If you’ve ever seen a photo of a young Joe Biden from the 1960s, you’ve probably noticed the "athlete" look. Broad shoulders. That classic 1950s grin. But when people search for the Joe Biden football team, they usually want to know one of two things: Was he actually any good back in the day, or which NFL team does he scream at on Sundays?
The answer is a bit of both.
Honestly, the guy was a legit star in high school. We aren't talking about "participation trophy" good; we're talking about a skinny kid who basically put an entire team on his back. Most people don't realize that Biden's history with the game is actually what helped him overcome his famous stutter.
He used the huddle to find his voice.
The Archmere Days: Where it All Started
In the late 1950s, Biden attended Archmere Academy, a private Catholic school in Claymont, Delaware. At the time, the Archmere football team was, well, pretty terrible. They were the kind of team that other schools scheduled for their homecoming games because they were a guaranteed win.
Then came 1960.
Biden played halfback and wide receiver. He wasn't the biggest guy on the field—his own coach, the legendary John Walsh, later described him as a "skinny kid." But he had wheels. During his senior year, Biden caught 10 touchdown passes in just eight games. In an era where teams mostly ran the ball until the grass died, those are wild numbers.
The Undefeated Season
Under the leadership of Biden and his teammates, the Archmere team did the impossible. They went undefeated.
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They finished 8-0.
It was one of the biggest turnarounds in Delaware high school sports history. Biden has often credited football with giving him the confidence he lacked because of his speech impediment. On the field, he didn't have to worry about a stutter; he just had to run a post route and catch the ball.
The University of Delaware and the "Half-Baked" Halfback
After high school, the Joe Biden football team saga moved to the University of Delaware. This is where the story gets a little more "human" and a lot less "movie script."
Biden joined the freshman team, then known as the "Blue Chicks" (the varsity team was, and still is, the Blue Hens). He played as a halfback in 1961.
But here’s the thing: college is hard.
Biden wasn't exactly a scholar in his early years. He famously joked that he arrived at the university as a "half-baked halfback." After a freshman year where his grades took a nosedive—he finished with a 1.9 GPA—his parents stepped in. They told him he had to quit the team to focus on his studies.
He did, for a while.
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There was a brief moment in his junior year where he tried to make a comeback. He started training again and actually moved up the depth chart surprisingly fast. But then, life happened. He met Neilia Hunter (his first wife), fell in love, and realized that spending his weekends traveling to see her was more important than getting hit by linebackers.
By the time he graduated in 1965, his competitive playing days were over, but his obsession with the sport was just getting started.
The NFL Allegiance: Is He a True Eagles Fan?
Fast forward a few decades. If you walk into the Biden household, you aren't going to find a Dallas Cowboys jersey. You're going to find green.
The Joe Biden football team in the professional sense is, without question, the Philadelphia Eagles.
This isn't just a political "I need to win Pennsylvania" stance. Biden grew up in Scranton and then Delaware, both of which are deep in the heart of Eagles territory. His wife, Jill Biden, is arguably an even bigger fan. She’s from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and is known to be "obsessive" about the Birds.
Why the Eagles?
- Geography: Scranton and Wilmington are essentially suburbs of Philly sports culture.
- The Super Bowl Connection: Biden was at Super Bowl LII in 2018 when the Eagles finally beat the Patriots. He wasn't just there for a photo op; he was in the stands cheering like a maniac.
- Recent Sightings: Even in late 2025, Biden was spotted at Lincoln Financial Field. He attended the Eagles vs. Las Vegas Raiders game in December, wearing an Eagles cap and telling reporters, "Go Birds, man. All the way. You gotta win the Super Bowl again."
It’s actually kinda refreshing to see a public figure who doesn't flip-flop on their team. He has stuck with the Eagles through the "Dream Team" disaster, the Chip Kelly era, and the Jalen Hurts resurgence. That's real commitment.
The "Draft Deferment" Controversy
You can't talk about Biden’s football career without mentioning the critics. Some people have pointed out the irony of Biden being a "star athlete" while receiving five student draft deferments and a final 1-Y medical deferment for asthma during the Vietnam War.
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Critics like to compare this to Donald Trump’s "bone spurs."
The facts are pretty straightforward: Biden did have asthma as a teenager. While he was fit enough to play high school football and freshman ball in college, the military’s medical standards at the time were different from a football coach’s standards. Whether you think it's a "fair" comparison depends entirely on your politics, but strictly speaking, his football career and his medical record are both well-documented.
Why This Matters Today
Understanding the Joe Biden football team history gives you a weirdly specific lens into his personality. He likes being the underdog. He likes the "scrappy" Philly mentality.
When you see him use sports metaphors in his speeches, he’s not just reading a teleprompter. He’s thinking back to 1960 at Archmere, standing in a huddle, trying to get the words out so he could lead his team to another touchdown.
What You Can Take Away From This
If you're looking to verify his "sports cred," here are the specific details you need to know:
- Archmere Academy (1960): He was a standout. 10 TDs. Undefeated season.
- University of Delaware (1961): Played for the freshman "Blue Chicks." Quit due to grades.
- NFL Loyalty: Hardcore Philadelphia Eagles fan.
- The "Why": Football was his tool for overcoming a stutter and building confidence.
If you ever find yourself in a debate about whether Biden actually played the game, you can confidently say he was a "skinny halfback" who actually knew how to find the end zone. Just don't ask him about his college GPA from 1961.
For those interested in the actual history of Delaware sports, you can look up the Archmere Academy 1960 team records. They are still celebrated as one of the school's most legendary rosters. If you want to see the modern side of this, keep an eye on the sidelines at Lincoln Financial Field during the playoffs; there's a high chance you'll see a familiar face in a midnight green cap.