New York Jets), who retired the same year. Bettis is currently 8th all-time in rushing yards.
He earned the nickname “the bus” from long-time Steelers announcer, Myron Cope, coming up with the idea because he carried so many people all over the field and was as unstoppable as a runaway bus.
P.S. if you ever do more announcer reaction videos, Myron Cope and Mike Lange (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL) are 2 of the most interesting characters to get reactions to. You’ve already reacted to some of Mike Lange’s announcing in the Mario Lemieux Video.
Meanwhile, just before the start of that same season, Phillips was arrested for assault for intentionally driving a car into 3 teenagers, because he was mad at them after playing a back-yard football game, he already had warrants out for domestic situations with his girlfriend. The incidents combined for 31 years of prison time. In 2015 he ended the life of his cell-mate, and a few months later, he took his own. I only include the tragic story of Phillips as a contrast, as he was the guy the Rams preferred while calling Bettis a “locker room problem”
4:52, he's running through Brian Urlacher, that is not easy, especially considering Brian is a big guy himself.
Thought the same. Also they showed R. Lewis in another clip. Another no small task to get by.
In football, the player with the lowest sense of gravity usually wins. Urlacher was played at 6-4 and I believe Jerome was like 5-10
There's Peanut Tillman in that shot, too. Both of them are worthy of their own videos.
I like that game too but a different play where he had a 40 yard run in the snow
4:58 the guy he did that to- Brian Urlacher- is a hall of fame linebacker hahaha
The Halo 3 soundtrack in the video was a nice touch.
Another big RB worth a gander is Christian Okoye. Great highlights, his nickname was The Nigerian Nightmare. He was so athletically gifted that he made it to the NFL despite never having set foot on a football field until the age of 23.
He's an often overlooked player.
That’s a good one! That reminds me also of Larry Johnson. He was a beast for like two or three seasons and injuries, just like a lot of other running backs, did him in.
Love that they used the Theme from Halo.
Great vid! Loving the run of Steelers videos
Just as some background on Bettis' last year winning the Superbowl, In Roethlisburger's rookie year, they made it to the AFC Championship, losing to the Patriots. Bettis wanted to retire but Roethlisburger asked him for one more year, and promised they would win the Superbowl. They ended up winning the Superbowl the next season, and to make it even better, it was in Detroit which is Bettis' hometown.
and Ben had the biggest bailout in history of the NFL when Bettis fumbled on the 1 against the Colts and Ben was the last person back to stop the TD and to save the game. Then a miracle of FG miss by one of the greatest kickers ever.
Smh
The Stags was high school he went to Notre Dame for college. Big guy all his life
He played at 5'11" and between 245 and 260lbs--heavier as he got older but still had great feet and quickness. Drafted in 1st round by the Rams--Steelers traded to get him early on.
Bettis finished his 13 NFL seasons as the NFL's 5th all-time leading rusher with 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns. He also caught 200 passes for 1,449 yards and 3 touchdowns and threw 3 career touchdown passes. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2004.
Jerome was arguably the heart of the team. After every playoff game the Steelers won in the 2005 playoffs: Ben would give the game ball to Jerome saying “I’ve gotten you one step closer, I’ve got more to give you.” After they beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl 40, Ben gave Jerome that last game ball he promised him 🥹
He was a big, bruising running back, with a huge heart to match that frame. He was like a coach/mentor on the field.
4:46 That's Brian Urlacher he's running over. Worthy of his own video if you haven't covered him already.
Ted Johnson of the Patriots tore both biceps. They tore in two different seasons, clean tears too, off the bone. Both times it was a Bettis run that caused the injury. Arm tackle at your own peril. He also has the best stat line in football history, 5 carries for 0 yards and 3 Touchdowns.
I would say def do more of that guys videos, he put clips in to give you perspective on the player and that's good for you guys
Will check the channel out and see what other videos he has. Appreciate the comment
Awesome gents Steelers fan through and through and Jerome Bettis is legend
Thank you. Love this!
The crying by Hines Ward was because they lost the AFC Championship game to go to the Super Bowl and they thought that Jerome would retire and they didn't get him a championship but he came back for one more year and they made it and won the Super Bowl
He cried like that too, when he said after losing to the Patriots, "they knew our plays." He was right, they did.
