The Accomplishments of Jerome Bettis in Helping People are Not Well Known

Almost every football player dreams of being on the winning team in the Super Bowl in his last game as a player, but few live to see their dream fulfilled, as running back Jerome Bettis, who retired from the Pittsburgh Steelers after Super Bowl XL, did in his hometown of Detroit. After his team won a 21-10 decision over the Seattle Seahawks, Bettis, who rushed for 13,662 yards during a 13 season career, fifth best in league history, hoisted the prestigious Vince Lombardi trophy that the winning team receives over his head. Bettis scored 91 touchdowns, rushing 3,479 times, during 192 regular season games, during his illustrious career. He rushed 14 times for 43 yards during Super Bowl XL. One of his less known honors, however, was only partially for his football talents, when he won the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2001.

The award is given for a combination of football prowess and community involvement. Bettis has a record of achievement in both areas that is hard to match. As a player, Bettis had successful seasons with the Los Angeles Rams—three—followed by ten successful seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a career that will land him one day in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With the Rams he was one of two co-Rookies of the Year. He was one of only eight players to rush for more than 200 yards in a game in his first season. He was traded to the Steelers for two first round draft picks, and in his first season with his new team, he rushed for more than 1,400 yards, including 220 against his former team.

He is also a successful businessman, and in 1997 he started his Jerome Bettis Enterprises, a full-service sports marketing firm, which introduced the world to his line of apparel. He has been on advisory boards at Notre Dame, where he attended college and been involved in successful marketing campaigns for Nike, Ford, and EA Sports Incorporated.