Rocky Bleier was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin. Bleier was the oldest of four children. Bleier played college football at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. During his junior season in 1966, the Fighting Irish won the National Championship and he was a team captain as a senior in 1967.

He was selected in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 417th overall. He would play for them that year, leave, then come play from 1970 to 1980. After his rookie season with the Steelers, Bleier was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 4, 1968, during the Vietnam War. Bleier played in the first four Steeler Super Bowl victories, and caught the touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw that gave Pittsburgh a lead it would never surrender in Super Bowl XIII. He also recovered Dallas's onside kick in the closing seconds, sealing the Steelers' victory.

Bleier retired after the 1980 season, with 3,865 rushing yards, 136 receptions for 1,294 yards, and 25 touchdowns. At the time of his retirement, he was the Steelers' fourth all-time leading rusher. Bleier's story is one of the most heart warming and compelling life/sports stories you would ever hear from a public sports speaker. He overcame great odds /injury throughout his life to have great success on the football field and off th field in business.