Thanks for the context, good stuff
Those pictures at the end were him in high school. He went to college at Notre Dame. There will never be another like The Bus. The speed and agility for someone his size was remarkable.
My favorite thing about Bettis was in the 2000s when the Steelers signed running back Deuce Staley, who became the starter. Bettis went along with being the backup without a single complaint and even supported Staley in public. When Staley got hurt, Bettis was back in the starting role. That kind of thing could have destroyed the chemistry/morale of many workplaces.
A Football Life - James Harrison, a true beast!
Late in his career, particularly in his final season, he was the Steelers' "closer". Younger, faster running backs got most of the carries, but when they got inside the opponents 5 yard line, or some other critical short yardage situation, Jerome was put in to bull the ball over the line. The run that was shown of him bulling over Brian Urlacher, helped start a four game winning streak to end the season, and qualify them as a wild card for the playoffs, and eventually the Super Bowl.
Absolute Pittsburgh legend. Retired #5 all time in rushing yards (passed by a few more since).
Jerome was a Full Back/Running Back.
He was a fullback at Notre Dame, but he was 100% running back in the NFL. I'm a Steelers and Notre Dame fan.
Jerome Bettis is from Detroit, for him to finish his career winning the SB in Detroit. poetic full circle.
Check out John Riggins and Jim Taylor, both great running backs.
I got his autograph when I was a little kid when I went and watch the steelers training camp. He is a nice guy
Look at Damo talking about fullbacks and halfbacks with confidence! You guys have grown up so fast =P
Thank you Travis 🙏
Bettis is one of the all time greats! He was not so heavy early in his career and much faster when he played for the Rams but still had the power. IF you guys are keen on power running backs you'll need to check out 70's backs, Robert "The Tank" Holmes (KC Chiefs), Larry Csonka (Dolphins), John "The Diesel" Riggins (Jets/Redskins), and John Brockington (Packers).
He truly was a monster of a running back. These clips are indicative of the way he ran, through and over dudes as often as around them. And keep that in mind when thinking of this; he made it to 5th all time running back in terms of yards playing that way! Just crushing dudes beneath his cleats and bouncing them off like beach balls. It was a joy and privilege to watch him work here in Pittsburgh.
I was at the snow game. When he ran over Uralcher, it was madness.
I was born in 02, the very tail end of his career so I don't remember watching him play. But, my dad was born in '62 and would always talk to me about how by the second half it looked like the other team was trying to avoid tackling the bus because of how much punishment he'd inflict on you before you were able to bring him down
The Makenzie Stags was the high school team that he played for in Detroit, MI.
Jerome Bettis was Power Running back he began his career with a Rookie of the year with the Los Angeles Rams! But he belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers and a bust in Pro Football Hall Of Fame
Hall of Famer, Jerome Bettis! I almost forgot how amazing he was until watching all of those highlights. Seeing him win a championship in his hometown -- the first Steelers Super Bowl win I saw in my lifetime after always hearing about the 70s Steelers - was incredible. I went to Disney World to see him and Hines Ward the next day. 😊
Bettie is a really good guy as well as a great player. We lived in Pittsburgh and he came to my daughter's class in high school and talked with the kids. My daughter isn't a sports fan but he still made an impression on her.
The Bus what a legend and as a Steelers fan it was great watching him play. And I feel in any sport its always good to retire after just winning a championship. A true Class Act and a perfect fit for the black and gold.
Bettis was a tremendous person.
The Stags was the name of his high school football team the Mackenzie High Stags in Detroit. He also changed his life when he was young. He used to sell drugs with his brother on the streets in Detroit when he was young before he went to college.
12:30 bro said Paraphernalia instead of Memorabilia 😂😂😂
So glad I grew up in Pittsburgh getting to experience Bussy and the following decade or so of Steelers football. Never knew what was going to happen week to week, just that you were gonna get an excuting game. The Steelers/Ravens rivalry was unlike anything else. When they played primetime it was like a huge event across the country, everyone watched. The city was ELECTRIC on gamedays!
Hines Ward was crying because he and Big Ben and the rest of the Steelers team were unable to get a Superbowl win for The Bus that year, having lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The following year The Steelers did ride The Bus to a Superbowl win.
