PITTSBURGH -- Most families have holiday traditions. While some wait until Christmas morning to come downstairs with bad hair and open presents, others rip open gifts on Christmas Eve. Jerome Bettis’ family does both.

“Every Christmas Eve, we open one gift. My wife always picks out the biggest gift. We have fun with that. The kids really love it. I’m kind of warming up to it now. Initially, I didn’t like it because as a kid you wanted to see them all, but you always had to wait,” said Bettis. The rest of the presents are opened on Christmas Day.

Bettis is one of the best running backs to ever play the game of football. While he’s extraordinary, he celebrates Christmas just like every normal husband and father -- with his wife and children.

Bikes are the big presents Bettis’ kids will get this year. He said his daughter, 4, will get a bike with training wheels. Bettis’ son, who will be turning 2 years old, will get a smaller type of bike. I wished Jerome good luck. The process of practicing with training wheels and eventually taking them off is hard.

“It’s going to be some work for me. I’m going to have to chase them down, but I’m looking forward to it,” said Bettis.

Giving the bikes to his children will be special for Bettis. The Bus’ favorite present growing up was a bike.

“It had mag wheels on it. I was just so excited to get this bike because I always wanted it. I didn’t think I was really going to get it, and when I got it, it was special. I went out in the snow and rode it in the snow,” said Bettis.

What does the former Pittsburgh Steeler and Super Bowl champion want from Santa this year?

“Whatever Santa wants to give me, I’m pretty easy. My wife and family – they know whatever I get under the Christmas tree, I’m thankful for,” said Bettis.

The Bettis family has decorated inside its Georgia home, but outside lights are probably not happening.

“My wife wants me to put some decorations outside. Unfortunately, I’m not the best at the outside type of arrangement, especially if she wants me to get on a ladder. I’m not big on ladders. My feet were built to be on the ground. I’m not an in-the-air kind of guy,” said Bettis.

I totally understand. Putting lights up is tough, and when I do put lights up, they never look very good.

So, Bettis doesn’t do outside decorations, but does he listen to Christmas music?

“My wife always puts on Christmas music. She actually buys CDs with Christmas music on it. I don’t listen to it. I’m not a big music listener anyway. My wife makes sure she has Christmas music in the house, and it’s a festive mood. For me, I can do without the music,” said Bettis.

Bettis tapes the weekly show “The Jerome Bettis Show” at WPXI-TV during football season. We enjoy having him in the building. Shortly after the holidays, football season will wrap up, which means Bettis won’t be here. What are his plans?

“After football season, I’ll take some down time because the traveling is difficult for the family. I’ll spend time with the family. We’ll probably go on a family vacation and relax a little bit. The off season, I get involved in the business interests I have and get away from football,” said Bettis.