Latest news with #Bettis
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jerome Bettis says the Rams are 'built to beat the Eagles'
The Hall of Fame RB also likes the Rams to win the NFC West over the 49ers No team came closer to taking down the Philadelphia Eagles last postseason than the Los Angeles Rams. They fell to the eventual Super Bowl champions in the divisional round, 28-22, but they reached the red zone late in the fourth quarter with a chance to win the game in what would've been a stunning comeback. Heading into 2025, the Rams are better on paper than they were last season, particularly with their young defenders having another year of experience under their belts. Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis loves the Rams' chances to not only win the NFC West over the 49ers, but potentially dethrone the Eagles. He says they're 'built to beat the Eagles,' with one caveat. 'In their division, they are the favorites,' Bettis told DJ Siddiqi of 'I think the Niners are going to be good, but not great. The Rams definitely have an advantage on that side. I think the team they're going to have to beat is going to be the Eagles. They're going to be right back at it again. They're built to beat the Eagles, and if they can slow down the running game, they've got a chance.' The 49ers should bounce back after a tough 6-11 season where many of their top players were injured at one point or another. However, there are questions about their receiving corps, the durability of Christian McCaffrey and the pass rush outside of Nick Bosa. They always play the Rams well and Kyle Shanahan always seems to give Sean McVay fits, but Los Angeles has the talent to remain atop the NFC West. And if the Rams can win the NFC West, they'll be in position to potentially make a deep playoff run.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Hall of Fame RB says Rams are one piece away from being 'really, really special'
The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2025 season with higher expectations than they've had in each of the last two years. With a reloaded roster and young talent all over the field, they have the makings of a Super Bowl contender. Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis thinks especially highly of the Rams, viewing them as a 'dark horse' in 2025. 'It's hard to say how good they can be, because you're not really sure,' Bettis told DJ Siddiqi of 'They've retooled—offensively, they should be really good. If the offensive line holds up, I think they've got a chance to be really good.' The primary reason for Bettis' optimism is Matthew Stafford, calling him a 'great quarterback.' He also loves their receiving corps and the Rams' running game, both of which elicit confidence from fans and analysts. But Bettis thinks they're one piece away from being 'really, really special.' He believes if they can add a cornerback or impact defensive back, they can take the next step. 'They have a great quarterback,' Bettis said. 'They've got some really, really outstanding receivers. The running game is going to be solid. They're maybe a cornerback away, an impact secondary guy away from being really, really special. When you've got a really good coach and a good quarterback, you're going to be in the conversation. So yes, the Rams will be a really good football team this year.' The Rams ranked 14th in the NFL in takeaways last season, intercepting 13 passes and recovering seven fumbles. They often capitalized on those takeaways by returning three of them for touchdowns, but Bettis feels they need someone who can create big plays on defense. 'If they can find a way to get that playmaker on defense to really stand out,' Bettis added. 'They've got a lot of really good players… but they need some big plays, right? Who's going to manufacture those? That becomes the big question. We'll see. Do they have the playmakers defensively to change the tide? That's the question.'
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Icon Jerome Bettis weighs in on the importance of franchise running backs
This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis. Bettis is participating in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe. Bettis shared his thoughts on the importance of teams committing to a franchise running back, as many, including Kansas City Chiefs starter Isiah Pacheco, await word on a potential contract extension."Well, teams must understand that when you find a franchise running back, you sign them. Make no mistake, because he changes the complexion of what your team looks like and how your team will perform. I think people often look at where the NFL is today; it's more of a passing league, and because of that, people have taken the running back position a little bit for granted," said Bettis, "And say, you know what? We can get just a guy to go out and give us 12 to 15 carries, and then we get another guy to give us another 10 or 8 carries. We can do it by just getting a couple of good players, and they don't have to pay the price of a top-tier running back, and they can put that money in other places. They are starting to realize that if I don't have a franchise running back, my team looks different than some of these teams competing for a championship because they have that go-to running back now."Bettis praised Philadelphia's decision to sign Saquon Barkley and his success as an example of a franchise running back. During an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, he mentioned several others, including Pacheco from the Chiefs, who hasn't been offered an extension yet."I will say this: it's not easy to find the franchise running backs because the colleges aren't running the ball the way they used to. So you don't see as many coming out of the NFL. Every year, you see one, maybe two. I think they had two solid running backs in this draft, so you felt good about drafting in the first round," Bettis told Easton Jr., "So you're not finding as many as you used to. But when you find one, you better keep them and pay them. You saw Green Bay (Packers). They went out and got a guy who was a bell cow, and he (Josh Jacobs) changed what that team looked like. Then you look at Baltimore (Ravens). They go out, and they go and get a guy (Derrick Henry). They're getting a stud, which makes them look different, so when you find them and bring them in, it changes your team, and you see the difference. So it's not a mistake that these teams have had the years that they have with the running backs that they have."The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC and a first-place prize of $150,000 make the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in the golf world. Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jerome Bettis describes the Kansas City Chiefs' strengths heading into 2025
