Photo courtesy Rocky Bleier

From Glory Days featuring 4X Super Bowl Champ Rocky Bleier

Robert Rocky Bleier grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin and was given the name Rocky from patrons at his father’s family-owned bar, who told his dad that because he was such a muscular baby, he looked like a rock. Growing up in Wisconsin, he was a Green Bay Packers fan as a kid and started playing football at age eight. Rocky found success with football early on as he and his teammates never lost a game during his high school career. He would later be recruited and commit to the University of Notre Dame.

In 1964, his freshman year, Notre Dame won the national championship, however, he did not start until his junior year. That year the Fighting Irish went undefeated going into what would be called the “Game of the Century” against the Michigan State Spartans. The game would end in a 10-10 tie. The very next week the Irish beat the University of Southern California Trojans in a blowout. During his college career Rocky and his teammates had only lost a total of five games.

Rocky would then turn pro as a halfback and was drafted in the 16th round as a longshot for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would be drafted again that same year but in a different way, as he was drafted into the military at a time when recruits knew they had a very high chance of being deployed into the Vietnam War.

While serving his country in the jungles of Vietnam, he simply was focused on surviving but still looked forward to the day he would return to the gridiron. His hopes were set back when he was wounded in combat. Rocky was hit by gunshot in one leg and grenade shrapnel in his other foot. Steelers’ owner Art Rooney sent him a postcard while recovering in a U S military hospital in Japan saying the team was not very good that year and that he wanted Rocky back. Unfortunately, his doctor told him that while he would be able to walk just fine, he should not expect to ever be able to play football again.

Rocky attempted to play anyhow when he returned to Pittsburgh but his body was not ready and he was cut by Head Coach Chuck Knoll. Rooney’s son Dan however was able to get Bleier put on injured reserved so he could have another chance the next season. By 1972, Rocky finally made the team and that year the Steelers won their first playoff game in 40 years. Two years later they would win the Super Bowl despite a players strike, 14 rookies on the team as well as no Terry Bradshaw or Franco Harris. By the time Rocky retired, the team had won three more Super Bowls and during the third of his four Super Bowls, he scored a touchdown.

Rocky does not believe that when it is time to retire, you will know. According to Rocky people are not taught how to retire from a job. He first began to think retirement was nearing during the media week for Super Bowl XIV when the local media asked if he ever thought about retiring, which he would two years later.

In 1980, Bleier transitioned from sports to the broadcast booth and worked in local TV. He viewed the broadcast booth as a new challenge, as well as a way to stay involved with the team at training camp. Since then he has become a keynote speaker and still is on the road trying to help people motivate themselves. Some of his themes include what it takes to put together a team of people that can accomplish feats like winning four Super Bowls as well as poke fun at his old teammate Terry Bradshaw, who also transitioned into television after his career.

When it comes to transitions in life, Rocky believes that you have to look back at yourself and figure out what makes you happy. Despite the issues with concussions that have lingered in the NFL recently, he would still play for the Steelers if he could do it all over again. He believes the concussion debate has done a great job at raising awareness of concussions, how to diagnose them, make better equipment to prevent them and manage symptoms when people have them.

Readers can find out more about Rocky Bleier and what he is up to these days by visiting his website www.RockyBleier.com.

You can catch the Rocky Bleier full TV interview on From Glory Days this Sunday, February 4th on TV20 Detroit at 6:00 a.m. Set your alarms or DVR’s to hear Rocky’s story directly from this 4x Super Bowl Champion himself.

Michael Holzman is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with honors, with a BA in Communications.  He also has a communications and broadcasting degree from Specs Howard School of Media Arts. A native of the Detroit area, Michael is now an associate producer for the TV show, “From Glory Days” and also works for Yellow Flag Productions, primarily reporting and gathering video for their popular show, “State Champs Sports Network. 

Editor’s note: IPM would like to welcome From Glory Days writer Michael Holzman as a new blogger on the In Play! website. This is the first installment in a series of blogs and exclusive interviews from guests that will be appearing on From Glory Days.

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