There have been 14 players in the history of the National Football League who have rushed for 9,000 career yards.
On Sunday, Jerome Bettis should become the 15th.
Bettis needs 14 yards against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday to join the exclusive club. It's not the same milestone as 10,000, but it's reaching a higher-rent district.
It's also one Bettis was unaware he was nearing.
"Shoot, 9,000 for a guy who was a fullback in college, that's phenomenal," Bettis said. "I never would have thought that I'd be able to get 9,000 yards.
"I'm proud of it, definitely. There are going to be a lot of good backs who come into this league who won't get 9,000 yards. It's a combination of being good but also being durable enough to be there day in and day out for your team."
Bettis passed Jim Taylor on the all-time list this season. He's the fourth-leading rusher among active players. Emmitt Smith has 14,358 yards, Thurman Thomas has 12,033, and Bettis' former Notre Dame teammate, Ricky Watters, has 9,557.
Bettis ranks second on the Steelers' all-time list behind Franco Harris (11,950 here) with 5,895 yards. The rest of his yards were gained with the Rams in his first three seasons.
Bettis, 28, is in his eighth NFL season. With 523 yards rushing, he is more than halfway to his seventh 1,000-yard season. He's on pace for 1,395 yards.
Bettis nears 9,000 yards 
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