Jerome Bettis Jr. plays wide receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, wearing number 8 on the 2025-26 roster after redshirting his freshman season in 2025. The 18-year-old son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome “The Bus” Bettis committed to Notre Dame on March 17, 2024 — the same program where his father rushed for over 1,900 yards as a running back from 1990 to 1992.
The elder Bettis piled up 13,664 career rushing yards across 13 NFL seasons, won Super Bowl XL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and earned enshrinement in Canton in 2015. Now his son is carving a different path at the same school — lining up at wideout instead of in the backfield, quietly building a reputation through one of the more impressive physical transformations Notre Dame’s staff has seen in recent years.
Who Is Jerome Bettis Jr.?
Jerome Bettis Jr. is an 18-year-old wide receiver at the University of Notre Dame, the son of six-time Pro Bowler Jerome Bettis and Trameka Bettis. He stands 6-foot-2, weighs 207 pounds on the spring 2026 roster, and wears jersey number 8 after switching from number 15 during his 2025 freshman campaign.
Family and Background
Jerome Jr. grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, under one of the most recognizable names in NFL history. His father earned the nickname “The Bus” for his punishing running style during a career that produced 91 touchdowns and a Super Bowl ring. His mother Trameka has been a steady presence throughout the family’s public life.
His sister Jada Bettis also attends Notre Dame, making the Fighting Irish a genuine family institution. According to the University of Notre Dame’s official athletics roster, Jerome Jr.’s player biography explicitly notes his father’s Notre Dame playing career (1990-1992) and 13-year NFL tenure.
| Detail | Jerome Bettis Jr. |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jerome Bettis Jr. |
| Age | 18 years old |
| Position | Wide Receiver |
| Jersey Number | #8 (2025-26); #15 (2025) |
| Height / Weight | 6-2, 207 lbs |
| College | University of Notre Dame |
| High School | Woodward Academy, Atlanta, GA |
| Sister | Jada Bettis (also at Notre Dame) |
| Father | Jerome Bettis Sr. (NFL Hall of Fame RB) |
High School Career at Woodward Academy
Jerome Bettis Jr. played both offense and defense at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, hauling in 36 receptions for 630 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior while also recording 47 tackles, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. That two-way production is what separated him from the pack of legacy recruits who coast on name recognition alone.
Senior and Junior Year Stats
Woodward Academy competes in Georgia’s AAAAAA classification, and Jerome Jr. was a featured player on both sides of the ball for a program that made a title push during his senior year. His junior campaign showed early promise with 30 catches for 369 yards and four touchdowns on offense, plus 34 tackles and two interceptions on defense, according to 247Sports’ scouting evaluation by analyst Andrew Ivins.
The senior year jump was significant. He nearly doubled his receiving yardage, added four more touchdowns, and became an even more disruptive force defensively with three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
| Season | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs | Tackles | INTs | Forced Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior (2023) | 30 | 369 | 4 | 34 | 2 | 0 |
| Senior (2024) | 36 | 630 | 8 | 47 | 3 | 2 |
Beyond football, Jerome Jr. competed in track and field at Woodward Academy. He posted a 5-foot-8 effort in the high jump at the GHSA Region 5 AAA meet as a freshman, per his 247Sports recruiting profile — a detail that speaks to the raw athleticism underpinning his football skill set.
Recruiting Profile and Ratings
Every major recruiting service — 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN, and On3 — rated Jerome Bettis Jr. as a three-star prospect in the 2025 class. His On3 industry rating came in at 86.78, ranking him 895th nationally, 135th among wide receivers, and 104th in Georgia.
247Sports analyst Andrew Ivins described him as a “refined wide receiver prospect with elite NFL bloodlines that pairs good size and solid hands together with average play speed,” projecting him as “a reliable target in a balanced attack at the Power Four level” while noting his defensive tape could warrant a look at safety.
The Commitment — Why Jerome Bettis Jr. Chose Notre Dame
Jerome Bettis Jr. committed to Notre Dame on March 17, 2024, picking the Fighting Irish over competing programs and completing a generational circle that started when his father first arrived in South Bend more than three decades earlier. When Jerome Bettis’s son commits to Notre Dame, it carries weight that no star rating could capture.
Following His Father’s Footsteps
Jerome Bettis Sr. played running back at Notre Dame from 1990 to 1992, rushing for over 1,900 yards before being drafted 10th overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1993. He eventually became the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ ground game for a decade. For Jerome Jr. to choose that same campus, the narrative practically wrote itself.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff built a genuine relationship with the Bettis family throughout the process. Jerome Jr. announced his commitment through On3, telling reporter Mike Singer, “I can create my own legacy.”
