Across his 13 NFL seasons, Jerome Bettis carved out a legendary career, mainly with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Hall-of-Famer became a Super Bowl champion, NFL Man of the Year, NFL Comeback Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Pro, and six-time Pro Bowler while rushing for 13,662 yards and totaling 94 touchdowns.
Ahead of the American Century Championship, which Bettis is competing in from July 11-13 on NBC, Peacock, and The Golf Channel, PFSN caught up with the NFL legend to discuss the new-look Steelers, today’s running backs who stand out to him, the hype surrounding Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty, Pittsburgh’s backfield after drafting Kaleb Johnson, whether Shedeur Sanders can win the Cleveland Browns’ starting QB job, and much more.
One-on-One With Steelers Legend Jerome Bettis
When you look at today’s NFL, who are some running backs that you enjoy watching, and is there anyone who reminds you of yourself?
Jerome Bettis: “Well, I mean, not really. But I mean, the size of Derrick Henry, you love, you know what I’m saying? Saquon Barkley is in a whole different class. He’s just absolutely special. Josh Jacobs, I’m a big fan as well. The running back position, people always criticize it now and say, ‘Well, you don’t need a franchise guy.’ And what people are starting to see is if you’ve got a franchise running back, he’s significant, and he makes your team that much better. You’re better off having one than not having one, right?
“[They’re seeing] the difference that they bring to your team. So I think that’s what’s pleasant about what we’re seeing right now. Because there was a time when people were getting away from running back, saying, ‘Oh, you can get a couple, and you can just utilize them that way.’ But I think now people see that if you find a special one, he’s going to pay dividends.”
Derrick Henry understandably gets a ton of praise for his longevity and durability, but you played for 13 seasons and carried the ball more than 3,500 times (including the postseason). What do you make of Henry’s longevity, and what were the keys to your durability?
Bettis: “For him, it is impressive, obviously, to see him continue to play at a high level. Once you hit 30 or are getting close to to, that’s always the benchmark, so for him to be [31 years old] and to continue to be productive like that… because a lot of times when you’re a physical running back and you’re taking those hits, obviously it takes his toll on you physically. But to see him able to go out there and compete day in and day out, that’s impressive. And that’s what I prided myself on: being available.
“That was one of the biggest parts of my game — I wanted to be available week in and week out because I knew what I brought to my team, and if we wanted to have any chance of being successful, I wanted to be in there helping direct traffic, so to speak. So that was, I thought, one of my superpowers: being able to be on the field more times than not, being able to lead the charge.”
Was that just a toughness thing? Were there certain things you did behind the scenes that allowed you to stay healthy and play so long?
Bettis: “It was definitely being conscious of your body and being smart running the football. I think that was a big part of it. I always tried to avoid that monster collision.
“I was always smart enough to understand how to fall, because a lot of times when you got the football, if you’re falling and you fall on that football, you’re going to break some ribs, you’re going to separate a shoulder, you’re going to do some damage to yourself. So you got to learn how to fall, how to make people miss, and how to use angles.
“So, that was a big part of my game and how I played it. Because I was very conscious that when you start taking some of those big shots, that’s the reason that you’re not able to play week in and week out. So if you can avoid those big hits, it gives you some longevity in terms of career.”
You mentioned that teams are realizing they should try to find that special running back. Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty is viewed as the next big thing at the position. What are your thoughts on his game?
Bettis: “I’m a fan of his. My only concern is his size. I don’t know how physical he’s going to be able to be at the next level. He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he ran big in college and he was physical. He bounced off of people, ran through people, so if he can continue that on the next level, then I think he can be special. I just wonder: does it translate with his size?”
Speaking of rookie running backs, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kaleb Johnson and let Najee Harris leave in free agency. What do you make of Harris moving on to sign with the L.A. Chargers, and what do you make of Johnson’s game and Pittsburgh’s backfield?
Bettis: “I’ve seen Kaleb Johnson; I watched him at Iowa. He was physical, could make some big plays, wasn’t a true burner at the top end of running, but he’s physical, could make you miss, and was a downhill runner. I think that’ll all translate to the NFL and in particular to the Steelers because of what they do. And Jaylen Warren, I just thought he was energetic. He brought a lot of energy. He was a one-cut downhill guy. I thought he was very electric when he played. I think he’ll get more opportunities to show that with Najee being gone.
“But I thought Najee, you saw him from his first year to his last year, he developed and grew every year as a running back, and I was impressed with him at the end of his run in Pittsburgh. I thought he was someone that if they had re-signed him, it would’ve made a lot of sense. The fact that they did not, I understand it, but still, he’s one of those guys that if you would’ve re-signed him, there would not have been a question mark about that signing at all because he’s definitely deserving of another contract. But I was happy for him that he was able to go to the Chargers, and they’re going to like what they get from Najee.”
The Steelers are getting so much attention right now with the Aaron Rodgers signing, the DK Metcalf trade, etc. Everyone’s talking about them. What do you make of those moves, and what’s your prediction for this upcoming season?
