Did the 46th President of the United States play college football? Joe Biden is known for many things, but is starring on the gridiron one of them?
Did Joe Biden Ever Play College Football?
The answer is yes. Biden was a college football player, but only for a brief period during his freshman year. Back in 1961, Biden joined the University of Delaware’s freshman football team, known as the Blue Chicks, where he played as a halfback. Freshmen at the time were prohibited from playing on varsity teams.
This meant that his college football career was limited to the freshman squad. It was a brief foray into the sport for a man who had already shown a passion for athletics throughout his high school years at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware.
Though Biden’s high school years were marked by success on the field as a wide receiver and halfback, his transition to college football wasn’t as smooth.
Despite his early promise, his academics affected his ability to juggle both his sports and studies. Biden’s grades dropped a bit in his first semester. Thus, his parents encouraged him to put more focus on academics than football.
By the time his sophomore year came around, Biden’s academic performance had improved. Despite regaining some stability in his grades, he made a decision that would change his future.
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After meeting Neilia Hunter, who would become his wife, Biden chose to step away from football and devote more time to his personal life.
During a commencement address in July 2024 at West Point, New York, Joe Biden shared an interesting tidbit about his consideration to play football for the prestigious Army team. He recalled how, at one point, he was tempted to accept an appointment to West Point, where he could have played for the Army football team.
However, Biden was deterred upon learning that two future football legends, Roger Staubach, a quarterback, and Joe Bellino, a halfback, were already on the roster. He humorously remarked:
“I found out two days earlier they had a quarterback named Roger Staubach and a halfback named Joe Bellino. And I said, ‘I’m not going there.’ I went to Delaware. Not a joke.”
Although Biden ultimately chose to attend the University of Delaware, his high school athletic career had been more impressive. At Archmere Academy, Biden excelled as a wide receiver and halfback, helping his team achieve an undefeated season with 10 touchdowns in eight games.
In his autobiography, “Promises to Keep,” Biden described sports as a way for him to gain confidence and acceptance, an area where he had struggled with his speech impediment. Biden wrote:
“As much as I lacked confidence in my ability to communicate verbally, I always had confidence in my athletic ability. Sports were as natural to me as talking wasn’t. And sports turned out to be my ticket to acceptance and more. I wasn’t easily intimidated in a game, so even when I stuttered, I was always the guy who said, ‘Give me the ball.’”
Donald Trump’s Discovery of Joe Biden’s Letter
In an unexpected moment of humor, Donald Trump, shortly after assuming office as the 47th President of the United States, made headlines for discovering a letter left by his predecessor.
The letter, which was sealed in a white envelope marked with the number 47, was found while Trump was signing his first set of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
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When reporters asked if Biden had left him a letter, Trump jokingly responded, “He may have,” before heading to the desk to search for the letter. Upon finding it, Trump exclaimed, “Ohhh,” as he held up the white envelope for the media to see. “It could have been years before we found this thing,” Trump added, adding a light-hearted touch to the otherwise serious moment.
The discovery of the letter is part of a longstanding tradition in American politics, where outgoing presidents leave a personal note for their successors.
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