Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis Is Now a Notre Dame Graduate

  • The 50-year-old earned his degree from the Mendoza School of Business.
  • He left Notre Dame his senior year to enter the 1993 NFL Draft and was the 10th-overall selection by the Rams.
Michael Caterina-USA TODAY NETWORK

The Bus has scored again — this time as a college graduate.

NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis announced that he has earned his degree from Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business nearly three decades after leaving the school to play in the NFL.

The 50-year-old was four courses shy of graduating before he returned to Notre Dame last semester to finish his education. Bettis called it, “A promise made, a promise kept.”

Prior to completing his senior year at Notre Dame, Bettis entered the 1993 NFL Draft and was the 10th overall selection by the Rams. The running back went on to play three seasons with the Rams before heading to Pittsburgh and starring for 10 seasons. 

Bettis, who earned $35.1 million during his career, was a six-time Pro Bowler and helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL over the Seahawks in 2006. 

He finished with 13,662 rushing yards and 91 touchdowns and was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

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