PRO:
Bettis ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 13,294 yards...is one
of six players in the NFL to rush for 13,000 yards…has become only second
Steelers running back to surpass the 10,000-yard mark and is ranked second on
the team’s all-time rushing yardage list in nine seasons with 10,203 yards…ranks
third in NFL history with 3,369 rushing attempts…has moved into second place on
the Steelers’ all-time total yards from scrimmage list with 10,969 total
yards.
2004:
Finished the regular season with a team-high 941 yards, just missing
his ninth 1,000-yard season and seventh as a Steeler...led Steelers in rushing
for the eighth time in his nine seasons with the team...9/12
vs. Oakland:
ran for just one yard but tied a personal record by scoring three TDs, all on
one-yard runs...9/26
at Miami: gained
12 tough yards on seven carries...added two more short TD runs, giving him five
for the season…scored his sixth rushing TD of the season…10/10
vs.
Cleveland: had
a season-high 34 yards on 14 carries...10/17
at Dallas: scored
the game-winning touchdown from two yards out, raising his TD runs to seven on
the season…10/31
vs. New England: finished
with 65 yards on 15 carries, including a long run of 29 yards…extended his
string of TD runs to four games with his eighth of the season...11/7
vs Philadelphia: returned
to the starting lineup and performed like the Bus of old…led the team with 149
yards—the fifth highest total of his career—on 33 carries, his most attempts
since Oct. 22, 2000 versus Cleveland (33)…averaged 4.5 yards a
carry...11/14
at Cleveland: produced
his second-straight 100-yard game, the 56th of his career and the 45th as a
Steeler…finished with 103 yards on 29 carries and two TDs…also caught one pass
for seven yards...11/21
at Cincinnati: continued
his outstanding run while filling in for starter Duce Staley…recorded his third
straight 100-yard game, gaining 129 yards on 29 carries and moving past Tony
Dorsett (12,739) on the NFL’s all-time rushing list…was the 57th 100-yard game
of his career and his 46th as a Steeler…also caught one pass for three
yards...11/28
vs. Washington: recorded
his fourth straight 100-yard game, tying Franco Harris for the most 100-yard
rushing performance in Steelers history…also moved into a tie for fifth place in
the NFL for most 100-yard games with one team…was his 47tj 100-yard games as a
Steeler and the 58th of his career…finished with 100 yards and one TD—tying his
career high of 11 in 1996—on 31 carries…had a 20-yard reception, his longest
since 1996...12/5
at Jacksonville: finished
with 17 yards on three carries for a 5.7-yard average...12/12
vs. N.Y. Jets: was
a big factor in extending the Steelers’ win streak to 11 games…ran and threw for
TDs…finished with 57 yards on 10 carries, a 5.7-yard average, including a
12-yard TD run that sealed the victory for the Steelers, which set a new career
mark for TDs in a season.…also threw a 10-yard TD pass to tight end Jerame
Tuman, the third TD pass of Bettis’ career—second to Tuman (Oct. 21, 2001 at
Tampa Bay)...12/18
at N.Y. Giants: recorded
his fifth 100-rushing performance of the season, giving him 48 as a Steeler,
58th of his pro career…passed Franco
Harris’ previous record of 47 100-yard games...finished with 140 yards and one
TD on 36 carries for a 3.9-yard average and a long of 23...also surpassed the
10,000-yard mark as a Steeler, becoming only the second Steeler running back to
surpass 10,000 yards…caught one pass for three yards...12/26
vs. Baltimore: moved
ahead of Eric Dickerson into fourth place on the all-time NFL rushing list while
racking up his sixth 100-yard rushing performance of the season—his 49th as a
Steeler and the 59th of his career…finished with 117 yards on 27 carries for a
4.3-yard average…also had two receptions for 13 yards...1/15/05
vs. N.Y. Jets: came
up big for the Steelers, rushing for just his third 100-yard game in the
postseason (102, vs. Indianapolis, Dec. 29, 1996 and 105 vs. Denver, Jan. 11,
1998)...finished with 101 yards on 27 carries, a solid 3.7-yard average with one
TD…also caught one pass for 21 yards...1/23/05
vs. New England: led
the team with 64 yards and one TD on 17 carries, marking the first time in his
eight starts in 2004 he did not reach the 100-yard mark...average 3.8 yards a
carry, including a long of 25 yards.
