Jerome Bettis

(Scan from Cover of Super Bowl XL Steelers)

Jerome Bettis was born on February 16, 1972 in Detroit, Michigan. Jerome Bettis's full name is Jerome Abram Bettis. He lived in a poor area of Detroit. Jerome made a name for himself in the College of Notre Dame. He was then drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1993 draft. He was drafted 10th overall in the 1st round. Bettis was with the Rams for two years. When Rams head coach, Chuck Knox retired, Bettis didn't fit into the Rams' plans and so Bettis was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

(http://www.rustywilly.com/largecards/bettis6.htm)

Jerome Bettis made a name for himself when he was with the Steelers. The awards that he received during his football career are Offensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Steelers MVP (1996 and 1997), Walter Payton Man of the Year and he went to the Pro Bowl 6 times. He was with the Steelers from 1996 to 2005. Bettis rushed for 13,662 yards for his entire career, about 5/6 of those rushing yards were rushed with the Steelers. When the Steelers went to Super Bowl 40, Bettis ran for 43 yard on 14 carries. After the Super Bowl, Bettis announced that he was going to retire. I was really sad when he said that. When I think of the Steelers, the first player I think about is Jerome Bettis even though he isn't playing football anymore.

(http://www.tsn.ca/tools/print_story.asp?id=98500)

This hero is important to me because when I met him he talked to me. I asked how he managed to survived in the NFL for 9 years as a bruising running back and he told me that it was perseverance that kept him going. I never forgot what he said to me that day. I idolize Jerome Bettis because he was a nobody and he made a name for himself. If I can improve on my attributes, I will try to make it into NFL and be a bruiser running back just like Bettis.