The Bus is on board with Kamala Harris.

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis, aka The Bus, joined Harris’ bus tour Sunday, providing a boost to the Democratic ticket as it passed through several stops in Western Pennsylvania, including Sheetz, Primanti Bros. and Aliquippa High School’s football field.

Bettis told TribLive on Monday he is backing Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, because of the campaign’s focus on helping the middle class.

“That is the meaningful part of the puzzle for me,” Bettis said in a brief phone call. “Harris and Walz can make a difference there.”

It probably didn’t hurt that Walz was a defensive coordinator for a high school state championship football team in Minnesota.

Bettis introduced the campaign to the Aliquippa High School football team Sunday afternoon, and he said he was impressed by the speeches Harris and Walz gave to the young players.

Before traveling to Aliquippa, Bettis and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania met with Democratic supporters at an airport hangar on the first stop of the Harris-Walz bus tour.

Bettis said Harris’ message is authentic, and he believes she truly wants to improve conditions for working people in America.

“It bodes well for the middle class that you have a voice like hers,” Bettis said. “I like the lineup they have.”

Bettis won a Super Bowl with the Steelers in 2006 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. The retired running back grew up in Detroit and often struggled to get by.

His parents worked multiple jobs before his father eventually worked his way up to Detroit’s buildings and safety department without a college degree, Bettis told the Players Tribune in 2016.

“Obviously, the middle class is important because it is where I am from,” Bettis said Monday.

Bettis has had some political dealings throughout his life. In 2004, he donated to Republican President George W. Bush. In 2008, he met with Democratic candidate Barack Obama on a tour of the Pittsburgh region.

Players, coaches and other Pittsburgh Steelers figures have been known to get involved in politics.

Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris was a constant presence at many Democratic events all the way up to his death in 2022. Wide receiver Lynn Swann, a four-time Super Bowl champion in the 1970s, ran as the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor in 2006. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Bettis introduced Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff to the high school football players. Bettis said he was a lot like Emhoff since they both love football, are dedicated to their children and married strong women.

Bettis said it was smart of Harris to focus on football during the Sunday tour, explaining that the sport is integral to Western Pennsylvania traditions.

“It is a large part of who we are,” Bettis said. “It represents the people. It is tough and physical.”

Bettis doesn’t expect the election to be easy for Harris-Walz. He said winning over Pittsburghers and securing Pennsylvania is still anyone’s game.

The Bus expects Republican Donald Trump’s campaign to be formidable.

“It is going to be a tough race. Both sides are committed,” Bettis said. “Whoever has the ball last is probably going to win.”

Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.

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