'', See the article in its original context from. The tumor turned out to be benign, but Plunkett has never forgotten the generosity shown by Rust. In his senior year, 1970, he led Stanford to a conference championship and their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1952, a game that ended with a 2717 Stanford victory over the heavily favored Ohio State Buckeyes. In 1971, he was drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft by the New England Patriots (the team was still known as the Boston Patriots at the time of the draft; the name change to New England did not become official until March 21 of that year). He is the son of Native American and Hispanic parents. Click here to donate. Plunkett then joined the Oakland Raiders in 1978, serving in a reserve capacity over the next two years, throwing no passes in 1978 and just fifteen in 1979. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . Born to blind parents, he worked several part-time jobs in high school to help support the family. Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center He earned the opportunity to start in 1968, and in his first game, completed ten of thirteen passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns, and never relinquished his hold on the starting spot. Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. Plunkett grew up in San Jose, California, the son of parents who were Native American and Hispanic. Released from the 49ers after suffering further injuries, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders for 1978. Plunkett was born to William and Carmella Plunkett (his mother was Mexican, his father was also of Mexican descent) in San Jose Calif. His mother lost her sight when she was 20. [21], Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:58, List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders, List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders, "HOF Voter: Jim Plunkett Would Not Get My Vote", "Jim Plunkett and the Pro Football Hall of Fame", "Jim Plunkett's road to Super Bowl champion wasn't always smooth", "Greatest Cinderella stories in NFL history", "Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders Franchise Encyclopedia", "Oakland Raiders Quarterback Jim Plunkett vs. Denver Broncos Quarterback John Elway: Fan Take", "Why Raiders QB Jim Plunkett is not a Hall of Famer", "Barnwell: How the 'average' NFL QB has changed dramatically", "A Deeper Look at the Stabler Hall of Fame Debate", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett opens up on health: 'My life sucks', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jim_Plunkett&oldid=1140846577, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:58. That goes to show that Jim Plunkett never ever gave up, even after everybody else did. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. Geez, you'd think that we could have seen pretty quickly that he could throw the ball.". . Was he a child, a teen, or an adult?Bonus 100 pts: How old was he exactly? After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. The answer is no. Randy Vataha had the same misgivings when he transferred in as a junior. He got his opportunity when starter Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg against Kansas City. Playing for a traditionally mediocre program on the West Coast, Plunkett was a long-shot Heisman candidate compared to the other favorites: quarterbacks Archie Manning of Mississippi and Joe Theismann of Notre Dame. Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. After a 59 season in 1977, the 49ers released him during the 1978 preseason. Fortunately, he says, I was able to take advantage.. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California, on December 5, 1947. The opponent: undefeated and heavily favored Ohio State. But sometimes I'd forget. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. Haz clic aqu para leer la historia sobre Jim Plunkett en espaol. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. JIM PLUNKETT is on a roll. Jim Plunkett played 15 NFL seasons, but his eight years with the Raiders defined his career. His mother, Carmen, had not seen the outside world since she was 19 years old due to typhoid. Plunkett showed his talent for tossing the football by winning a throwing contest at the age of 14 with a heave of over 60 yards. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. He will always be remembered as one of the Silver and Blacks best players, and his exploits in the teams past will live on after his playing days are over. Jim Plunkett is the only NFL quarterback to win Super Bowls with the same team in both Oakland and Los Angeles (with the same team in both cities). Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. Wanting to stay closer to home to help look after his parents, Plunkett decided to attend Stanford University. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. Jim also had two sisters. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. Hearing the story again, Jim Plunkett, the One and Only, smiles and rolls his eyes to his wife's amusement. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. He completed 571 of his 571 passes for a career-low 571 yards, three touchdown passes, and seven picks. ''But growing up, I didn't feel like I had to take care of either my father or my mother. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. His parents were both blind. He threw for more touchdown passes than interception in all of his professional seasons except five, but he had more losing seasons than winning seasons. He holds the Raider record, and is tied for the league record, for the longest career pass, which occurred during a 99-yard pass play against the Washington Redskins on October 2, 1983. But Plunkett suffered a left shoulder separation early in the 1975 season, giving rookie Steve Grogan, who would become a fixture with the club for 16 seasons, extensive experience, and under the leadership of coach Chuck Fairbanks, New England's offense became more run-oriented, led by Sam Cunningham. While Jim Plunketts story is a well-known one, he is not a Hall of Fame quarterback; he is considered an unlikely figure in the movie industry. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Check out the Jim Plunkett Hispanic Heritage 83 item on Madden NFL 23 - Ratings, Prices and more! AGI 74. As the No. The Oakland Raiders have had a total of 25 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including players, executives, and coaches. Slow to recover from the surgery on his neck, Plunkett didn't impress anybody during spring practice at the end of his freshman year. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. He was traded in 1976 to the 49ers, and in 1980, joined the Oakland Raiders and quarterbacked them to two Super Bowl wins in 1980 and 1983, and was named the MVP of the 1980 match-up. Plunkett made his athletic debut when he was 14 years old, winning a throwing contest with a distance of over 60 yards and demonstrating his potential. (Photo: Courtesy Jim Plunkett), HISTORY LESSON: The memorabilia room in Plunketts home is a reminder of his playing days, as are his knees, replaced a few years ago with titanium and Teflon. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. And while he is a celebrity, he is hoping to complete a pass at the Raiders' treasury for a new contract that might double his $180,000 annual salary. Jim Plunketts nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is fraught with controversy. [8] Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa Fe and his father, William Gutierrez Plunkett, was born in Albuquerque. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. ", Plunkett's against-the-odds story drew legions of fans, including some who were only casual football rooters. They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. I know life goes on but its been devastating. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. Tom Flores, then the Raiders coach, was not surprised. Plunkett declined, threatened to transfer and, given a second chance, led Stanford to a Rose Bowl upset of Ohio State to cap his Heisman Trophy-winning senior season. