Count Pro Football Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis among the ever-growing list of professional athletes who've come to appreciate pickleball after their playing days are over.

The Super Bowl XL champion, who hung up his cleats moments after hoisting the coveted Lombardi Trophy in 2006, has his better half, Trameka, to thank for that.

She's an avid pickleball enthusiast who enjoys taking weekly lessons in Atlanta where the couple resides.

"My wife has brought me more and more into the sport. I'm hearing about pickleball all the time. She's sending me Instagram posts with messages like 'Watch this play!' so I'm learning how to play the game without actually being on the court," explained Bettis with a laugh, during a March interview at a golf event in Frisco, TX. "When we go on vacation, though, we'll get a good group together and we'll all get out there and play. My son, Jerome Bettis Jr., is probably the best pickleball player out of all of us. He's 17 years old, so he's super active and he can run around and get to every ball."

Bettis Jr. is actually a wide receiver at the University of Notre Dame, so it's no surprise that he can cover the court like a boss.

His 53-year-old father, on the other hand, is currently hampered by a lower-body injury that has prevented him from hitting the 20x44 on a regular basis.

"We've all kind of come together around pickleball, and it has become a big part of the daily routine for my wife. As for me, not so now because my knee has started to hurt me maybe the last six or seven months, so it's been less and less," explained the former running back, who earned six Pro Bowl selections over 13 NFL seasons. "But, we've got a challenge coming up pretty soon because my wife feels that she can beat me. We're going to go out there and go head-to-head. I told her when she's ready, she gets one shot at the title. We'll see what happens."

Bettis also has a match against his son on the docket, when his body permits.

That should be an interesting affair.

"He likes pickleball for recreation and his ability to talk sh*t. He wants to own the conversation, and right now, he does," joked Bettis. "We have a very competitive household. I raised my kids to be competitive in whatever it is we do. We're going to fight and we're going to talk smack. Own it. Right now, he's the king of the hill, so he enjoys putting pressure on all of us when we play. Until he's dethroned, he's the mayor. Once I get this replaced and get this figured out, I'm coming for him. I promise you."

Bettis' love of pickleball was likely cemented in May 2024 when he attended his first professional event - MLP Atlanta - at Life Time Peachtree Corners.

The outstanding play coupled with the festive atmosphere instantly caught his attention.

"I was really impressed with how the game is covered. From a fan perspective, it’s pretty neat. You’re up on the action, and you’re seeing it’s very fast-paced. That’s one thing I really like because you get a chance to feel the energy of it - 'Boom! Boom! Boom!' - and everyone's getting into it. Once you see the pros play live, you get a totally different perspective of what pickleball is and what it can be," explained Bettis. "The spin players are putting on the ball, where they’re placing the shots, it’s next level. You see the pros do something and it’s like, ‘I want to learn how to do that.’ You want to add that to your game. I hope everyone who plays pickleball gets a chance to see the pros play."

Ditto. It's something extra special.

And it's nice to have another notable pickleball ambassador like Bettis in the fold.

"What I love most about pickleball is the activity that you get. I loved playing racquetball as a younger guy. I love that quick pace, stop-start element, and that’s what I get out of pickleball," he concluded. "It’s just a fun game that you can play with everyone, and that’s the biggest benefit of all, that everyone can play together."