When Jerome Bettis stood on the dias after Super Bowl XL holding the Steelers One for the Thumb in his hands he proudly declared, “The Bus stops here.” Bettis had wanted to retire after the 2004, but came back for one more year at the urging Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger and when he learned that Super Bowl XL would be played in his home town.
- With a Super Bowl ring on his finger, Bettis decided to move on with his “Life’s work.”
There’s no better way to go out on top, and so very few have a chance to do it that way. But for a player of Bettis caliber the Super Bowl shouldn’t be the pinnacle. There was one more honor, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- For a while, it seemed like the Bus might in fact have stopped in Canton.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame declined to induct Bettis in 2012, 2013 and 2014. It looked like Bettis was in danger of being black balled. Fortunately, that’s not a worry today, as the 46 members that comprise the Pro Football Hall of Fame voted to induct the Jerome Bettis.
So happy to be amongst the games greatest players!! My Family and I are truly honored and blessed!
— Jerome Bettis (@JeromeBettis36) February 1, 2015
Joining Jerome Bettis are the San Diego Charger’s Junior Seau, the Kansas City Chiefs Will Shields, Charles Haley of the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, and Tim Brown of the Oakland Raiders. Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff entered as a member of the seniors category, while both Green Bay General Manger Ron Wolfe and former Bills, Panthers, and Colts GM Bill Polian were selected as members of the newly created contributor category.
Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene Not So Lucky
Jerome Bettis was not the only player with strong ties to the Pittsburgh Steelers who was eligible for the Hall of Fame. Former Steelers player and assistant coach Tony Dungy was eligible again this year, but was not inducted nor was Kevin Greene, who, while he play most of his seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, gained his greatest noterity on Bill Cowher’s Steelers teams of the 90’s playing opposite Greg Lloyd.
