Former Steelers Icon Jerome Bettis’ Nightmare Fumble Almost Stopped Him From Getting Into The Hall Of Fame

The Pittsburgh Steelers will forever remember Jerome Bettis as "The Bus," his career culminating in a storybook ending as he walked away a Super Bowl champion. However, just before that fairy tale conclusion, he nearly derailed their journey.

It was the late moments of the 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Indianapolis Colts, everything poised for the usually reliable Bettis to help seal the win and propel the Steelers forward. Yet, fate took a twist as Bettis fumbled at the goal line, only to be rescued by an incredible game-saving tackle from Ben Roethlisberger, ultimately preserving their Super Bowl aspirations.

Winning it all in Bettis' hometown was poetic, but longtime Steelers reporter Ed Bouchette highlighted the precariousness of the situation, suggesting that had they lost that game, Bettis' legacy could have been tarnished. 

Bouchette shared his insights about Bettis during an appearance on The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller. He joined the show to talk about the upcoming draft and the Steelers offseason moves. However, the conversation turned to Bettis during a random quarterback debate. 

In a lighthearted exchange, he and Andrew Fillipponi debated whether Matt Ryan or Ben Roethlisberger had the superior career. Bouchette underscored Ryan's Super Bowl setback, positing that it hinders his Hall of Fame prospects. Bouchette is a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee and that's why Fillipponi was debating Ryan and Roethlisberger. 

When Bouchette suggested that Ryan doesn't have a case because of that Super Bowl loss. Fillipponi countered with Bettis' infamous fumble. Bouchette maintained that the outcome of that pivotal game shaped Bettis' legacy in ways that cannot be overlooked. In response to Fillipponi's statement, Bouchette made it clear that had the Steelers lost, Bettis' career wouldn't be so iconic. 

“It would have been if they would have lost that game.”

Fillipponi was taken aback, his disbelief palpable as he questioned Bouchette's sincerity. Undeterred, Bouchette responded with a pointed analogy, recalling a moment in baseball history when a professional player let a routine ground ball slip through his legs, ultimately contributing to a significant loss in a crucial game.

“Oh yeah, oh yeah. Bill Buckner. Bill Buckner. That’s just the way it goes… You know if that lost them that game, I guarantee you I don’t think Jerome would have gotten in. Jerome had a hard time getting in as it was.”

Bouchette made it clear that he would have disagreed with such an outcome. However, he emphasized that if the Steelers had fallen to the Colts, he doubted Bettis would have secured a place in the Hall of Fame.

Fortunately, for Steelers fans, Pittsburgh emerged victorious in that pivotal game and went on to clinch the Super Bowl, solidifying Bettis' legendary status. Throughout his illustrious 10-year tenure with the Steelers, Bettis amassed an impressive 10,571 rushing yards, boasting an average of 3.9 yards per carry, and notched 78 touchdowns. A six-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Bettis left an indelible mark on the sport.

Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger Making An Insane Tackle Saved Jerome Bettis’ Legacy

According to Bouchette, if Roethlisberger hadn't executed that remarkable tackle to prevent the Colts from capitalizing on the fumble and the Steelers had lost the game, Bettis' Hall of Fame candidacy would have faced formidable challenges. The Steelers also would have one less Super Bowl ring on their resume.

Football, as they say, has its own brand of humor. Here we had Bettis, renowned for his sure hands and considered the epitome of reliability in clutch situations, only to have the football slip out in the most unfortunate of circumstances. Steelers fans, initially jubilant, found themselves plunged into sheer terror in a matter of seconds.

Bettis' legacy remains indelible, irrespective of that infamous fumble. Yet, had the Steelers succumbed to defeat, with that fateful play etched in the minds of fans, one can't help but ponder how his memory might have been tainted. Thankfully, we need not dwell on such hypotheticals, as his place in Canton stands as a testament to his remarkable career.