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. ''She always wanted to know what the trees and the hills looked like. He was the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal from 1968 to 1970. "You look a lot worse than that," Plunkett responds. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. He spent 12 years in the NFL, beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers and continuing with the Washington Redskins, Oakland As, and Philadelphia 76ers. His 15 surgeries have included six on his left shoulder, one on his right shoulder, two on his neck and six on his knees. "The best college football player I've ever seen," said Washington State coach Jim Sweeney. He had some natural shyness, plus an unconventionally low-key approach to taking charge. In spite of never being selected to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, and everything the Ravens have done pre-raid, his tenure has been worthwhile. He also shined the light back on everybody else.". "We'd all gone to public schools instead of prep schools, and none of us had a lump of cash in our pocket," Lasater recalls. Jim went to William C. Overfelt High School in the 9th and 10th grades and then transferred to and graduated from James Lick High School, both located in east San Jose, California. My father, and later on my sisters, prepared most of the meals. The massive arms of Plunkett transformed college football, changing the perception of the game from being a ground game to one that was exciting and fast. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. ''The thing I'm sorry for,'' he said, ''is that my father worked so hard but he wasn't around for the best part -winning the Heisman Trophy, going to the Rose Bowl, being the No. "We didn't want to live through that again.". Stanford University. "I'm 10 years older than you," says a sportswriter celebrating his 72nd birthday. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. His parents in San Jose were both blind, and his father died his junior year, so Plunkett and his sisters worked to support their mother. Friends helped talk him out of retiring and, two weeks later, he signed with the Raiders. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. But there always seems to be something Stanford-oriented on his schedule, such as a dinner he hosted in September at his home for every quarterback on the Stanford roster. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. AWR 80. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. The coaches realized everything had to be different, and they happened to discover the difference maker. When starting quarterback Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg early in the 1980 season, Plunkett stepped in and led the Raiders all the way to a 27-10 Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, throwing three TD passes and becoming the game's most valuable player. He was named Rookie of the Year that first season, but little worked out for either him or the team from that point on, and he took a steady beating behind the Pats' weak offensive line. He even spent two seasons on the bench with the Raiders. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. When my room was a mess, my mother always knew. He then capped his collegiate career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 upset of unbeaten Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl, completing 20-of-30 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. His upbringing was difficult as both his parents, William and Carmen, were blind. 326 Galvez Street the combining form for plasma minus the clotting proteins is jim plunkett parents blind . Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. A few examples include players who were considered busts but rebounded to make their mark on the game. ''So if I had quit, she probably would have liked that. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . Jim Plunketts story is told in a film, and its a fascinating look at American football history. "It surprised me that he was able to come back because I thought physically he had been so punished that he couldn't come back - and he certainly did," says Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi about Jim Plunkett on ESPN Classic's SportsCentury series. And in three of the four seasons before Plunkett's emergence, Stanford had gone 5-5. "Some of it has been wonderful and some of it has been absolutely horrific. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. In junior high school, he became a passing quarterback. 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His junior year was even better when he set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786), ranking third nationally in total offense and fifth in passing. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. Jim Plunkett was instrumental in the Oakland Raiders winning Super Bowl titles in 1980 and 1983. [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. The Raiders ignored his request and five weeks into the season, Plunkett's resurrection began. The press made much of his personal story. Jim got cut after everyone called him washed up. Then, in 1980, he was picked up by the Oakland Raiders and led them to the Super Bowl. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. To this day he has a tendency to drop into the background, heightened sometimes by the pervasive sadness of his son's death. It just felt unbelievable to me, Jim said, knowing what I did. Despite the fact that Andrew Lucks dazzling arm elevated the game to a whole new level, the notion that college football was primarily a running game was quickly overturned. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. Submit your film TODAY!! The Raiders became the first team from the Wild Card era to win a Super Bowl. "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. In 1983, Plunkett followed a similar script, this time taking the reins from Marc Wilson at midseason and helping the Raiders to their third and most recent NFL title. While at Stanford he joined Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. CAR 70. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He could see a little bit. It was very hard to swallow. What happened to Hart was not unintended. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. "In 1972 my confidence ran into a stone wall," he said. Success as a California high school quarterback was followed by an unsteady start in college, a beginning in which his coach almost took the ball from his hands. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. Bill Parcells was the first Hispanic-American head coach of the NFL, and Tom Flores won two Super Bowl rings. Knee and shoulder surgeries became almost commonplace, and after a season of limited play in 1975, he asked to be traded. Initially serving as a backup for the Raiders, Plunkett became the starting quarterback during the 1980 season and led them to win Super Bowl XV, where he was named MVP. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. It had been anything but a happy Bay Area homecoming for the rifle-armed quarterback who first gained widespread notice at San Jose James Lick High. ''My sisters would bring a radio so she could listen to what was happening. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. New England also influenced the AFC East championship race, as Plunkett's 88-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass to former Stanford teammate Randy Vataha on the final day of the season dropped the Baltimore Colts to a 1040 record and into second place in the division behind the 1031 Miami Dolphins. "Stanford is in both our hearts," says Gerry Plunkett, Jim's wife of 28 years, "because I see how very much it means to him.". ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. Plunkett, 63, is still involved with the Raiders, co-hosting a team-produced weekly television program, The Silver and Black Show, and sitting in Davis box during games. It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. SPD 74. Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season.