Rocky Bleier Team-Issued Jersey Steelers Worn in Movie Fighting Back – COA 100% Authentic Team & Provenance LOA

Rocky Bleier was a running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1960’s-70’s. After his rookie season with the Steelers, Bleier was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 4, 1968, during the Vietnam War. What is interesting is that he wrote a book of his struggle to recover from his war wounds called Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story, and it was made into a television movie in 1980, with Robert Urich starring as Bleier, Richard Herd as Steelers coach Chuck Noll, Art Carney as team owner Art Rooney, and many of Bleier’s teammates (including Matt Bahr and “Mean Joe” Greene) as themselves.

The movie was based on Bleier’s 1975 autobiography of the same name, it tells the story of how, after becoming a running back for the Steelers in 1968, he was then drafted by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Injured by a bullet to the thigh and a hand grenade to the lower right leg, Rocky is told that he will never walk again. Not only does he walk again after a long rehabilitation, Rocky returns to train with the Steelers. With the sympathy and support of his wife Aleta (Bonnie Bedelia), Steelers owner Art Rooney (Art Carney), and coach Chuck Noll (Richard Herd), Rocky makes the team again, and helps them become Super Bowl champions.

In the process of the film being made, Rocky Bleier gifted this authentic game jersey to the actor that played him in the movie, Robert Ulrich. Although not worn by Bleier in an actual game, the white durene jersey was made by the Steelers to be worn in the television movie by Ulrich. It matches team specifications (thereby team-issued) right out of the locker room in order to be an accurate representation in the film.

Its purpose other than gratitude was that it was to be worn by Ulrich (in costume) as Rocky’s biographical character which it was. It features the team’s classic single-color black tackle twill numerals “50” displayed on the front, back and shoulders. The proper “Steelers Exclusivity” and “Medalist Sand Knit” [size] 46 tags are stitched on the front tail. “BLEIER” is presented on the rear nameplate in two-color yellow/black tackle twill. The sleeves also have appropriate definition striping. There’s also some blood staining on the jersey from wear.

The authentic jersey originates from Robert Ulrich’s brother Tom who details in the provenance letter how it was gifted by Bleier to the talented actor during the filming of the movie.  The actor then gave it to his brother. Overall, a great way to have a proper vintage durene representation of the Steelers in a collection that relates to sports as well as entertainment.

Authentication: 100% Authentic Team & Provenance Letter