2003: (Rushing) 246 Atts, 811 Yds, 3.3 Avg, 21 Lg, 7 TDs.
(Receiving) 13 Recs, 86 Yds, 6.6 Avg, 16 Lg, 0 TDs,
Jerome Bettis became the 10th runner in NFL history to break the 12,000-yard career rushing mark. He is now sixth on the NFL all-time rushing list with 12,353 yards. For his career with the Steelers, he ranks second with 9,262 yards over eight seasons with the team. In the November game versus Cincinnati, besides breaking the 12,000 yard mark Bettis also moved into sixth place on the Steelers all-time scoring list. Jerome lost his starting halfback spot to Amos Zereoue prior to the start of the regular season but was moved back into the starting job for game 7.

2002: (Rushing) 187 ATTs for 666 YDs, 9 TDs - 3.6 AVG. (Receiving) 7 RECs for 57 YDs, 0 TDs - 8.1 AVG. 1 FUM.
A knee injury hampered Jerome for most of the season. He marked his 52nd career and 41st Steeler 100-yard game against Cincinnati in October. Jerome moved to 10th place in NFL career-rushing with 11,542 yards and ranks second all-time with the Steelers at rushing.

The Steelers acquired Jerome Bettis in a draft-day trade in 1996 and "The Bus" has been the mainstay of the Steelers running game ever since, as well as being an NFL premier running back.

After a college career at Notre Dame with 337 carries for 1,912 yards, Bettis was drafted 10th over-all by the Rams in 1993. Jerome had a Pro Bowl rookie season, after finishing second in the league in rushing, and shared 1993 NFL Rookie of Year honors with former Notre Dame teammate and Seattle QB Rick Mirer. Bettis again made the Pro Bowl in 1994 with another 1000-yard season. Some injuries hampered Jerome in 1995, although he still led the Rams with 667 yards rushing.

In 1996, the Steelers were more than happy to make the draft-day trade with the Rams to acquire Bettis for 1996 second-round and 1997 fourth-round picks and attempt to regain the smash-mouth running attack that had been eluding them the past few years prior to that. The attempt was more than successful, to say the least.