Fansided

30 best nicknames in NFL history

By Jarrett Bailey

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 28: Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs against the Washington Redskins on November 28, 2004 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Redskins 16-7.(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 28: Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs against the Washington Redskins on November 28, 2004 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Redskins 16-7.(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Halfback Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers during an AFC Playoff game against the New York Jets at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 15, 2005. The Steelers beat the Jets 20-17 in overtime to advance to the AFC Championship next Sunday at home. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Halfback Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers during an AFC Playoff game against the New York Jets at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 15, 2005. The Steelers beat the Jets 20-17 in overtime to advance to the AFC Championship next Sunday at home. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

3. “The Bus” Jerome Bettis

The NFL had never seen a running back like Jerome Bettis, and they still haven’t seen one like him since he retired.

Bettis was a 5-foot-11, 252 pound wrecking ball that tore up the AFC Central/North for a decade. He started his career in Los Angeles with the Rams after being the No. 10 overall pick out of Notre Dame. After an All-Pro selection as a rookie, and a Pro Bowl appearance in year two, Bettis had a down year in 1995. The Rams dealt him to the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 1996 season, and the move paid dividends for Pittsburgh.

Bettis was an All-Pro in 1996, rushing for over 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns. He would go on to make four Pro Bowl appearances over ten seasons with the Steelers. After considering retirement following the 2004 season, Bettis returned for one more run at a Super Bowl in 2005.

Pittsburgh ran the table as the No. 6 seed in the AFC and won the Super Bowl in Bettis’ hometown of Detroit. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

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