A first ballot hall of famer & Detroit native. Winning the superbowl in Detroit in his last game in the NFL. absolutely iconic player,
My Dad was a steeler fan until the Day he died and he loved the bus reminded him of old Shool football when he played as a marine with no helmet!
Bettis actually did ballet to help with his footwork.
you should add John Riggins to your list
Number 39 for the Steelers in the beginning is by FAR my favorite unimaginative sports nickname: “Fast” Willie Parker
4:32 that was an iconic run by Jerome. Playing the Bears in Pittsburgh, he literally ran over one of the best linebackers in the NFL at the time, Brian Urlacher.
Priest Holmes please 😂😂😂
Not only was Jerome a beast of a running back, he also had the best feet for a big man too. The way he was able to shift his feet and body for his size was crazy.
12:18 lol stags that’s him in high school
Music is from Halo.
Jerome Bettis is a Legend in and out of the Game !!!
The Bus was both kinds of running back. He was power and he was nimble and quick. He will be hard to replicate.
I've been a lifelong Raiders and 49ers fan, both have had some great half backs like Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Roger Craig, Frank Gore just to name a handful. Two of my favorites period were Jerome Bettis and Mike Alstott. Big, bruising, agile, unselfish leaders and good all around dudes
Urlacher run was best I've ever watched live
Built like a lineman, playing weight around 250, but with speed and agility. He had a less than stellar rep when he came to the Steelers, but became an elite player for Pittsburgh. He was from Detroit, and his final game was winning the SBXL (45) as a Steeler, in Detroit. He'd intended to retire the year before, but the Steelers lost the AFC Championship game, and didn't get to the SB. As a rookie QB, Ben Roethlisberger talked him into returning for that one more year, promising they'd get there. And they did. Stags were his high school team, he played his college ball with the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame.
♥ da bus!
Number 54 Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL history. For Jerome Bettis to run over him is something. Urlacher doesn't miss many tackles in his career.
Bettis was listed at 250lbs starting his rookie year and it never changed his whole career. It was a running joke toward the end of his career. I would say Big Ben at 240 is also pretty silly.
Yep. Some of those listed weights are ridiculous. He probably hadn’t weighed 250 since draft day. Saying 300 is probably more accurate.
Jerome Bettis is the best! He played at Notre Dame and was a legend there as well. You guys should watch his Notre Dame highlights. He also narrated a fantastic short documentary on the history of the Notre Dame/Michigan rivalry, which goes all the way back to when the universities first began to play football. It’s called, “Onward Notre Dame- the Michigan Rivalry”.
Jerome was 6'3 260+, when he got downhill, he was a problem. When defenses forced him horizontal, he had the best hips for a big back, period. Some games you were lucky you could hold him to 4 yds per carry. He was such a great sportsman and teammate, was highly respected league wide. A leader amongst men, Ambassador to the game and a teammate for life.
The NFL gave access to his last season(s) similar to what they're doing to Jason Kelce now. Remember his knees being so shot, that his toddler had already been conditioned to climb a few steps at a time in their house then wait on the steps for Jerome to reach them.
It was the 1st time I saw what playing in the NFL does to your body..
He’s from Detroit so winning the SB there was beautiful
4:38 - That's Bettis running through Urlacher. Nobody ran through Urlacher.
You guys need to do a video on HINES WARD. Amazing all around player and man !! Played with all of his heart and gave every play his all out effort, all without an ACL in his knee. He was a QB at the University of Georgia and became the Best all around WR in Steelers history !! He is the player interviewed about how Jerome taught him how to be a leader and the player crying because they lost the previous AFC Championship and Bettis was going to retire. They promised him if he came back the next year they would win him a Super Bowl, that's the ending to this video, The Bus going out as a Champion in his hometown of Detroit in front of his parents and friends !! HINES WARD was the MVP of that Super Bowl. Please do a reaction video of Hines. He will be in the Hall of Fame shortly.
Gotta love watching The Bus taking 90’s era middle linebackers for a ride…. Cool video, also forgot just how nimble he could be. And how fast in open space, he’s *not* slow. At least compared to a bunch of exhausted defenders dragging ass from having to pull this dude to the ground for 3 1/2 Quarters can you imagine. Automatic 5 yards after halftime.
