With the Steelers, head coach Bill Cowher had been enamored by Bettis since his rookie season, when he had his breakout game in Week 2 against the Steelers by rushing for 76 yards and one touchdown (including a 29-yard run) in a 27-0 Rams win, and couldn't believe that Bettis was available for trade. Cowher had a balanced offense during his first four years, having a power running back during each of those years, first with Barry Foster (a holdover from Chuck Noll's tenure), then with Bam Morris after injuries would eventually cut Foster's career short. In all of those years, the team's offense was led by quarterback Neil O'Donnell. Coming off an appearance in Super Bowl XXX, O'Donnell would leave in free agency while Morris would be arrested for marijuana possession, creating a void at running back while the Steelers were transitioning into a run-oriented team.