2003: 9/7 vs. Baltimore: Totaled 14 yards on four
carries, including an 11-yard burst…left the game in the third quarter after
tweaking a groin muscle. 9/14 at Kansas City: Gained seven yards on four
carries. 9/21 at Cincinnati: Had his most productive game of the early
season…had a string of six straight carries in the third quarter that culminated
in a one-yard TD burst for the eventual game-winning score…finished with 59
yards on 16 carries. 9/28 vs. Tennessee: Had just six yard on three carries.
10/5 vs. Cleveland: Totaled eight yards on three carries…moved into a tie for
seventh place (with Lynn Swann) on the Steelers’ all-time scoring list (318
points) with his one-yard TD run. 10/12 at Denver: Scored the Steelers’ only TD
of the game and then added the two-point conversion in typical Bettis
style…finished with 32 yards on 14 carries…also caught one pass for seven yards.
10/26 vs. St. Louis: Started his first game of the season…finished with 42 yards
on 12 carries, including a long of eight yards. 11/2 at Seattle: Finished with
50 yards on a season-high 17 carries. 11/9 vs. Arizona: Led the team with 54
rushing yards on 18 attempts, his most attempts of the season…had a couple long
runs, including a 16-yard burst, his longest of the season…fumbled for the third
time this year after going 220 carries without a fumble…also had one reception
for eight yards. 11/17 at San Francisco: Gained 39 yards on 13 carries, a 3.0
average, including a long of 14 yards…also had two receptions 15 yards. 11/23 at
Cleveland: Compiled a season-high 93 yards on 24 carries…became only the fifth
player in NFL history to accumulate 3,000 rushing attempts…hit the 3,000 rushing
attempt mark on his 23 carry and surpassed it on his final carry of the game.
11/30 vs. Cincinnati: Became only the 10th player in NFL history to amass 12,000
rushing yards…also moved into sixth place on the Steelers’ all-time scoring
list, passing Kris Brown, with his TD run in the third quarter that gives him
338 points…finished with 62 yards on 20 carries…also had one reception for five
yards. 12/7 vs. Oakland: Moved into ninth place on the NFL’s all-time rushing
list—passing Thurman Thomas—and recorded his first 100-yard rushing performance
of the season, the 53rd of his career and the 42nd as a Steeler…finished with
106 yards on 27 carries, including one TD and a long of 12 yards…also had here
receptions for 19 yards. 12/14 at N.Y. Jets: Moved into eighth place on the
NFL’s all-time rushing list, passing Franco Harris…finished with his highest
rushing average of the season, compiling 68 yards on 16 carries for a 4.3-yard
average…also had three receptions for seven yards. 12/21 vs. San Diego: Moved
into seventh place on the NFL all-time rushing list, passing Marcus Allen…had
his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season, the second in three games
and the 54th of his career—the 43rd as a Steeler…finished with a season-high 115
yards and one TD on 32 carries, including a long of 20 yards…also had one
reception for 16 yards. 12/28 at Baltimore: Surpassed Jim Brown on the NFL’s
all-time rushing list with a two-yard run midway through the second
quarter…finished with 54 yards on 23 carries, including a long of
eight.
2002:
9/9 at New England: Finished with 35 yards on eight carries…committed
his first turnover 760 rushing attempts. 9/15 vs. Oakland: Totaled 41 yards on
10 carries…also caught one pass for five yards. 9/29 vs. Cleveland: Had his most
attempts of the season, finishing with 24 yards on 14 carries (1.7 average).
