NTEA is pleased to welcome National Football League (NFL) Hall of Fame running backs Jerome Bettis and Emmitt Smith to Work Truck Week 2024 as keynote speakers.
Jerome Bettis, nicknamed “The Bus,” is a Hall of Fame running back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and L.A. Rams. Selected in the first round, 10th player overall, out of Notre Dame by the Rams in the 1993 NFL Draft, he finished second in the NFL in rushing during his rookie season with 1,429 yards. He was named Rookie of the Year by numerous media outlets and was chosen as a first-team All-Pro and All-NFC.
Bettis led the Rams in rushing each of his three seasons with the Rams, before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He rebounded from a subpar year in 1995 to earn Comeback Player of the Year and was again named first-team All-Pro in 1996, his first in the Steel City. Bettis gained 1,431 yards on 320 carries and scored 11 TDs for the division-winning Steelers.
He was the Steelers' leading ground gainer eight times in his 10 seasons. He retired following the Steelers’ Super Bowl championship season in 2005 (Super Bowl XL), in which they defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10. The game was played in Bettis's hometown of Detroit.
At the time of his retirement, Bettis ranked fifth all-time in rushing with 13,662 yards on 3,479 career carries. He scored 91 rushing touchdowns in his career and eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game 61 times during the regular season and three more times in playoff games.
In addition to his rushing totals, Bettis amassed 1,449 yards on 200 receptions and 3 TDs. His combined net yardage (15,113) was 19th best all-time at the time of his retirement. Bettis also completed three passes, all for touchdowns in his 13-season, 192-game career.
Since he left college early, Bettis later returned to Notre Dame to complete his college degree, and on May 15, 2022, he graduated with a business degree.
Emmitt Smith, businessman and entrepreneur, leads several companies spanning real estate, construction, technology, and renewable energy. His current businesses include E J Smith Enterprises; E Smith Legacy, a premier real estate development firm; E Smith Advisors a majority-owned joint brokerage firm in partnership with Newmark Knight Frank, a globally recognized real estate advisory firm; EJ Smith Construction, a Dallas-based commercial and civil construction management and general contractor; PROVA Group, Inc., an enterprise providing technology based authentication solutions for memorabilia and high value items; and Notable Live!, a mobile social media platform connecting celebrities and notables with their fans.
Prior to his business career, Smith played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, earning such accolades as the NFL's All Time Leading Rusher, Super Bowl XXVIII MVP and induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.
Smith earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, where he played football for the Florida Gators.
Annual Meeting is not included in any registration package — it is available for purchase separately.
