Bettis Reveals Steelers' 'Special' Prediction In Rodgers Backfield
It's Aaron Rodgers' world; the rest of us are just living in it.
It's also Aaron Rodgers' backfield. ... But somebody's got to play running back alongside him, right?
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The legendary Pittsburgh Steelers "bus'' Jerome Bettis is now casting his vote for who that should be. And while saying upbeat things about both candidates, he seems to be leaning pretty clearly in one direction.
And when Bettis leans in a direction, you feel it.
'I think they've got two running backs that actually can complement each other,'' Bettis recently said on the Jim Rome Show.
And ...
"I think Jaylen Warren is a really good running back,'' Bettis continued. "He'll get more opportunities, more carries. He'll show what he's capable of. But Kaleb Johnson, a young running back they drafted out of Iowa, I really believe he's got a chance to be special.'
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And there you have it.
Bettis, a member of the Steelers' All-Time Team as a decade-long star here spanning the 1990s and the 2000s, is surely rooting for both candidates.
Bettis added, "The biggest component to all of this is the offensive line. Can the offensive line create that opportunity in the running game but also help in the passing game?'' And as with any offense, that's key. ... just as it's key that Rodgers, at 41 and planning to play his final NFL season as a one-and-done hero in Pittsburgh, is essential.
But the Steelers know what Warren can do, and he's been solid in combo behind the now-departed (to the Chargers) Najee Harris. Kaleb? He's the new toy under the Christmas tree, no doubt. But third-round rookie Johnson has size at 6-1 and 224 pounds that Warren (though he does carry 215 pounds on his 5-8 frame) does not possess. And Kaleb is considered a smooth runner, too.
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Is he bullish like Bettis, who played at 5-11 and 250? Shifty like Le'Veon Bell? Is he even better than Warren?
We don't know. But we are collecting votes. And "The Bus'' just cast his.
Related: T.J. Watt and Steelers Engage in Ugly Exchange Per Report
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
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