Several Pittsburgh Steelers have weighed in on running back Jerome Bettis’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former head coach Bill Cowher joined that group today, talking to Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley about The Bus.
“You look at what he has done over a period of time, how great he was. He was meant to be in the Hall of Fame for what he has done and how he did it. He deserves to be in there,” the Super Bowl winning coach told Varley.
Cowher talked about the traits that made the back so great.
“His ability to jump cut in a hole, his ability to throw a great body lean. Just everything he did. He was able to do it consistently year in and year out. He was so durable. He was there every Sunday.”
Bettis played in 192 of 208 career regular season games, not missing more than one in a season until 2001, his ninth year in the league.
The former coach spoke not just to the athlete he was but the player.
“He accepted any role, he gave you everything he had, he worked at it, and he carried himself like a professional…he is a Hall of Fame running back and a Hall of Fame person.”
Bettis rushed for 13,662 yards and 91 touchdowns in his 13 year career. He’ll be enshrined in Canton on August 8th. The annual Hall of Fame game featuring the Steelers and Minnesota Vikings will take place the next day.