The Hall of Fame Speech That Foreshadowed Everything
Nine years before Jerome Jr. signed with Notre Dame, his father stood at the podium during his 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio, and delivered a line that would age remarkably well. Addressing his young son directly, Jerome Bettis Sr. said: “Son, there is not much that I can give you that’s more important than our good name, so don’t screw it up.”
The crowd laughed. The kid was barely old enough to understand the weight of those words. Fast forward to 2024, and that same kid committed to the university where his father first built the name he was now being entrusted to carry forward.
Notre Dame Stats, Number, and Freshman Season
Jerome Bettis Jr. recorded one reception for six yards in his only appearance during the 2025 season, catching a pass against the Navy Midshipmen in a 49-10 Notre Dame victory on November 8, 2025. He saw 11 snaps in that fourth-quarter mop-up action and preserved his redshirt for all other games.
Jersey Number and Roster Details
Bettis Jr. wore number 15 during the 2025 regular season but switched to number 8 on the updated 2025-26 Notre Dame football roster, according to the official Fighting Irish athletics website. His father wore number 36 throughout his Steelers career — one of the most iconic numbers in Pittsburgh franchise history. Jerome Jr. has carved out his own numerical identity rather than chasing his father’s digits.
| Season | Games | Receptions | Receiving Yards | TDs | Jersey # | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Freshman) | 1 (vs Navy) | 1 | 6 | 0 | #15 | Redshirt |
| 2026 (RS Freshman) | TBD | — | — | — | #8 | Active Roster |
Redshirt Decision and Eligibility
By playing in only one game during 2025, Jerome Jr. preserved his redshirt and retains four full years of eligibility. The NCAA’s four-game redshirt rule allows freshmen to appear in up to four contests without burning a year — Bettis Jr. used just one, meaning he could play through the 2029 season.
The 2026 Transformation — Spring Practice and What Comes Next
Jerome Bettis Jr. arrived at Notre Dame’s spring 2026 practices looking like a fundamentally different player, adding roughly eight pounds of muscle to reach 207 pounds on the updated roster after being listed at 199 during the 2025 regular season and 190 as a high school recruit. On3 reporter Jack Soble wrote on March 21, 2026, that Bettis Jr. might have won the award for “biggest transformation from Year 1 to Year 2” at Notre Dame.
What Changed Physically
The transformation is documented in the numbers. As a recruit: 6-3, 190 pounds (per On3’s listing). During the 2025 season: 6-2, 199 pounds (per ESPN). Spring 2026 roster: 6-2, 207 pounds (per Notre Dame’s official athletics site). That 17-pound gain from recruitment weight represents serious work in Notre Dame’s strength and conditioning program under head coach Marcus Freeman’s staff.
Bulk matters for wide receivers more than casual fans realize. Bigger receivers press through contact at the line of scrimmage, win contested catches, and absorb hits across the middle. For a player whose 247Sports scouting report noted “average play speed,” adding functional muscle to win at the catch point is a smart developmental bet.
Competing for Playing Time in 2026
Notre Dame’s wide receiver room heading into 2026 is crowded, with transfer portal additions and returning pass-catchers competing for snaps. Bettis Jr. will need to translate his physical gains into production during spring practice and fall camp.
There are no Jerome Bettis Jr. highlight reels filling up YouTube yet — the limited game action means his best highlights remain practice clips and high school tape. His EA Sports College Football 26 player rating sits at 74 overall, reflecting limited college film rather than his ceiling. With four years of eligibility remaining, there is no pressure to rush the timeline.
The Bettis Legacy — Father and Son at Notre Dame
Jerome Bettis Sr. retired from the NFL after the 2005 season with 13,664 career rushing yards, 91 touchdowns, six Pro Bowl selections, and a Super Bowl XL championship with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He remains the Steelers’ second all-time leading rusher behind only fellow Hall of Famer Franco Harris, who accumulated 11,950 yards in black and gold.
