The 2005 season was probably the worst statistical season of Jerome Bettis's storied career. He was 33 years old. He only rushed for 368 yards, and though he did find the end zone nine times, he averaged only 3.3 yards per attempt. He took a definitive backseat role to Willie Parker, who stole the show, and only totaled 180 yards and 3.2 yards per carry for Pittsburgh in the postseason.
But while it wasn't impressive statistically and analytically, it was perhaps one of the most important in Bettis's journey to the Hall of Fame. For one, he finally won a Super Bowl ring. But, as the well-known story goes, he was very close to retiring — even announcing his plans to his teammates — prior to that 2005 campaign.
In the latest episode of CBS Sports' "All Things Covered" hosted by Patrick Peterson and Bryant McFadden, Bettis's former teammate with the Steelers, the legendary running back dove deeper into who convinced him to stick it out for one more year.
"The end of the season the year prior we were 15-1, we lost in the AFC Championship game to the Patriots. I came in that Monday after the game, thanked all of you guys, all of my teammates, for being incredible teammates and having given 100 percent. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, obviously," Bettis recalled. "But at that point, I was done. I go into coach's office after the meeting. He says, 'hey, don't make any rash decisions, just kind of think about it.'"
Bettis said that he pretty much had thought about it to that point, but Cowher convinced him to give it a little bit more time. But rather than time solving the problem, an unexpected invite to the Pro Bowl ultimately convinced him. An unfortunate injury to Corey Dillon prior to the 2004 Pro Bowl thrust Bettis into the end-of-year exhibition featuring the league's best players, and it was here that two teammates, neither of which were on Pro Bowl rosters, and a Hawaiian feast caused a change of heart.
"Back then, the team who lost in the AFC Championship, that coaching staff went. So the Steelers coaching staff was there," Bettis said. "We were 15-1 that year, so we had eight guys that got into the Pro Bowl. They brought different guys, so it was so many players that came out because all of the other players were in the game... they had a Steelers luau one of the nights there.
"At the Steelers luau, I was getting harassed by Larry Foote and Clark Haggans, and Larry told me, I'll never forget, he said, 'Bussy, man, it's going to be a shame. We're gonna win the Super Bowl in Detroit, your hometown, and you're not gonna be there!'
"And I was just like, whoa, wait a minute. And then Clark was like, 'man, we were 15-1 last year, you know we got a great team, you know we're gonna be right back!' And I'm thinking, wow, you're right. Both of you guys are right. So that got me thinking about it, went home talked to my wife, and that's what brought me back for another year, so those guys were instrumental."
Wow. Turns out the Pro Bowl is incredibly important after all!
"Had it not been for those two guys coming out to the Pro Bowl, I would not be a Super Bowl champion."
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