Rocky Bleier, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the height of the Vietnam War and later played running back for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, will keynote Groundwater Week 2022, December 6-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bleier’s life story — a gripping tale of courage on both the football fields of America and the battle fields of Vietnam — has held audiences in rapt attention for years. But the motivational message behind it, detailing how ordinary people can become extraordinary achievers, defines success in the new American century.
With the same optimism, sense of humor, and steadfast determination that were his trademarks as a Steelers running back, Bleier takes audiences from his early years through his professional career and talks about the lessons he learned along the way — lessons that all can benefit from — in his speech, “Be the Best You Can Be.”
Not falling within the ideal of what a running back should look like, Bleier had to run harder and play smarter to be able to stand out. Despite his drive and ability to make the big play, the Steelers only considered him a late round pick. But before the season ended that first year, he was drafted again, this time by the U.S. Army on December 4, 1968.
At the height of the Vietnam War, Bleier was thrust into combat early and was seriously wounded when his platoon ran into an ambush. Receiving wounds from both rifle fire and grenade fragments in his legs, he was barely able to walk, and his professional football career seemed to have ended before it began.
For more than two years, Bleier drove himself. Little by little he overcame obstacles and fought his way all the way back. Bleier not only made the Steelers, but also eventually became a starting running back on a team that won four Super Bowls and became the greatest football team of the 20th century.
The hard lessons Bleier learned early in his life, which helped him overcome adversity and reach his goals, have paid off after football. What makes Bleier so popular as a speaker is his ability to translate core values in his talk. With real-world practicality, he points out ways to reach new levels of inner confidence.
Click here to learn more about Groundwater Week 2022.