CANTON, OH— The Bus pulled into football immortality Saturday night amid a sea of "Terrible Towels" that gave the Pro Football Hall of Fame a decidedly western Pennsylvania feel.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis led the eight-man Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015, the sixth-leading rusher in NFL history receiving an overwhelming ovation while being introduced before the official induction ceremony.
The capacity crowd at Tom Benson Stadium — most of them clad in some version of black and gold — roared as Bettis made his way down the red carpet, his enshrinement serving as the final destination for a player who embodied the blue-collar mentality of the city and the franchise he helped lead to a fifth Super Bowl title in 2006.