10/6 at New Orleans: Had his most productive game of the early season…finished
with 84 yards on 19 carries, a 4.4-yard average…scored his first TD of the
season…surpassed the 11,000-career rushing yards mark with a 13-yard run in the
second quarter. 10/13 at Cincinnati: Rushed for more than 100 yards for the 52nd
time in his career (41st as a Steeler) and first of the season…finished with 109
yards on 21 carries, an impressive 5.2-yard average…scored two TDs, including a
41-yard burst, the fourth-longest TD run as a Steeler and fifth overall. 10/21
vs. Indianapolis: Began the game in impressive fashion, scoring two of the
Steelers’ first three TDs…finished with 33 yards on 11 carries, before leaving
the game in the third quarter with a (left) knee injury…also caught one pass for
seven yards. 10/27 at Baltimore: Was deactivated due to his knee injury. 11/3 at
Cleveland: Was deactivated due to his knee injury. 11/10 vs. Atlanta: Dressed
for the first time in three weeks…entered the game for one play to give Amos
Zereoue a break in overtime. 11/17 at Tennessee: Had his most-active day in
nearly a month…had four carries for six yards. 11/24 vs. Cincinnati: Returned to
the starting lineup for the first time in five weeks…moved past O.J. Simpson
into 11th place on the NFL all-time career rushing list…finished with 79 yards
on 22 carries, including a 24-yard TD run in the fourth quarter that helped seal
the Steelers’ victory…scored two TDs to move into eight place on the Steelers’
all-time scoring list…also had two receptions for 27 yards. 12/1 at
Jacksonville: Had another strong performance despite suffering a broken nose in
the second quarter…finished with 86 yards on 20 carries…also had one reception
for 11 yards. 12/8 vs. Houston: Finished with 30 yards on 14 carries, including
a long run of eight yards. 12/15 vs. Carolina: Scored two touchdowns to give him
nine for the season, his second-highest TD total since he scored 11 in
1996…finished with 73 carries on 18 attempts, a 4.1-yard average, despite
aggravating an already sore left knee on his first TD run…also had one reception
for nine yards. 12/23 at Tampa Bay: Was the Steelers offensive
workhorse…compiled 66 yards on 26 carries…also had one reception for minus-two
yards. 12/29 vs. Baltimore: Was deactivated. 1/5 vs. Cleveland: Saw limited
action…finished with one carry for minus-two yards. 1/11 at Tennessee: Played
sparingly in the AFC Divisional game…had just three carries for six
yards.
2001: 9/9 at
Jacksonville: Had a sub-par game by his standards…finished with 28 yards pm 12
carries…also caught one pass for two yards. 9/30 at Buffalo: Rushed for 100
yards for the 47th time in his career (36th as a Steeler)…finished with 114
yards on 22 caries, a 5.2-yard average…had a long of 30 yards. 10/7 vs.
Cincinnati: Topped the 10,000-yard plateau early in the first half with a
three-yard run…began the game with a 48-yard, the third-longest run of his
career…finished with 153 yards on 23 carries, a gaudy 6.7-yard average…recorded
his 48th career 100-yard game-37th as a Steeler…also caught one pass for seven
yards. 10/14 at Kansas City: Started slow but finished with another 100-yard
performance, his third straight of the season and the 49th of his career-38th as
a Steeler…had three big runs nullified by penalties that would have given him
one of his highest rushing totals…finished with 112 yards on 19 carries (his
fifth 100-yard game in his career versus K.C.)…also had one reception for five
yards. 10/21 at Tampa Bay: Contributed in all three phases of the
offense-running, receiving and passing…rushed for 143 yards on 17 carries for an
8.4-yard average, his fourth straight 100-yard contest…also threw the second TD
pass of his career (his first was a 21-yard to Hines Ward) Dec. 12, 1999 versus
Baltimore…also had one reception for eight yards…passed Otis Anderson to 13th
place on the NFL's all-time rushing list with a 46-yard TD run in the third
quarter. 10/29 vs. Tennessee: Had his string of 100-yard games end at four but
was still effective…finished with 62 yards on 19 carries…scored two TDs. 11/4
vs. Baltimore: Gained 91 yards on 23 carries for a solid 4.0-yard average…also
caught one pass for eight yards. 11/11 at Cleveland: Produced his second-highest
rushing total as a Steeler-and the third-highest of his career-finishing with
163 yards on 29 carries for an averaged of 5.6-yards a carry…compiled 48 yards
in overtime…also had fur runs of 15 or more yards including a long of 27
yards…recorded his fifth 100-yard game of the season-the 51st of his career and
40th as a Steeler…had one reception for no gain. 11/18 vs. Jacksonville: Was
held in check most of the day but did manage to rip off a 40-yard burst in the
final quarter to help seal the Steelers' victory…finished with 52 yards on 21
carries. 11/25 at Tennessee: Finished with 73 yards on 21 carries…also had one
reception for two yards…had two runs of 15 or more yards17 and 15. 12/2 vs.
