Now 80 years old, Ricky Bleier caught the public’s attention while playing collegiately for the Notre Dame Irish. Then, he went on to have a stellar NFL career, a 4-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But there’s even more to Bleier’s story.
Rocky Bleier served in the United States Army from 1968-1970, immediately after graduating from ND, and just before he made his mark with the Steelers. He served in the Vietnam War and was in Company C, 4th Battalion. During his time in the Army, he earned the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Bleier outscheming Charles Thornhill in “The Game of the Century” (photo courtesy of One Foot Down on SB Nation)
He also had a championship-level football career, winning a national championship in 1966, and doing it in grand style. The Irish tied Michigan State 10-10 in what is referred to as “The Game of the Century,” then beat USC to seal the deal. Bleier was a junior that year and later captained the ’67 Irish team.
Rocky was a fierce, determined runner for the Steelers (photo courtesy of NFL Past Players)
More championships followed in the NFL, playing for a team that had the “Steel Curtain” moniker, with a solid offense led by the likes of QB Terry Bradshaw, RB Franco Harris, and WR Lynn Swann, among others. For his part, Bleier finished his Steelers career with nearly 4000 yards and a 4+ yards-per-carry average. He was inducted into the Steelers’ All-Time Team.
What some fans don’t know is that his NFL career came after he received a prognosis in a hospital after being injured in the Vietnam War. Doctors told him he’d never be able to play the game again. He did, willing himself into NFL service.
Never to be forgotten as a championship football player, Bleier also deserves recognition as a wartime hero who served his country with distinction.
