Look: Steelers legend Jerome Bettis earns degree from Notre Dame after 28 years

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis got to walk at his Notre Dame graduation.

28 years since making a promise to his mother, Pittsburgh Steelers icon Jerome Bettis is officially a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Bettis would leave school a year early to pursue an NFL career. After initially playing with the Los Angeles Rams, Bettis became one of the most unforgettable running backs in league history while in Pittsburgh. He would go on to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer and retire as a Super Bowl champion in his hometown of Detroit. Now, he can say he is a graduate of a fantastic university.

Look at how happy Bettis is to be a member of the University of Notre Dame Class of 2022!

Jerome Bettis graduates from the University of Notre Dame after 28 years

It is not how you start, but how you finish. As it is with anything, life happens. Bettis was probably only a few credits shy of getting his college diploma. While he had great success on the gridiron in his playing career and off the field since retiring, his being able to check the box at 50 years old is still a tremendous accomplishment. This had to have been one the happiest days of his life.

More importantly, think about all the people Bettis will have inspired to go back and finish what they started. Many people for a varying number of reasons never graduate from college. This is why anytime somebody puts in the work to be a college graduate, they should be celebrated for it. Whether it is an associate’s, a bachelor’s, a master’s or a doctorate, the hard will have paid off.

Congratulations on being able to walk at a place that will always hold a special player in your heart.

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