Minnesota: Surpassed 1,000 yards for the season on his first carry with a
12-yard burst…finished with 81 yards on 19 carries but missed most of the fourth
quarter with a hip injury…also caught one pass for 16 yards. 12/9 vs. N.Y. Jets:
Was deactivated because of a groin injury. 12/16 at Baltimore: Was deactivated
for the second straight week because of his groin injury. 12/23 vs. Detroit: Was
deactivated for the third consecutive week because of his groin injury. 12/30 at
Cincinnati: Missed his fourth straight week because of a groin injury and was
deactivated. 1/6/02 vs. Cleveland: Missed his fifth straight week because of his
groin injury. 1/20 vs. Baltimore: Missed the game after suffering adverse
reaction from pain medication administered to his injured groin. 1/27 vs. New
England: Returned to the starting lineup but was mostly ineffective…gained eight
yards on nine carries…scored one TD…also caught two passes for 23 yards,
including a long of 12 yards.
2000:
Answered all his critics with his best season in two years…was selected as the
team MVP and the recipient of the Pro Football Writers of America Pittsburgh
Chapter's Chief Award recipient for cooperation with the media…finished with
1,341 yards, his highest rushing total in two seasons and the fourth-best season
in Steelers history…scored a team-high eight TDs…missed most of the preseason
with a bruised knee…was held to just eight yards on nine carries in
season-opener versus Baltimore (9/3)…had one reception for seven yards…compiled
his first 100-yard game of the season-the 40th of his career and his 29th as a
Steeler-at Cleveland (9/17)…finished with 133 yards on 24 carries for a 5.5-yard
average…threw a costly interception to thwart a potential score when the
Steelers recovered a fumble deep in Cleveland territory…also caught one pass for
11 yards…had a solid performance, rushing for 77 yards and a TD, versus
Tennessee (9/24)…also caught three passes for 20 yards…averaged 4.1 yards a
carry…powered his way to nearly another 100-yard performance at Jacksonville
(10/1)…finished with 97 yards on 28 carries, including a long run of 20
yards…also rushed for two TDs…recorded his second 100-yard game of the
season-the 41st of his career and 30th as a Steeler-at New York Jets
(10/8)…finished with 107 yards on 25 carries…extended to four consecutive games
his streak of scoring a TD…compiled his second consecutive 100-yard performance,
giving him 42 for his career and 31 as a Steeler, versus Cincinnati
(10/15)…finished with 101 yards on 29 carries for a 3.5-yard average…rushed for
his third consecutive 100-yard game versus Cleveland (10/22)…finished with 105
yards on 33 carries…scored his sixth TD of the season…redeemed himself from the
first game against the Ravens, finishing with a respectable 65 yards on 18
carries at Baltimore (10/29)…finished with 42 yards on 13 carries at Tennessee
(11/5)…also caught one pass for 12 yards…recorded his fifth 100-yard performance
of the season-the 44th of his career and 33rd as a Steeler-versus
Philadelphia…finished with a season-high 134 yards and one TD on 30
carries…moved into tie for 12th place (with Elbie Nickel) on the Steelers'
all-time scoring list with 222 points…also had two receptions for four yards…ran
well despite totaling only 57 yards on 12 carries versus Jacksonville
(11/19)…had two runs of 15 or more yards (17 and 16 yards)…averaged 4.8 yards a
carry ….eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier for the season in the third quarter at
Cincinnati (11/26)…just missed his sixth 100-yard game of the season, finishing
with 93 yards on 23 carries, a solid 4.0-yard average…also had one reception for
minus-one yard…registered his sixth 100-yard performance of the season, the 45th
of his career and the 34th as a Steeler, versus Oakland (12/3)…had several nifty
runs, including three rushes of 15 or more yards, the most in a game during the
season…produced a season-long 30-yard run…also caught one pass for 13 yards…was
held to 39 yards on 17 carries at New York Giants…also had one reception for
