Joe was filled with emotion when he saw the exhibit on Robert "Rocky" Bleier, who played his rookie season for the Pittsburgh Steelers before being drafted into the U.S. Army. Bleir served in Vietnam, where he received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Bleir ultimately recovered from his injuries and returned to the NFL. After the car accident of that claimed the life of Joes first wife and his young daughter and injured his two sons in 1973, the Steelers flew Bleier to Delaware where he gave a signed football to Bidens sons while they were recovering at the hospital. As Joe looked at Bleiers jersey, he appeared to wipe away a tear.
When asked how much of a football fan he was, Biden said "My wife is a die-hard Eagles fan, so we watch every Eagles game."
Biden has variously claimed to have been a Colts fan — until they left Baltimore, a Redskins fan, and a Packers fan. He has also tried to make some connections to the Eagles, and now the Steelers. His story about the Steelers is quite possibly a fabrication.