Nothing Gets In The Way of Jerome Bettis – Not Even Asthma

Few tacklers have ever stopped former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis in his tracks. Only asthma did – twice.

The first time, Bettis was 14 when he passed out during football tryouts at McKenzie High School in Detroit. Rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with the chronic condition.

Bettis was afraid to keep playing football. His mother, however, convinced him that, with perseverance, he could do anything.

“I was scared, but my mother was there for me,” he said. “My older brother is asthmatic and my mother knew how to help me handle it.”

The 5-foot, 11-inch, 256-pound football sensation went on to be named one of the top high school players in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press. He starred in football at Notre Dame, and in 1993 was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, which moved to St. Louis. He was traded to the Steelers before the 1996 season.

He learned the hard way that asthma does not go away – even when you are symptom-free.

Bettis was on national television in a hotly contested game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997 when he had an asthma attack.

“It was hot and humid, like someone put a plastic bag over my head,” he said. “That was the scariest part.”

Facing His Asthma

Bettis rebounded with the same high-stepping, head-shaking spirit he displays after a long run. This time, he was determined to face his asthma.

“I learned what asthma is and what causes it,” he said. “I talked to my doctors.”

In 1999, he joined Olympic runner Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken and five national medical associations to launch a national education campaign – Asthma All-StarsT – about asthma and its treatment.

“I just tell kids, it’s not the end of the world to be asthmatic,” he said in an interview. “You can still grow up to do the things you want to do. You can swim, run, play football, baseball, basketball, be a cheerleader, all because you're monitoring and managing your asthma.”

Bettis takes his medicine every day and manages his work-outs to control his asthma – so well that he is now No. 11 on the National Football League’s all-time career rushing list. He is one of only 12 running backs in the history of the NFL to rush for more than 11,000 yards in a career.

Off season, Bettis trains with Joyner-Kersee’s husband, Bob. Bettis takes more time to warm up and cool down before and after practices and games. He avoids asthma triggers, like smoke, and uses an inhaler to relax his airways when he feels an attack coming on.

Always Prepared

The Steelers training staff is prepared as well – for Bettis and his teammates, center Chucky Okobi, and long-snapper Mike Schneck, who also have asthma.

“You want to make sure the athlete is educated,” said Ryan Grove, Steelers assistant trainer. “If he uses his medications appropriately, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to participate at any level.”

The Steelers develop treatment plans for players with asthma and screen all new players for asthma, however mild. They use a device called a peak flow meter to measure a player’s lung power. They take an initial reading at the beginning of the season, and then check it periodically.

“We make sure he’s running at a lower intensity before practices and games just to warm up his lungs slowly and get them used to the activity,” Grove said.

“When you become educated about asthma you know there's no limit to physical activity,” Bettis said.