seven yards…recorded his seventh 100-yard rushing performance of the season, the
46th of his career and the 35th as a Steeler, versus Washington (12/16)…finished
with 104 yards on 25 carries for a 4.2-yard average…had a long of 23 yards…also
caught one pass for 25 yards…finished with 51 yards on 26 carries…also had two
receptions for five yards at San Diego (12/24).
1999:
Recorded his sixth 1,000-yard rushing season-and fourth as a Steeler…finished
with 1,091 yards on 299 carries for a 3.6-yard average…scored a team-high seven
rushing TDs…missed all of the preseason due to a knee injury…was placed on the
active non-football injury list prior to the start of training camp (7/30)…had
arthroscopic surgery Aug. 3 on left knee to repair a slight tear to his lateral
meniscus…was moved to the active roster (8/30)…returned to active duty in
surprisingly grand fashion in the season-opener versus Cleveland (9/12)…had not
taken a snap during the preseason but rushed for a game-high 89 yards on 18
carries, an impressive 14.9 yards a carry…rebounded from the previous week
without any difficulty against Baltimore (9/19)…finished with 46 yards on 16
carries…moved into second place on the Steelers' all-time rushing list, passing
John Henry Johnson (4,383)…led the team with 39 yards on 11 carries, including a
long of 20 yards, his 11th-longest run as a Steeler versus Seattle (9/26)…also
had two receptions for nine yards…compiled his second-highest rushing total of
the early season, despite having a few big runs nullified because of penalties
versus Jacksonville (10/3)…finished with 58 yards on 20 carries with a long of
11…led the team with four receptions for 27 yards, including a long of 17…had
his second-lowest rushing output of the season at Buffalo (10/10)…finished with
24 yards on 13 carries…did score his first TD of the season on a one-yard plunge
that pulled the Steelers to within three points, 24-21, late in the game…had two
receptions for 10 yards…recorded his first 100-yard game of the season at
Cincinnati (10/17), finishing with 111 yards on 26 carries…also scored two TDs
for the first time in a game during the season…added one reception for four
yards…rushed for 80 yards on 23 carries in Monday Night game versus Atlanta
(10/25)…also caught two passes for 14 yards…finished with 53 yards and two TDs
on 18 carries at San Franciso 49ers (11/7)…produced his longest TD run of the
season, a 22-yard burst in the fourth quarter…scored two touchdowns for the
second time this season and the second time in three games…produced his
second-highest rushing total to that point of the season against Cleveland
(11/16) but fell one yard short of the 100-yard barrier…rushed for 99 yards on
26 carries, averaging 3.8 yards a carry…also caught one pass for seven
yards…showed bursts of his big-play ability at Tennessee (11/21)…rushed for 88
yards on 14 carries for a season-high 6.3-yard average…had a season-long 35 yard
run, the sixth longest run of his career…finished with 81 yards on 22 carries
for a 3.7-yard average versus Cincinnati (11/28)…also caught one pass for six
yards…was held to a season-low 23 yards on 12 carries at Jacksonville
(12/2)…also had one reception for 14 yards…proved his versatility by running,
catching and throwing in the game versus Baltimore (12/12)…threw his first
career TD pass to Hines Ward, a 21-yarder, to give the Steelers the first score
of the game…rushed for 39 yards on 13 carries…also caught four passes for 11
yards…averaged 3.3 yards a carry at Kansas City (12/18)…finished with 63 yards
on 19 carries, including a long of 13 yards…also caught one pass for nine
yards…had his most productive game of the season versus Carolina (12/26)…rushed
for his second 100-yard game of the season-his 28th as a Steeler and 39th for
his career…finished with a 137 yards on 33 carries, both season highs, and a
touchdown…also caught a pass for minus-three yards…rushed or 61 yards and one TD
on 15 carries, despite suffering a deep thigh bruise against Tennessee
(1/2)…averaged 4.1 yards a carry.
