The Pittsburgh Steelers organization is built on a foundation of understanding that there is life outside of football. Although Head Coach Mike Tomlin famously declared, “football is our game, our business is winning, and our intentions are to handle business,” that “winning” attitude can be applied outside of football as well. Tomlin is one of many members of the Steelers who encourage winning off the field just as much as winning on the field. However, Tomlin is simply carrying the proverbial torch that was ignited years before he stepped foot in Pittsburgh.
Steelers' Jerome Bettis (#36) and Ben Roethlisberger (#7) line up against the Chicago Bears in 2005 (steelers.com)
Steelers Hall of Fame running back, Jerome Bettis, continues his winning streak beyond football
After three years at the University of Notre Dame, Bettis was selected 10th overall in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams as a college junior. Needless to say, Bettis did not bring a college degree with him to the NFL. This is not uncommon by any stretch of young rookies foregoing their final collegiate year to declare for the draft and begin their NFL careers. However, Bettis always knew the importance of higher education and never lost sight in doing to his education what he did for 13 years in the NFL; to finish strong.
Bettis joined Joe Horrigan and Howard Balzer on the Pro Football Hall of Fame show on SiriusXFM radio earlier this weekend. Bettis led off by talking about what led him back to his alma mater to earn his degree after 29 years:
“Well it was something that I had always wanted to do, but I wasn’t in the position to get it done. So, COVID actually helped the process because I was able to do a semester at home without having to be on campus. But originally, I was going to have to do my entire senior year on campus and that just seemed like it was unrealistic. So when I was able to get a semester done because of COVID at home, it became a reality that I could go back for four months and take care of business and get it done.And that was something I always wanted to do, but just never thought that I could be arranged to. I promised my mom so many years ago that I was going to get it done.”
Jerome Bettis walks down the aisle at his graduation from Notre Dame earlier this year. (Twitter: @NotreDame)
After almost three decades of being off a college campus, let alone sitting in a classroom, it would take a lot of motivation to get anyone back to living the college lifestyle. Bettis already made mention of the promise he made to his mother at a younger age, but his wife and children also played a big role in his efforts. When asked about what his kids thought of him graduating, Bettis explained:
“They were so inspired, and now they understand and appreciate the significance of going to college, to getting a college degree, so they totally get it now. So, I’m glad I was able to explain it with my action, not just my words.”
Even after his time with the Steelers, Bettis continues to lead by example in a dominating and positive fashion
Needless to say, 29 years poses a significant difference in age between people. When Bettis went back to the campus in South Bend, Indiana, there was definitely a learning curve he had to manage in getting back into the collegiate mindset. Not to mention, his classmates didn’t grow up watching Bettis run over defenders and hoisting a Lombardi Trophy in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Most of them likely didn’t even know who he was outside of ‘the old guy in the class’.
To see Bettis sitting side by side by this younger generation in a classroom setting may be a bit daunting for everyone; and even though he’s used to playing in front of thousands of fans each week, Bettis was a bit taken back in this refreshed experience:
“It was strange. All of the kids were like, ‘who is this guy, this old guy in the class?’ They were maybe two, three years old when I was playing so they don’t remember me at all. So, it was one of those, I had to get up and everybody tells who they are, where they’re from. I was so embarrassed initially, but they all kinda gravitated to me, wanted to know about my experiences, and so it became really good, but initially I was nervous.”
Jerome Bettis takes notes during class at Notre Dame en route to earning his college degree. (photo via Today.com)
The question remained to Bettis of 'why now?' Why at age 50 was it right to go back and get a college degree? Being a father, husband, and massive name in professional sports, there didn't seem to be a large amount of urgency for Bettis to take a break from all of those roles and moving back into a college apartment. To those questions, Bettis proclaimed:
“I said to myself, there is no time like the present and let’s get it done. So I knew I had a window and I said ‘I’m going for it.’ And hopefully it shows people that regardless of your age, if you’re committed to it, you can still get it done. Age is only a number, but the education you know, that is the great equalizer, and hopefully people see that and understand that.”
As ironic and possibly cliché as it sounds, real world experiences help in education, just as much as education helps in real world experiences. As a twenty-one-year-old, Bettis was focused on facing looming real world experiences while learning the three years of education he received in college. So what is different about this time? This go-around, he seemed to take the opposite approach:
“It was so great in going back and getting this information. I was the sponge for the information. When I was back in school thirty years ago, it was much different. I was just regurgitating what I learned just so I could get through with the class, but going back now, I had a really great appreciation for the classes and for the material that I was able to pick up and learn.”
As much as football is tough, physical, grueling sport, there is also a large amount of strategy included in it as well. With that strategy, it is up to the players and coaches to manage that strategy and execute accordingly. Seeing as though Bettis was one of the best at managing strategy in football, there was no guessing as to what his favorite class was in his final semester:
“The one [class] I probably liked the most was the Strategic Management, you know talking about the business world, and how to function in it from a strategic standpoint, looking at the organizational side of the business as well.”
With Bettis now having earned his degree from Notre Dame's Mendoza School of Business, what else lies in store for the Hall of Famer? Do you think he’ll look into front office positions in the NFL? Would you like to see him work with General Manager Omar Khan with the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!
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