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He made it.
Steelers running back Jerome Bettis has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, according to Alby Oxenreiter.
Bettis is sixth in league history in rushing yards, and is considered to be one of the best "big backs" ever.
The Steelers acquired Bettis in a trade with the Rams, one of the greatest transactions in team history. A Notre Dame graduate, Bettis was the 10th overall pick in 1993.
He was a first-team All Pro selection in 1996 when rushed for 1,494 yards. He reached 1,665 rushing yards the following season, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl trip.
With Bettis, the Steelers finished in the top 10 for rushing yards league-wide seven times, leading it twice. Even as a reserve, Bettis was counted on in short yardage as well as with heavy workloads at the end of his career. The Steelers called for The Bus in a must-win game against Chicago in Pittsburgh following a three-game losing streak. At 7-5, the Steelers would end up needing to win all four of their final regular season games in what could have been Bettis's last season.
Behind Bettis's 101 yards and two touchdowns, the Steelers stomped Chicago and won their final three games to advance to the playoffs.
A heart attack-inducing fumble in the AFC divisional playoffs that year nearly leveled Bettis's legacy. The Steelers had a chance to ice the Colts, but Bettis coughed the ball up at the 1-yard line and it was recovered by the Colts. A missed field goal at the end of regulation sealed the win, one that would become the highlight of the Steelers' improbable run to a Super Bowl championship.
Their 21-10 win over Seattle in Super Bowl XL was Bettis's final game, and 10 years after his retirement, Bettis will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.