1998:
Finished with the lowest rushing totals of his Steelers career in 1998, despite
recording his third consecutive 1,000-yard season…ran for 1,185 yards on 316
carries, a 3.8-yard average…also had three TDs (all rushing)…finished with 16
receptions for 90 yards…ranked seventh in the AFC and 12th overall in
rushing…carried 23 times for 41 yards in the season-opener versus Baltimore
(9/6)…produced a long run of nine yards…caught a five-yard pass…recorded his
32nd career 100-yard game and his 21st as a Steeler against Chicago
(9/13)…finished with 131 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown, including a long
run of 42 yards…averaged 6.2 yards a carry…had his second sub-100 yard game,
rushing for 48 yards on 13 carries versus Miami (9/20)…recorded his 33rd career
100-yard game-his 22nd as a Steeler-in the Seattle game (9/27)…rushed for 138
yards, the third-best effort as a Steeler at the time…averaged 4.9 yards a carry
with a long of 23 yards…was well on his way to another 100-yard game before
suffering a knee injury in the second quarter in the Cincinnati contest
(10/11)…compiled 55 yards on 11 carries for a 5.0-yard average before his
injury…was deactivated Sunday because of his knee injury versus Baltimore at
home (10/18)…returned from his one-game absence with a stellar performance on
Monday Night at Kansas City (10/26)…rushed for 119 yards on 33 carries-the 34th
of his career and 23rd as a Steeler…also caught two passes for four yards…gained
a season-low 26 yards on 11 carries versus Tennessee (11/1)…also had one
reception for six yards…rambled to his fourth 100-yard game, the 35th of his
career and the 24th as a Steeler in a Monday Night game versus Green Bay
(11/9)…also registered his seventh consecutive 100-yard game on Monday Night
football…rushed for 100 yards on 34 carries…also had one reception for 26
yards…was held to 29 yards on 14 carries, his second-lowest total of the year,
at Tennessee (11/15)…also had two receptions for 10 yards…finished with 77 yards
on 26 carries versus Jacksonville (11/22)…also had one reception for 10
yards…was held to 67 yards on 26 carries, a 2.6-yard average on Thanksgiving Day
at Detroit (11/26)…tipped a pass to Will Blackwell who raced untouched for a
15-yard TD…rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries, his fourth straight sub-100 yard
rushing performance against New England (12/6)…finished with 63 yards on 17
carries for a 3.7-yard average versus Tampa Bay (12/13)…also had one reception
for seven yards…recorded his first 100-yard performance since the Nov. 9 Green
Bay contest against Cincinnati (12/20)…finished with 104 yards on 21 carries
(5.0 yards a carry)…compiled his highest rushing totals of the season on Monday
Night in the season-finale at Jacksonville (12/28), finishing with 139 yards on
26 carries…also caught a season-high four passes for 24 yards.