The Bus — Career, Number, and Net Worth
Bettis Sr. wore number 36 for the Steelers across 10 seasons. At 5-foot-11 and between 243 and 255 pounds during his playing career, he was one of the most physically imposing runners in league history — a compact wrecking ball who earned his “Bus” nickname because, as teammates described it, he ran over people like a city bus.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jerome Bettis Sr.’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $14 million, reflecting NFL earnings, broadcasting work, and business ventures across a three-decade public career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Two Generations of Fighting Irish
The father-son Notre Dame connection spans more than 30 years. Jerome Sr. played for the Fighting Irish from 1990 to 1992, rushing for over 1,900 yards before leaving for the NFL Draft. Jerome Jr. enrolled in 2025 as a wide receiver — a different position, a different era of college football, but the same golden dome.
| Attribute | Jerome Bettis Sr. | Jerome Bettis Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Running Back | Wide Receiver |
| Notre Dame Years | 1990-1992 | 2025-present |
| Jersey Number (ND) | — | #8 |
| Jersey Number (NFL/Steelers) | #36 | N/A (college) |
| Height / Weight | 5-11, 243-255 lbs | 6-2, 207 lbs |
| NFL Career | 13 seasons, 13,664 rush yards, 91 TDs | Not in NFL (still in college) |
| Accolades | Hall of Fame, Super Bowl XL, 6x Pro Bowl | Redshirt freshman |
The comparison is inherently unfair — one Bettis is a Hall of Famer with a Super Bowl ring, the other is an 18-year-old with one college catch. But the narrative arc is irresistible. Jerome Jr. does not need to replicate his father’s career to make this story worthwhile. He just needs to build something that belongs to him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jerome Bettis’s son?
Jerome Bettis Jr. is a wide receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jerome “The Bus” Bettis and Trameka Bettis, committing to Notre Dame on March 17, 2024.
What is Jerome Bettis’s son’s name?
His name is Jerome Bettis Jr. He also goes by Jerome Jr. and is the namesake of his father, the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Notre Dame running back.
Does Jerome Bettis’s son play for Notre Dame?
Yes. Jerome Bettis Jr. plays wide receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He redshirted during 2025, appearing in one game against Navy, and wears number 8 on the 2025-26 roster.
What position does Jerome Bettis’s son play at Notre Dame?
Jerome Bettis Jr. plays wide receiver at Notre Dame. Unlike his father, who was a running back, Jerome Jr. lines up as a pass-catcher. His 247Sports scouting report also suggested he could potentially play safety based on his defensive tape from high school.
What number is Jerome Bettis’s son at Notre Dame?
Jerome Bettis Jr. wears number 8 on the 2025-26 roster, having switched from number 15 during the 2025 season. His father wore number 36 with the Steelers.
How old is Jerome Bettis Jr.?
Jerome Bettis Jr. is 18 years old as of 2026. He enrolled at Notre Dame as a member of the 2025 recruiting class out of Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia.
What are Jerome Bettis Jr.’s college stats?
Through his freshman season, Jerome Bettis Jr. has one reception for six yards against Navy on November 8, 2025. He redshirted and retains four years of eligibility.
Where did Jerome Bettis’s son go to high school?
Jerome Bettis Jr. attended Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a two-way player there, catching 36 passes for 630 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior while also recording 47 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
How tall is Jerome Bettis Jr. and what is his size?
Jerome Bettis Jr. is listed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds on the spring 2026 Notre Dame roster. He was listed at 190 pounds as a recruit and 199 pounds during the 2025 season, meaning he gained approximately 17 pounds since arriving on campus.
Does Jerome Bettis have a daughter?
Yes. Jerome Bettis has a daughter named Jada Bettis, who also attends the University of Notre Dame. Both of Jerome Sr.’s children — Jerome Jr. and Jada — chose to attend their father’s alma mater.
Is Jerome Bettis’s son in the NFL?
No. Jerome Bettis Jr. is not in the NFL. He is currently a redshirt freshman wide receiver at Notre Dame with four years of college eligibility remaining. He has not entered the NFL Draft and is still in the early stages of his college career.
What is Jerome Bettis’s net worth?
Jerome Bettis Sr.’s estimated net worth is approximately $14 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, reflecting his NFL earnings, broadcasting roles, and business ventures.
A Legacy in Motion
Jerome Bettis Jr. has one college reception, 207 pounds of hard-earned muscle, and a last name that opens every door and raises every expectation. The Notre Dame connection binding father and son across three decades gives this story an emotional gravity that raw stats cannot replicate yet.
What matters now is the 2026 season. The physical transformation alone tells the story of a player who takes the work seriously. Whether he earns significant playing time or continues developing behind a deep roster, the foundation is being laid for a career that belongs entirely to him — even if the last name will always belong to “The Bus.”
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