Jerome Bettis, the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers running back, recently appeared on The Dan Patrick Show to share his thoughts on how to help the team improve as they head into the 2025 season. Who would provide a better answer than "The Bus" himself? Bettis ranks second in all-time rushing yards for the Steelers. He is highly respected for his instrumental role in Pittsburgh’s success—including his part in Super Bowl XL.
Bettis' input carries significant weight, especially for an offense that has struggled to find consistency in recent years.
When Patrick asked the bus about the key to fixing Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles, Bettis didn’t hesitate.
“They haven’t been able to get it figured out offensively,” Bettis stated, highlighting the team’s difficulties in critical situations that have kept them stagnant over the past several seasons. The Steelers’ offense has been the Achilles’ heel, preventing a strong team from reaching its full potential.
Bettis acknowledged a solution many fans and analysts have called for: a true playmaking receiver opposite George Pickens.
“They need a second receiver, a big-time receiver—they don’t have one—on the other side of George Pickens,” Bettis said. His assessment echoes the belief that the lack of a reliable second option in the passing game has hampered the offense.
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While Pickens is becoming a top-tier wideout, defenses can focus on him without the threat of another dynamic receiver on the other side. Bettis’ call for a “big-time” receiver reinforces a common solution many have proposed to jumpstart the offense.
Jerome Bettis understands Steelers have multiple offeneisve issues to fix
Bettis also made it clear that the quarterback situation is another area that requires attention. While he acknowledged that Russell Wilson is “good for the time,” he stressed the importance of finding a more solid solution. “They have to find a long-term solution,” Bettis emphasized.
Pittsburgh has struggled to find sustained quarterback play, and Bettis’ comment highlights the urgency of securing a consistent and dependable signal-caller for the future.
While Bettis’ analysis of the Steelers’ offensive issues was insightful, absent was mention of a solution for the team’s struggling ground game, despite the presence of Najee Harris. While Harris has shown flashes of brilliance, the Steelers’ rushing attack has been inconsistent in recent seasons. Bettis, however, chose not to address this directly, leaving the possibility that he believes the issue may lie elsewhere on the offensive side of the ball.
While Bettis focused on improving the passing game and quarterback position, the offensive issues ran deeper than just the wide receiver and quarterback spots. The Steelers may need a complete renovation on offense. Perhaps Bettis believes the ground game is not the root cause, and it’s more about finding the right pieces in the passing game.
As the Steelers head into the offseason, the front office must consider the advice of a former all-pro who helped lead a successful era of Steelers football. The team must apply this wisdom as they work to improve.