1997: Named
1997 Steelers MVP for second consecutive year…became third running back in team
history to earn the MVP award and first Steeler since Terry Bradshaw to win the
award two years in a row…set a personal mark with 25 rushing attempts in the
postseason against New England (1/3) in AFC Divisional round…had a career-high
105 yards in postseason against Denver (1/11) in AFC Championship game…named to
fourth Pro Bowl (second as a Steeler)…finished season with 1,665 yards rushing,
just 26 yards shy of a team record for most yards in a single season, set by
Barry Foster in 1992…ranked second in the AFC and third in the NFL with 1,665
yards rushing…reached 1,000 yards in just nine games to become fastest running
back in Steelers history to eclipse the mark…became third player in NFL history
to score two touchdowns in overtime in the same season, tying Michael Timpson
(Philadelphia 1991, '93) and John Jefferson (San Diego 1978, '80)… rushed for
season-high 164 yards against Indianapolis…named AFC Offensive Player of the
Month for October…had career-best three rushing touchdowns in one game at
Arizona (11/30/97) in which he also had 36 rushing attempts, the second-most
attempts in a game in team history…finished season with 375 rushing attempts,
the second most in one season in team history.
1996: Earned
Steelers MVP and NFL Alumni Running Back of the Year honors, named All-Pro by
College & Pro Football Weekly and USA Today, named AFC
All-Conference by Football Digest, Football News, and United Press
International…was the AFC Offensive Player of the Month (November)…selected as a
member of All (John) Madden Team…became first NFL back to surpass 1,000 yards in
1996 and finished with a then career-high 1,431 yards…completed the season with
1,553 total yards from scrimmage, 10 100-yard games, 1,431 rushing yards, 320
carries and 11 touchdowns, all of which were second highest single-season marks
in team history…had only nine carries in final two games due to an ankle injury,
but still had third-best rushing total in NFL…became first running back to have
three 100-yard games on Monday Night Football in single season…compiled five
consecutive 100-yard games (Weeks 2-6), the most since Franco Harris had six in
Weeks 7-12 in 1972…split time with Erric Pegram through first three games…rushed
for his first 100-yard game as a Steeler versus Baltimore (9/8), his first
100-yard game since a contest against Atlanta (10/2/94)…also scored first
rushing TD since 12/17/94 at Washington…tied third-best game of career with 133
yards on 20 carries following week versus Buffalo (9/16) in first Monday night
game of career…added two rushing TDs, including 43-yard score that also was the
longest rush since his rookie season…his two TDs were also a career single-game
high at the time…added 50-yard TD run versus Rams (11/3), at the time, the
longest run by a Steeler since Barry Foster had a 69-yard rush at Green Bay
(9/27/92) and the longest rushing TD since Foster's 54-yard rushing TD versus
the New York Jets (9/13/92)…gained 102 yards and two TDs in first postseason
appearance, but suffered ankle injury that limited him to 43 yards at New
England (1/5/97).
1995:
Started 13 games and led Rams in rushing for third consecutive season with 637
yards…became fourth player in team history and first since Eric Dickerson
(1983-86) to lead team for three consecutive seasons…missed first game of career
with Game 7 ankle injury to break streak of 40 games played…received Rams' game
ball after rushing for 83 yards on 20 carries versus New Orleans (9/10)…scored
his first rushing TD of season at Carolina (9/17)…gained another 74 yards on 22
carries, including 60 in second half alone two weeks later versus Chicago
(9/24)…had game-high 19 carries for 88 yards versus Atlanta (10/12)…left game in
third quarter with sprained left foot at Philadelphia (10/29)…missed following
game on inactive list at New Orleans (11/5), the first game he missed during
career…returned as starter one week later and responded with season-high 91
yards on 21 carries and one TD versus Carolina (11/12)…scored the first TD in
the St. Louis Trans World Dome with a one-yard run…produced season-long-and
second longest of his career-run of 41 yards…also had a season-high three
receptions at Atlanta (11/19)…saw limited action at Buffalo, rushing only once
for three yards in second quarter for lowest output of career…scored third TD of
season on fourth-down play at Washington (12/17)…had season-high 25 yards
receiving, including long of 19 yards versus Miami (12/24)…reported late to
training camp in contract dispute (8/4).