Bettis: “Well, I’m hoping that this season is a win in the playoffs. That’s what I’m hoping. That’s the goal. You got to get to the playoffs, and you got to win and create an opportunity for yourself. I think Aaron Rodgers gives them that ability to do that. The quarterback position has been the real Achilles heel of this team the last three or four years. They’ve got a playoff-caliber defense. They just haven’t been able to get the productivity out of the quarterback position to give them a chance to be a special football team.
“If this offensive line can protect Aaron Rodgers, then it gives them a chance to be a really, really, really good offense — hopefully running the football and with some play action behind it. I think it takes a lot of pressure off of Aaron Rodgers to have to be a 30- or 40- pass-a-game guy. I think if you’re asking Aaron Rodgers at 41 years old with the offensive line the way it is to be a 40-pass-a-game quarterback, then I think we’re in for a lot of trouble. I think if you can protect him, run the football, ask him to throw 20 to 25 times, I think, then you get the specialist that Aaron Rodgers can provide you as a quarterback.”
Ryan Clark recently had a take that blew up. He said that while Mike Tomlin is a future Hall-of-Famer and “unfireable,” he thinks Tomlin’s voice has run stale in Pittsburgh and that it might be best for everyone involved if he moves on. He mentioned it could be like Andy Reid moving from Philadelphia to Kansas City. What do you make of that?
Bettis: “Well, I mean I understand it, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think you gotta give him a quarterback. I think that’s the issue. You are asking him to make wine out of water. You don’t have a quarterback, and you ask him to win a championship? It’s impossible. It’s been proven. You see it; the teams that have a great quarterback have a chance to win a championship.
“The Steelers haven’t had a great quarterback since Big Ben’s last couple of years before he retired. So, to ask him to be more than what this team is is really disingenuous because everybody sees you gotta have a quarterback and the distillers have been mired in mediocrity because they’re picking in the middle of the pack every single year because they’re just good enough not to be bad. It is a shame because you got a head coach who’s showing his greatness and willing these teams to be competitive when they’re below average, but he’s getting everything out of them. But the problem with getting everything out of them, you become middle of the road, right? And you lose in the playoffs.
“So the real trick was, how did you get that team to the playoffs? And so what’s being missed is the brilliance of getting them to the playoffs because they’re losing in the playoffs, and that’s because you have poor quarterback play. And how do you rectify that? That’s the decision above his pay grade. It’s going to take ownership and GM to say, ‘We got to commit some resources to go get a quarterback that we can develop long-term.’ And until they do that, you’re going to keep getting what you’re getting.”
Yeah, he is sort of a victim of his own success.
Bettis: “Right! He’s not going to let this team be 4-13 or whatever. We’re not going to do that because of the way he operates, so he is a victim of his own success, and that’s part of the problem. But the organization has to say, ‘Enough is enough. We got to go get the guy.’ And the problem is the Steelers have always been a development team through the draft, and their first-round picks have always been a priority and very important, and they’ve had a lot of success with the first-round picks.
“With that being said, they don’t want to give up those picks to go up and get the quarterback, but they have to if they want to have an opportunity to be a championship-caliber team again.”
Speaking of a young quarterback, Shedeur Sanders is in the spotlight right now. He is getting a ton of attention as Deion Sanders’ son and after playing well in the Cleveland Browns’ minicamp. What do you make of his game, and what do you think of the media sensation that Deion and Shedeur have become?
Bettis: “Well, it was always going to be a media sensation. Obviously, when you have a Hall-of-Fame dad and you have this quarterback who’s had this success in college now on his way to the NFL and you saw the events that took place at the draft and all of that now, it was always going to be a circus.
“Now, it’s about his play. He’s got an opportunity to prove himself, and that’s what he’s got to go out there and do — prove himself every single day. Because you got half of the people doubting his ability, and you got the other half of the people cheering for him. So, he’s got to go out there and just compete and let the chips fall where they may. And I think he’s a good quarterback. I really do. I think he’s got a chance to be special.
“And I think if he goes out there and continues to develop and puts one foot in front of the next, he might win that job. I don’t think it’s impossible to think that he won’t be the starter in Cleveland because he’s got as good a chance as the other guys to win that job. And I think he can.”
You’re competing in the American Century Championship from July 11-13 on NBC, Peacock, and The Golf Channel. Your odds of winning are 250-to-1 — I think Stephen Curry and Mardy Fish are the two favorites. How confident are you heading into the event?
Bettis: “Well, I’m confident where I am. I don’t have any delusions of grandeur that I’ll win this thing or anything like that. Really, my biggest competition is beating my best finish. I think I finished 15th one year, so that’s kind of what I’m competing against. If I can do that, then I think I’ve done something.”
I’m always amazed at the different legends that they’re able to assemble. Are there any athletes or celebrities in particular that you’re excited to interact with or compete against this year?
Bettis: “Well, it’s great to see all those guys. I mean, literally to see all the guys out there, you get a chance to rub shoulders with guys that you never really maybe spend time getting to know.
“Maybe some of the hockey guys that you get a chance to talk and spend time with, some of the baseball guys that you knew from afar, but you get a chance to spend 18 holes playing with them, and you get a different appreciation for the person. So that’s what I’m looking forward to and always have fun with when we play.”
