Steelers legend Bleier in 1-man play

Staff report

PITTSBURGH

Former Pittsburgh Steeler fullback Rocky Bleier will perform his one-man show “The Play” this week and next at the O’Reilly Theater.

Based on the legendary player’s life story, “The Play” was written by Gene Collier, a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports writer. It premiered in 2015.

Collier and Boardman native Rob Zellers also co-authored “The Chief,” Pittsburgh Public Theater’s hit play about Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday; 7 p.m. Jan. 2, 3, 4 and 5; and 1 p.m. Jan. 6. Scott C. Wise is the director. For tickets, call 412-316-1600 or go to ppt.org.

Bleier was selected in the 1968 draft by the Steelers, only to be drafted one year later by the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam.

Severely injured, he was not expected to ever play football again. But through determination and the encouragement of Rooney and team mates, Bleier was back at training camp in 1970, and went on to become part of the Steelers dynasty, winning the Super Bowl in 1975, 1976, 1979 and, 1980.