This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis, who is participating in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe. Bettis shared his thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs' strengths heading into the 2025 season, as well as his son, Jerome Bettis Jr., playing at his alma mater."I think people don't realize this team's (Chiefs) strength is not their offense. The strength of this team is its defense. As long as (Steve) Spagnuolo is there, he's the mad scientist with this defense, as long as that defense is intact. They can still get after the quarterback, and they're going to be a quality football team," said Bettis. "So I don't believe this is the last we've seen of the Kansas City Chiefs. I think they'll still be good next year. The question is, can you get to (Patrick) Mahomes? If the offensive line isn't that good, the Kansas City Chiefs probably won't be that good."Bettis understands the importance of living up to expectations, having been a perennial contender during his time with the Steelers and his legendary college career. The NFL Icon shared his thoughts on his son following in his footsteps and committing to play at Notre Dame for the upcoming season."Well, I've always talked to him about expectations, and I told him, you know, no one should be able to expect more from you than you expect from yourself. Don't go out there and think you need to do it because your dad played here or because your last name is Bettis; I said, you go out there and be the best version of yourself possible, work as hard as you can, and let that be your legacy." said Bettis, "I try to instill that in him because he does have this burden, if you will, of being my son, me, having played there, having success there, so I tell him, you're not following in my footsteps. I didn't play wide receiver; I didn't do the things that you've done. So you go out there and do what you can do, what you are blessed to do, and leave it all on the table. Leave it all out there. Give 110%, and you will be satisfied with what happens from there. I'm your dad. I'm gonna love you 110% and be your biggest cheerleader regardless of what happens. So, as long as he understands and knows that, I'm happy with whatever happens. I am the biggest fan right now, and I'm just so proud to watch him come out of the tunnel with that helmet on, getting ready for his first game. That's going to be a special moment for me."The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC and a first-place prize of $150,000 make the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in the golf world. Check out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jerome Bettis expresses the importance of veteran mentorship for the Kansas City Chiefs
This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Pro Football Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis about his participation in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe, and his thoughts on being a veteran mentor in the locker room and its relevance with the Kansas City Chiefs."Well, you always have a little bit (of competition), but the one I chop it up with is Larry Fitzgerald. I've known Larry since he was in college at Pitt (University of Pittsburgh). I was in Pittsburgh, so I've known him for a very long time," said Bettis, "So we always go at each other, and the American Century Championship is the time that we say, hey, between me and you, whoever wins, gets bragging rights. So he's the guy I look at and say, I gotta beat him." Chiefs veterans Travis Kelce and Chris Jones have been labeled leaders in the locker room over the last few seasons, building up their respective position groups. Bettis recalled a story from early in his career that influenced his mentorship."Well, it came from my lack of help when drafted. We had a situation where I'm coming in as a rookie, and there was a running back who had a huge year the year before. They drafted me, and the veteran running back was upset. His name was Cleveland Gary, and he had a great career at the University of Miami. I just came off a big year with the (Los Angeles) Rams, and they drafted me. So obviously there was resentment there because he felt, hey, I did everything you asked me to do, and now you guys go and draft a replacement," said Bettis, "So he was upset, which I would have been, too, if I were in this position, What transpired after that was a lack of help. So I'm in that meeting room, and I understand, but it wasn't my fault. They drafted me, So he shouldn't have took it out on me, and I felt that he took it out on me a little bit and that I didn't get the help that I thought I should have gotten from the number one guy in the room, and so because I didn't, I felt that I won't ever do that to anybody else."Former Chiefs safety and fellow tournament participant Justin Reid left an impression on Jaden Hicks, who spoke highly of his veteran presence. According to Bettis, the importance of building the next wave of players and sacrificing goes a long way."Gary and I've developed a really good relationship since that moment. As time passed, he understood the error in his ways, and we, you know, came back together, and now we have a friendship," said Bettis, "I told myself I would never do that to a guy who comes into the organization because I'm not picking the players. Still, my job, my responsibility as the leader of this running back group, is to make sure I get all these guys ready to play because if God forbid I'm not here, they've got to carry on the mantle, and they've got to be successful to help this organization win. So, that was always my mindset. I need to ensure that every guy in this running back room is ready to take on the challenge, because if you don't want to be the starting running back, you're in the wrong business. Every guy in this room should want to be the starter, and that's why I would always tell these guys. I would also push them to want to be the best versions of themselves."The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC and a first-place prize of $150,000 make the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in the golf out the website for more information about the American Century Championship.