1994:
Registered second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season by collecting 1,025
yards on 319 carries, finishing fourth in NFC and ninth in NFL…named to NFC Pro
Bowl squad for second consecutive year; first Rams running back since Eric
Dickerson (1985-96) to earn honor in first two NFL seasons and first Rams player
to earn back-to-back honors since tackle Jackie Slater (1988-89)…was one of four
offensive players to start every game…was club's first back-to-back 1,000-yard
rusher since Greg Bell's 1,212 in 1988 and 1,137 in 1989…was fifth on club in
receptions with 31 for career-best 293 yards…finished fifth in the NFC in total
yardage with 1,318 yards…gained season-high 132 yards on 35 carries in Rams'
16-0 win at Kansas City (9/25), fourth best effort of career…recorded four
straight 100-yard rushing games in Weeks 2 through 5 (9/11-10/2), matching a
personal mark set in 1993…was two shy of club record six which Eric Dickerson
set in 1984…eclipsed 2,000-yard rushing barrier for career after gaining 65
yards on 22 carries versus Green Bay (10/9)…had season and career-high 34-yard
reception in 17-10 win over N.Y. Giants (10/16)…recorded career-high six
receptions for 21 yards in Rams' 27-21 victory in Week 10 over Denver
(11/6)…scored first two-point conversion in club history in fourth quarter at
San Francisco (11/20) and ended with two for the season…caught first career TD
pass on three-yard reception in Week 14 versus New Orleans (12/4).
1993:
Received several postseason honors including Associated Press, Pro Football
Weekly, The Sporting News, and Pro Football Writers Association
Rookie of Year honors…shared 1993 NFL Rookie of Year award with former Notre
Dame teammate and Seattle QB Rick Mirer…finished rookie season with seventh-best
rookie rushing total in league history and fourth-highest single-season rushing
total in Rams history…also was recipient of Carroll Rosenbloom and Dan Reeves
award given to Rams' Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year…finished second
in NFL in rushing yards (57 yards behind Dallas' Emmitt Smith for rushing title)
and third in league in total yards from scrimmage (behind Buffalo's Thurman
Thomas and Smith)…became first Rams rookie to rush for more than 1,000 yards
since Eric Dickerson ran for 1,808 in 1983…was first Rams rookie to make Pro
Bowl since 1985 (P Dale Hatcher) and first running back since 1987 (Charles
White)…joined defensive tackle Sean Gilbert to become first Ram to make Pro Bowl
since 1990…recorded seven 100-yard games (most by Rams running back since
Charles White had seven in 1987), tying Emmitt Smith and Thurman Thomas for
league high…registered first 100-yard game of career versus New Orleans (10/3)
with 102 yards…became eighth rookie back in NFL history to run for 200 yards in
single game with career-high 212-yard performance against Saints (12/12)…was
first rookie to accomplish feat since Bo Jackson ran for 221 yards against
Seattle in 1987…set Rams' record for most attempts rushing in a single game with
39 carries for 146 yards in season finale against Chicago (1/2/94)…became only
second back in 22 games to rush for more than 100 yards against a Dave
Wannstedt-coached defense…had five catches for career-high 71 yards against
Bears (1/2/94)…registered career-high 217 yards from scrimmage against Chicago
(146 rushing, 71 receiving)…was 10th selection in the 1993 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE:
Finished college career at Notre Dame with 337 carries for 1,912 yards (5.7
avg.), 27 TDs and 32 receptions for 429 yards (13.4 avg.)…closed college career
with 75 yards on 20 carries and two TDs versus Texas A&M in Cotton Bowl.
PERSONAL:
Played linebacker and running back for McKenzie High...rated top player
in state by Detroit
Free Press and
was Gatorade Circle of Champions Michigan Player of Year as senior...was subject
of 80 football cards in 1993, the most of any rookie in NFL history...is an avid
bowler...has lifetime average of better than 200 and has bowled a perfect
game...was introduced to sports by parents to keep him off the streets...has a
daughter (Jada)...Full name: Jerome Abram
Bettis.