What is Jerome Bettis' net worth?
Jerome Bettis is a former football running back who played in the NFL for 13 seasons. Jerome Bettis has a net worth of $14 million. During his career, Jerome earned around $35 million in NFL salaries. Starting out with the Los Angeles Rams in 1993, he was traded after three seasons to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he spent the rest of his playing career. A six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-Team All-Pro, Bettis helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL in 2006.
Early Life and College Career
Jerome Bettis was born in 1972 in Detroit, Michigan. The eldest of three children, he was raised by his parents Gladys and Johnnie. His primary athletic passion as a youth was bowling. To make ends meet, he and his brother sold crack cocaine in Detroit. Bettis first became seriously involved in football at Mackenzie High School. Playing as both a running back and linebacker, he was rated the top player in the state by the Detroit Free Press in his senior year.
For college, Bettis enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. In his sophomore year, he set a school record with 20 touchdowns in a single season. Overall, Bettis finished his collegiate career with 337 rushing attempts for 1,912 yards. He forwent his senior year to enter the NFL Draft in 1993 but later returned to Notre Dame to take courses for credits.
Los Angeles Rams
In the 1993 draft, Bettis was picked in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams. He succeeded as a rookie, rushing for 1,429 yards during his first season. Additionally, he recorded an NFL-best 79 rushing first downs and 38 runs of 10 or more yards, earning him a First-Team All-Pro selection. Both of his first two seasons with the Rams saw him being selected for the NFC's Pro Bowl team.
After the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995 and acquired a new coach, Bettis experienced a decline in his performance and decided to be traded when the season concluded.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bettis was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers with a third-round pick in 1996. In his first season, he rushed for a career-high 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns and was again named to the First-Team All-Pro Team. Bettis won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award and was voted team MVP. His success continued with the Steelers, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons, including three campaigns of over 1,300 yards. In 1997, he rushed for a career-high 1,665 yards in the team's first 15 games and set a then-NFL record with two overtime touchdowns.
In 2001, Bettis led the league with 1,072 rushing yards before suffering a major hip and groin injury, causing him to miss the remainder of the regular season. Injuries plagued him in 2002, and in 2003, he was a backup to Amos Zereoué. Bettis bounced back in 2004, earning the sixth Pro-Bowl berth of his career, but in early 2005, the Steelers lost the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots.
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Super Bowl XL and Retirement
Throughout his 12 NFL seasons, Bettis reached the playoffs five times but never made it to the Super Bowl. This changed in 2006, when the Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game to make it to Super Bowl XL. Held in Bettis' hometown of Detroit, the Steelers emerged victorious over the Seattle Seahawks, winning 21-10.
After the victory, Bettis announced his retirement while standing atop the podium with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. He ended his professional career as the NFL's fifth all-time leading rusher with 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns. Additionally, Bettis caught 200 passes for 1,449 yards and three touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Post-Playing Career
Following his retirement, Bettis received an honorary doctoral degree from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. He then became a studio commentator for NBC's "Football Night in America" Sunday pregame show until 2008. Bettis also opened a restaurant called Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 in Pittsburgh and began hosting "The Jerome Bettis Show" on WPXI-TV. He has additionally provided NFL analysis for various ESPN programs, including "SportsCenter."
Personal Life and Charity
In July 2006, Bettis married his longtime girlfriend Trameka Boykin. They live in Atlanta, Georgia, with their two children, Jerome Jr. and Jada.
Bettis founded the Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation, which sponsors the annual Jerome Bettis Asthma and Sports Camp for children with asthma. He has also delivered over 1,000 pairs of cleats to schoolchildren in the Detroit area.
