Jerome Bettis says Marshawn Lynch is current player most like himself

Jerome Bettis told the media today that Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch is the current NFL player most like him.

Jerome Bettis Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bettis, a 2015 Professional Football Hall of Fame inductee, held a conference call today to talk about his career, his life, and how he felt about being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bettis played in the NFL from 1993 to 2006 with the LA/St Louis Rams and the Pittsburg Steelers.

The 6x Pro Bowl, 2x All-pro player was asked today which current NFL running back plays the most like him. Without hesitation he answered Lynch. “If you had to look at anybody, you’d have to say Marshawn Lynch. In terms of his physicality, the way he runs the football, the way people bounce off of him.”

“Obviously he’s probably got more speed than I have, but I think his determination and desire, I can relate to that.” He continued, “His unwillingness to go down with one tackler is impressive. Every time I watch him, I’m impressed.”

In Lynch’s 8 years in the league, he has already met Bettis’s career rushing touchdown total of 71. Lynch also has 9 passing TD, six more than Bettis’s total of 3. However it’s Bettis’s total yardage that is so impressive. 13, 662 yards in his 13-year career is ranked #6 on the all time rushing leader list, just 22 yards behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Lynch currently has 8,695 yards.

However its style of play where they are most comparable. Bettis was nicknamed “The Bus” because it often took 2-3 players to get him to the ground. He had absolutely no problem running straight up the middle, making players miss tackles and finding lanes. Sound familiar, Seahawks fans? When you watch film on both players, the similarities are definitely there.

Beastmode and The Bus are both players who had a raw toughness that endears them to their teammates and fans. They both made huge leaps in their careers after being traded. They are both game changers that were/are of huge importance to their teams. Lets hope when it comes Lynch’s turn for the Hall, he’ll be remembered as kindly as Bettis.

Jerome Bettis will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Aug 8, 2015 in Canton, Ohio.