The story of Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back, Jerome Bettis wanting to retire following the 2004 season is an awesome one to look back on. Ben Roethlisberger, finishing up his rookie year, asked the ball carrier to come back for one more season and told him a Super Bowl was on the horizon. Not only did the quarterback take the organization to the playoffs, but saved Bettis with the shoestring tackle heard around the NFL in the Divisional Round against the Indianapolis Colts. A Super Bowl championship would follow weeks later and Bettis went out in style.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (left) and running back, Jerome Bettis (right) embrace each other after winning Super Bowl XL. | AP / Gene J. Puskar
It was a storybook ending to Bettis' career and the beginning of a long Hall of Fame resume for Roethlisberger. While Bettis rode off into the sunset with a ring on his finger, many people didn't know that if a trade would have went down during the 2003 off-season, he would have either been retired or with a franchise that was only 5-11 in 2005 when Pittsburgh won a championship.
Bettis spoke with NBC Sports host, Peter King in Arizona during Super Bowl week and talked about the moment he was told the Chicago Bears were interested in making a deal for him.
"It was the latter part of my career. It was actually a year before I retired. It was the season going into my 12th year and it was the Chicago Bears. Coach [Bill Cowher] came to me in camp and said 'Bears want to trade for you.'"
Steelers Jerome Bettis (#36) of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs over Brian Urlacher (#54) the Chicago Bears for a touchdown on December 11, 2005 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Bears 21-9. Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
While the trade obviously never went through, Pittsburgh showed Bettis respect and allowed him to reach out to Chicago in order to see what his role might look like.
"I told them basically it's thoughtful. I appreciate it. It's great to be wanted, but I know if they went to Chicago, they wanted the 1998 Bus. They didn't want the 2003 Jerome Bettis. So, I knew going in that I wouldn't be able to give them what they wanted."
Bettis is, of course, he stayed put in Pittsburgh, but not just because of the Super Bowl Title. He knew he gave himself the best opportunity to win while still contributing in a veteran manner.
"I gave myself a better chance with the Steelers], being a backup and being more effective than I would going to try and carry the ball 16 times."
Steelers Jerome Bettis plays his final game in his hometown of Detroit and goes out as a champion, winning Super Bowl XL with the Steelers, 21-10, over the Seahawks. Photo Credit: Harry How / Getty Images
It sure is a good thing that Bettis decided to stay and finish his career in Pittsburgh. Not only because he was a solid mentor for young running back, Willie Parker, but he contributed 22 total rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons with the team. He also probably wouldn't have payed in the 2005 season without Roethlisberger's encouragement.
Bettis will always be a legend in Pittsburgh and him winning a Super Bowl with the Steelers and in his home city of Detroit is one of the better end-of-career stories that the NFL has seen in the last two decades.
Did you know that Bettis almost was traded to the Bears? Let us know in the comments below!
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