Jerome Bettis Jerome Abram Bettis Sr . ( born February 16 , 1972 ) , nicknamed " " The Bus " , " is a former American football halfback who played for the St . Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . Bettis is sixth on the list of NFL rushing yards leaders . He retired in 2006 after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in his native Detroit , Michigan . Early life . Bettis was born February 16 , 1972 , in Detroit , Michigan . He is the youngest of three children of Gladys Elizabeth ( née Bougard ) and Johnnie E . Bettis . Bettis did not start playing football until high school , as his primary passion as a youth had been bowling . At age 14 , he was diagnosed with asthma . He attended Mackenzie High School in Detroit , where he was a standout running back and linebacker . As a senior , he was rated the top player in the state by the " Detroit Free Press " , and was the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year award winner . College career . At the University of Notre Dame , Bettis finished his career with 337 rushing attempts for 1912 yards ( 5 . 7 yards per rushing attempt avg . ) , and made 32 receptions for 429 yards ( 13 . 4 yards per reception ) . In his last game as a junior , a 28 - 3 win by Notre Dame over Texas A & M in the Cotton Bowl , he rushed 20 times for 75 yards . During his tenure at Notre Dame , it was announced on national television that Jerome was the first player allowed by then coach Lou Holtz to tape his shoes and ankles outside his cleats . National Football League career . Rams . Bettis was picked in the first round ( 10th overall ) of the 1993 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams . On July 22 , 1993 , Bettis signed a three - year $ 4 . 625 million contract with a signing bonus in excess of $ 2 million . As a rookie he flourished under Chuck Knox ' s ground - oriented offense . He quickly earned the nickname " The Battering Ram " as he rushed for 1 , 429 yards , and was named a First - Team All - Pro and Offensive Rookie of the Year . He rushed for over 1 , 000 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Rams . The Rams moved to St . Louis for the 1995 season . New coach Rich Brooks instituted a more pass - oriented offense , a major reason why Bettis was limited to 637 yards — a significant dropoff from his 1993 and 1994 totals . Brooks asked Bettis to move to fullback for the upcoming 1996 season or if he preferred to be traded . Bettis stated he thought he could still help a NFL team with his running . On April 20 , 1996 , he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 3rd round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft in exchange for a second round selection in the same draft and a fourth round selection in the 1997 NFL Draft . Steelers . The Steelers needed a running back because Bam Morris , their power running back in the 1995 season , was arrested in March 1996 for marijuana possession . With his playing status unknown , Pittsburgh acquired Bettis . Morris eventually pled guilty to marijuana possession and was cut by the team in June 1996 , leaving Bettis as the featured back . Bettis rushed for over 1 , 000 yards in each of his first six seasons with the Steelers between 1996 and 2001 . Included in that run were three campaigns of over 1 , 300 yards . In 1997 , Bettis rushed for a career - best 1 , 665 yards in the team ' s first 15 games . However , because the team had already wrapped up its playoff position , he was rested for the regular season finale and finished 26 yards short of the team ' s single - season record . Bettis was leading the league with 1 , 072 rushing yards in 2001 when he suffered an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season . Injuries would also cost him part of the 2002 season and he then began the 2003 season as a backup to Amos Zereoue . Despite regaining his starting role midway through the 2003 season , Bettis again found himself a backup to start the 2004 season , this time to Duce Staley . But when an injury took Staley out of action mid - way through the year , Bettis stepped in and gained 100 + yards in six of the next eight games and would have likely topped 1 , 000 yards for the season if not for the decision to rest him in the Steelers ' meaningless final regular season game . The remarkable late season effort led to the sixth Pro - Bowl berth of his career . Bettis spent the 2005 season as a short yardage running back , but managed two notable games along the way : First , a 101 yard , two touchdown effort in a pivotal week 14 win over Chicago ( his second - to - last game in Pittsburgh ) . This game included a play in which he ran over Bears ' linebacker Brian Urlacher on the goal line during a heavy snow squall . Secondly , he scored three touchdowns in a win over Detroit to clinch a playoff berth on the last day of the season , which was his last game in Pittsburgh . He would finish the season and his career as the NFL ' s 5th leading all - time rusher . Bettis was also 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 appeared to call " tails " while the coin was in the air but referee Phil Luckett declared that Bettis called " heads " and awarded possession to Detroit , who would go 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 rather than during the coin toss and that at least two officials would be present during the coin toss . The readers of ESPN voted the incident as the # 8 on its list of the top ten worst sports officiating calls of all time , even though later sound enhancements of the audio showed that Bettis said " hea - tails " and Bettis admitted starting to call " heads " before changing it to tails . Bettis later put together one of the most bizarre single game statistics in NFL history . In the 2004 season opener , he carried the ball five times for a total of only one yard , a 0 . 