Jerome Bettis followed the likes of Marion Motley, Pete Johnson, and Craig "Ironhead" Heyward. All big, head-crashing running backs.
My friend always called him Jerome Badass!
Bettis's recorded weight was 252lbs (just under six feet tall). His true weight was almost certainly more - probably closer to 275lbs, especially later in his career.
Some criticized his lack of fitness, mostly because they felt he didn't "look the part" of an NFL running back. To be fair, he didn't look the part of an NFL running back. But, despite the back fat and belly roll, I never recall seeing him appear to fade late in games. And he maintained enough speed and agility to be an effective player throughout his career.
Pittsburgh fans, as well as old school purists, absolutely loved the guy. The fact that he is a genuinely decent person helped.
Going through an iceberg named Brian Urlacher, both legends! Nice clips
Bus getting a chip was a top 5 sports moment for me he deserved it
Check out Christian Okoye. He's another of the monstrous running backs from the NFL. He formed a backfield tandem in Kansas City with Barry Word. Two of the biggest backs to play in the same backfield together, they were a frightening pair. Christian didn't even start playing the game until he was 23 years old.
A Football Life is a great series to cover a lot of these guys, the Bettis one is good
So many great backs to go!... Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Terrell Davis, LaDainian Tomlinson, Emmitt Smith, Priest Holmes 💥
54 for the Bears is Brian Urlacher. One of the best linebackers in his era. Just got crushed. 1st time I saw this play. Thanks.
250 when he came out of college...definitely some of these highlights were 270 or so 😅
My dad absolutely loved watching him play, and he was a niner's fan. lol. But I grew up watching Bettis and he was a style I was not used to lol. So it made football really fun. Also, notice #52 from the Ravens in this compilation try.
I actually delivered a pizza (well, 5 of them and a few hoagies) to him way back when I worked at pizza outlet in hampton during my winter break from college. Apparently it was kind of a tradition for him and a few other players to bulk up with lots of carbs the day before a game. Nice guy, nice tip too :)
In case you don't know, Pittsburgh has a unique dialect accent like no other. One small piece of that is the characteristic use of yinz instead of you guys--as in Are yinz goin'...fill in the blank, or see yinz later. It is Pittsburgh's own version of youse guys that some NYCers use or y'all that some people in the South use. You would likely need a translator (like me as I am from the Burgh) to make it so that you could understand a conversation between 2 people from Pittsburgh. So see yinz later--um goin' dahn Irwin n'nat.
Thanks for the context Greg. We did get an awesome care package from a Steelers fan and in there was a book for the terminology differences which was awesome.
gunna drink an ahron after comin back from the Giant Iggles dahn in East Liberty.
The thing with the Bus is, he would wear the team down physically throughout the game.
He wore 6 with Notre Dame.
As a Baltimore fan I hate the Steelers but have the utmost respect and admiration for The Bus
There's a reason why his nickname is "The Bus" once he got going, he wasn't stopping till he got to his destination, be it the End Zone or line to gain.
The thing is, running backs who run with power are not rare at all in the NFL. In fact, the position of fullback was basically dedicated to them. Bettis had just enough finesse, and ability to read the play, to stand out above the rest. There was more to his play than just running forward, although he did that better than everyone else.
He was a blocking back in college for another great running back .
SB XL, his final game - played and won in his hometown of Detroit
Yinz British boys are in for a treat get get your terrible towles ready for the bus.😂
He was listed at 252 but he was closer to 270
And 5'11" tall.
My favorite Jerome Bettis stat in one game was 5 rushes 1 yard 3 touchdowns
I saw little story on what a Bettis day off is like after a game day. He has these extra sturdy rails in his staircase to support his weight because he literally had to lean on the rail to get downstairs. his body was so beat up after game day that he could hardly move.
Oof. I feel that. I never played in the NFL but I did some damage to one knee with bad bowling form and at my peak I was 347 lbs (I'm 5'11", same as Bettis). I've lost weight since, thankfully, which has helped a lot.
He is obese now. That is his problem. Not from football injuries.
5:49 ironically showing Ray Lewis what it's like to get murdered