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Jerome Bettis, nicknamed “The Bus,” is a former American football halfback who played for the Los Angeles Rams/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is sixth on the list of NFL rushing yards leaders. He retired in 2006 after the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XL. Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
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To say that Bettis had a successful football career is an understatement, but it came with a price. Jerome is no stranger to experiencing joint pain and knows the impact that it has on the body and lifestyle. Given football players are prime candidates for developing arthritis due to the wear and tear that the sport directly puts on their bodies, Bettis joined Stryker Orthopaedics, a leading medical technology company in 2016. Stryker has found Bettis to be the perfect voice for the brand, and 2aDays thinks he's the perfect person to talk to about pursuing football at the highest level (as well as everything that comes with that commitment). Here's what he had to say:
Can you give high school athletes, who are looking to play football in college, some advice?
The advice that I have is, you obviously want to get your best opportunities in front of you, but don't be afraid to walk on somewhere. Exhaust all of the opportunities that are available to you. If you love the game, don't be afraid to go to a smaller division, because playing football is playing football. If your goal is to ultimately go to the NFL, they'll find you, wherever you are. So don't be afraid to go down to a smaller division or school.
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What is your opinion on younger athletes playing multiple sports?
I strongly support multiple sports because what kids have to realize is you don't know what your best sport is. You know what you like, but you don't know what your best sport necessarily is.
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What was your favorite memory when you played at Notre Dame?
Wow. Favorite memory. Wow. That's a good one. My favorite moment was in the locker room after we had just won the Sugar Bowl. We beat the University of Florida, and nobody thought we could win that football game. Not only did we win, but we also pounded the Florida Gators. In that locker room, there were about 80 guys who were elated and proud of each other. And I just won't forget how loud that locker room was when I came back in there after the game. It was pretty sweet.
How can athletes pursue a healthy lifestyle in retirement?
Physically when you are an athlete, your body is used to the conditioning, and once that sport is over through retiring, graduation, or whatever the circumstance may be, you have to recondition your mind to continue to be athletic and work out. Once the game is over, your body is still living. You have to be active, and so many times people retire and feel that their whole body is retiring. But what you have to realize, just because your mind is retiring from training, you have to do the work to keep your body healthy. When you stop, that's when all the aches and pains start to come out. If you keep yourself active, not only will you keep the weight down, but you will feel good after your career is good.
My two main activities now are riding the bike and playing golf. I try to get on the bike 3-4 times a week, and I try to play golf about 2-3 times a week. I try to stay as active as I possibly can.
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Image Credit: Twitter
* Originally published on February 2, 2023, by Keirsten Sires