2 yards per carry average . However , he scored 18 points on those carries with three touchdowns . During that 2004 season , Bettis and New York Jets running back Curtis Martin dueled for position on the all - time rushing yards leaderboard . Bettis entered the season in 6th place all - time and 684 yards ahead of Martin in 9th place . Because Bettis was the backup in Pittsburgh for the start of the season , Martin was able to pass Bettis in week 13 until the Steelers played their game later in the day and Bettis retook the lead by 6 yards . When the Jets traveled to Martin ' s home town of Pittsburgh to play the Steelers the following week , both backs would cross the 13 , 000 - yard mark , making this the first time two players crossed the 13 , 000 yard mark ( or other similarly high yardage milestones ) in the same game . Their combined career totals were also one of the biggest combined career totals for opposing running backs in history . At the end of the game , Martin would lead Bettis by 9 yards . Two weeks later in week 16 , Bettis would again pass Martin and establish himself with a lead of 81 yards . In doing so , Bettis passed Eric Dickerson for 4th place on the all - time list . Bettis sat out the final week of the season , and when Martin rushed for 153 yards that week he passed Dickerson and Bettis for the final time . After the Steelers ' defeat in the 2004 AFC Championship Game on January 23 , 2005 , Bettis announced that he was considering retirement , but would not make a final decision for several months to prevent the sting of the defeat from clouding his judgment . Later , Bettis agreed to stay with the Steelers for another season . He stated he would love to play in the Super Bowl in 2006 since it was to be played in his hometown of Detroit . His wish came true as the Steelers played in , and won , Super Bowl XL ( 40 ) against the Seattle Seahawks 21 - 10 on February 5 , 2006 . 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 . He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1993 , 1994 , 1996 , 1997 , 2001 , and 2004 . Bettis won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 1996 , and in 2002 he was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award . While Bettis finished with 1 , 542 more yards than Franco Harris on the NFL ' s all - time rushing list , Harris remains the Steelers all - time leading rusher because 3 , 091 of those yards came while Bettis was with the Rams . Radio color commentator Myron Cope popularized the nickname The Bus after hearing a brother of a fellow Notre Dame alumni call Jerome " Bussy " in Green Bay . The nickname comes from his ability to carry multiple defenders on his back , like a bus ride , during his carries . It was during the Green Bay broadcast that Cope started using the nickname " The Bus . " Jerome credits the Notre Dame school newspaper with first using the nickname . Another lesser known nickname for Bettis was " The Closer . " He was given this nickname by former Steeler head coach Bill Cowher because whenever Pittsburgh was ahead and was ready to close out the game , Cowher would send in Bettis to run out the clock . He did this because of Bettis ' s very low fumbling percentage and the fact that he was difficult to tackle . The road to Super Bowl XL . Shortly after the Steelers lost the 2004 - 2005 AFC Championship game to the eventual Super Bowl XXXIX champion New England Patriots , Ben Roethlisberger approached Bettis . He promised Bettis that if he came back for one last season , he would get him to the Super Bowl . Apparently , it was this promise that got Jerome Bettis to play one last season . In 12 NFL seasons , Bettis had reached the playoffs 5 times , but had never been in the Super Bowl . In week 17 of the 2005 NFL season , Bettis rushed for 41 yards and three touchdowns against the Detroit Lions . The Steelers won 35 - 21 , and thanks to Bettis ' s three touchdowns , they clinched a playoff berth . When Bill Cowher pulled Bettis from the game late in the fourth quarter , he was given a standing ovation from the Steeler fans . This game would be the last home game ( not including the neutral - site Super Bowl ) for Jerome Bettis . Bettis contributed 52 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers ' wildcard playoff victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on January 8 . After their wildcard win , Ben Roethlisberger revealed to the team that he promised to Bettis that he would get him to the Super Bowl , in order to get him to come back for the 2005 season . On January 15 , 2006 , Bettis was the center of one of football ' s most memorable endings in a divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts . While the Steelers offensive attack was mostly pass driven during the game , Bettis ran well , taking in 46 yards on 17 rushes , including one touchdown . When the Steelers took possession of the ball on the Indianapolis 2 yard line with 1 : 20 remaining in the game , leading 21 - 18 , the outcome seemed almost certain . The first play from scrimmage went to