The Pittsburgh Steelers made an impactful trade on April 20, 1996, during the NFL Draft, acquiring running back Jerome Bettis from the St. Louis Rams. This trade also included a third-round pick, in exchange for the Steelers’ second-round pick in 1996 and a fourth-round selection in 1997. The Rams, having just drafted Lawrence Phillips, deemed Bettis expendable.
Jerome Bettis remembers his conversation with Coach Bill Cowher at the time of the trade: “I got a chance to talk to Coach (Bill) Cowher,” Bettis noted. “My rookie year the Steelers came to Los Angeles and we beat up on them pretty good and I had a great day running the ball. The first thing he said to me on the phone was ‘We just traded for you. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. I remember you beat up on us your rookie year and I’m glad to have you.’ It was great to hear and to be going somewhere they wanted me. That worked out pretty well.”
Bettis’ career with the Steelers was notable, as he rushed for 10,571 yards and amassed 13,662 career yards. His contributions to the team earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
“I had an opportunity to decide where I was going to be traded to,” Bettis mentioned. “And I said to myself, the Steelers just lost the Super Bowl (Super Bowl XXX). They’ve got a championship caliber team, we’ll be back there in no time. And that was my thinking when I decided to come to Pittsburgh.”
This trade is remembered as one of the best in NFL history.