the surehanded Bettis , who had not fumbled once the entire year . As Bettis ran towards the end zone , Colts linebacker Gary Brackett popped the ball out of Jerome ' s hands , where , in seemingly another occurrence of the Sports Illustrated " cover jinx , " it was picked up by cornerback Nick Harper , who was stopped from returning the fumble all the way for a touchdown by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger . Ultimately , however , Bettis ' s mistake did not result in a Steelers loss , as Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46 - yard game - tying field goal , ending the game with a 21 - 18 Steelers victory . The next week , the Steelers were set to face off against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game . Bettis , who had never been to a Super Bowl in his storied career , delivered a rousing speech to his teammates the day before the game , asking them to " Just get me to Detroit , " his hometown , where Super Bowl XL was to be played . Bettis ' s wish was granted , as he and the Steelers advanced to Super Bowl XL with a 34 - 17 win over the Broncos , led by Ben Roethlisberger ' s arm and Bettis ' s 39 yards on 15 carries , including a touchdown . After the game was over , Bettis found his parents in the crowd and mouthed the words " We ' re going home " to them . Retirement from football . Asked about the possibility of retirement , Bettis announced , " It ' s been an incredible ride . I played this game to win a championship . I ' m a champion , and I think the Bus ' s last stop is here in Detroit . " Thus , Jerome Bettis officially announced his retirement standing on the champions ' podium , holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy . Hines Ward , the MVP of the game , said during the Super Bowl commercial , " I ' m going to Disney World and I ' m taking The Bus ! " While the Steelers no longer officially retire numbers , they have not reissued Bettis ' s # 36 since he retired . On January 31 , 2006 , Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the City Council presented the key to the city 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 . " Jerome moved to Atlanta , Georgia at the end of his career and is currently living there . Governor Jennifer M . Granholm of the State of Michigan declared February 1 , 2006 to be Jerome Bettis Day . On May 21 , 2006 Bettis received an honorary Doctoral degree from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield , Michigan . Before the Steelers ' home opener of the 2006 NFL season , a large school bus drove onto the field , and Bettis stepped out to a massive crowd ovation . He was one of several Steelers players being honored as part of the celebration of their five Super Bowl victories ; Lynn Swann and Franco Harris were also present . Post - football career . In February 2006 , at the 2006 Winter Olympics , NBC Sports announced that Bettis had been signed as a studio commentator for NBC ' s new Football Night in America Sunday night pregame show where he was through the 2008 season . In April 2006 , Bettis and his parents teamed up with Don Barden , the head of PITG Gaming LLC , in a bid for a casino on Pittsburgh ' s Northside to be called the Majestic Star . Their plan would aid the NHL ' s Pittsburgh Penguins with funding for a new ice arena . Barden said that he would give $ 7 . 5 million a year for 30 years to help build a new arena . Bettis opened a restaurant called " Jerome Bettis ' Grille 36 " on June 5 , 2007 on Pittsburgh ' s Northside . Bettis makes a cameo as himself in season 3 of the NBC comedy series " The Office " . Signing autographs at a paper convention , Michael Scott tries to invite him to a room party , which Bettis declines . Later , Michael claims Bettis is nicknamed " The Bus " because he is afraid of flying . In 2010 , Bettis joined School of the Legends ( SOTL ) , an online community and partner of the NFLPA . He was featured in an article on the D1 Training website in February 2011 and filmed training courses for SOTL that focused on his position as a running back . Bettis is currently the host of " The Jerome Bettis Show " on WPXI - TV , filmed at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh , airing Saturdays at 7 : 00 PM and 1 : 00 AM . He is a commentator for the NFL Network and a former NBC studio analyst for " Football Night in America . " The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation and other agencies sponsor the Jerome Bettis Asthma and Sports Camp annually for children with asthma . Bettis has also delivered over 1000 pairs of cleats to children in the Detroit school system . On February 2 , 2013 , Bettis failed to get voted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame . Personal life . Bettis lives in a suburb of Atlanta , Roswell , Georgia . He and his family also maintain a home in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . In July 2006 , Bettis married his longtime girlfriend , Trameka Boykin , in Montego Bay , Jamaica . The couple has a daughter , Jada , and a son , Jerome Jr . , together . Bettis had made political donations to both Democratic and Republican candidates ; specifically the Congressional campaign of Democratic U . S . Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick , and the 2004 campaign of Republican President George W . Bush . On March 29 , 2008 , Bettis accompanied Barack Obama on a campaign visit to the US Steel plant in Braddock , Pennsylvania .