"I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. His net yards passing and most yards total offense were NCAA records at the time. Bill Parcells was the first Hispanic-American head coach of the NFL, and Tom Flores won two Super Bowl rings. Geez, you'd think that we could have seen pretty quickly that he could throw the ball.". Despite his lack of fame, his contributions will not go unnoticed. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. He also helped them get their own food and stuff. Had they insisted on it, the number of Heisman Trophy winners at Stanford would still be zero. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Plunkett went on to an NFL career that included two Super Bowl victories while quarterbacking the Raiders, but also included years of physical trauma that left him hobbled and in near constant pain. Plunkett led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. "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. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. His father died before his junior season and Plunkett made sure there was time to spend with his mother no matter how great the pressures at Stanford. They were too busy taking care of my sisters and me. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. [3] His tenure with the Patriots was productive, but after an injury-shortened 1975 season he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he played in 1976 and 1977. He passed for 18 touchdowns and 2,299 yards during the season, guiding the Raiders to nine victories in their last 11 games and a wild-card spot in the playoffs. Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. He was born to a blind mother and father.. Jim Plunkett - Wikipedia Plunkett was the only quarterback who led his team to two Super Bowl victories, and he is the only starter to lead his team to two Super Bowl victories but is not eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. Jim attended James Lick High School in East San Jose, California.He won the Heisman Trophy in 1970 as quarterback for Stanford University. He's still connected to the Raiders. The Remarkable Story Of Jim Plunkett: From Police Officer's Son To His mother, Carmen, had not seen the outside world since she was 19 years old due to typhoid. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. Plunkett delivered newspapers and took odd jobs to earn pocket money but still found time for football. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. Plunkett was born December 5, 1947 in Santa Clara, California and was a high school star there. The defense included linebacker Jeff Siemon, '72, and tackle Pete Lazetich, '72, who became first-team All-Americans the following season and helped lead Stanford back to the Rose Bowl. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. As a sophomore, 1968, he passed for 2,156 yards, a record in what was then the Pac-8 Conference. Rust didn't hesitate: We will honor your scholarship, he said. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim, Flores says. Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. LATE RALLY: After struggling early in his NFL career, Plunkett led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. 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. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. SPD 74. Friends helped talk him out of retiring and, two weeks later, he signed with the Raiders. In the NFL, prospects who were expected to make big waves are frequently busts. I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. He was a hard-knocks kid from San Jose, a Mexican-American with an Irish surname, who gravitated to Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. 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. My sisters Genevieve and Mary Ann don't like to tell me that my mother is coming to the game because they know I'll worry that she's all right.''. For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. Completed artwork should reflect thoughtful ideas to show how the selected hero demonstrates heroic action and creates positive social change. It was a memorable year as he surpassed many of his league records, passing for 2,715 yards and 18 touchdowns as Stanford went 8-3 and won the Pac-8. 1 choice in the N.F.L. . 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. Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. Still, he remains active at Stanford, regularly attending events on campus and raising money for athletic scholarships through his annual charity golf tournament. It was the low point in my career really hard to take, he says of the 49ers move. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. Jim Plunkett Jeopardy Template They rallied around him and he just rose to the occasion, making big plays in big games.. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990. . ''My mother had her vision until she was about 20, but then she had an illness, scarlet fever I think it was. His career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. In college, however, Jim won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the Rose bowl. Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation [1][18] Similar debates occurred in relation to Ken Stabler, another Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the Raiders, who missed being elected into the Hall for 25 years before being elected posthumously in 2016. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. Plunkett was born on Dec. 5, 1947, in San Jose, Calif., the youngest of three children. ACC 77. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts "I got so many great letters. What John Sande, '71, the team's center, remembers is a sound. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. For his career, Plunkett completed 1,943-of-3,701 passes for 25,882 yards with 164 touchdowns and 198 interceptions. In a call with Rod Rust, the assistant coach who had recruited him, Plunkett relayed his fears. He even spent two seasons on the bench with the Raiders. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He could see a little bit. Born to blind parents, he worked odd jobs to help support his family as a teen and almost was forced to give up football when a cancerous lump was . For that, he collected a black and silver Toyota automobile and a Seiko watch from Sport magazine at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria last week. "He gutted out that entire run. His parents were both blind. As a result, he is revered not only for his achievements at Stanford, but also for his humility and loyalty from the start. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. MY HERO Project seeks unique works of art by professional and student artists that celebrate the lives and courageous acts of heroes who work to promote change by positively affecting others and their communities. Rallying the Raiders from a 2-3 start, he capped his comeback season by passing for three touchdowns in a most-valuable-player performance in the Super Bowl. Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. '', Jim Plunkett is reminded of that whenever he visits his mother now. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. '', When he and his mother, Carmen, took walks, he would describe the scenery to her. UCLA coach Tommy Prothro had called Plunkett the "best pro quarterback prospect I've ever seen", echoing Sweeney's words from the year prior. Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. She has high blood pressure. [10], When Jim was growing up, the family's financial situation was a big problem for him. Plunkett excelled in athletics from a young age and went on to attend Stanford University on a football scholarship. JIM PLUNKETT is on a roll. Anyone can read what you share. His parents were blind from the start. He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. 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). 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. Jim Plunkett's parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. In the "Year of the Quarterback," he was voted the Heisman Trophy, easily beating out Notre Dame's Joe Theismann and Mississippi's Archie Manning. I was supposed to make my bed, but if I didn't, she'd walk in and feel the bed to see if I had. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . Stanford University. They are a permanent set: Plunk, Red, B.M., Schultzie and Rabbit. That game is credited with returning the Stanford football program to prominence, and Plunkett's performance helped established a template for what soon became a college football staple: offenses dedicated to passing the ball. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. The rest of the Stanford cast was anything but ordinary. By this time, Jim's two older sisters, Genevieve (16 years older than Jim) and Mary Ann (5 years older than Jim) had been born; Jim was born in 1947, after the family had moved to Santa Clara. He got his opportunity when starter Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg against Kansas City. (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. 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. Our gallery features art in the theme of heroism. "We've all tasted what life has to deliver," says Schultz. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. Davis denied his trade request, Plunkett says, because he wanted the veteran available in case of emergency. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. Download our Annual Report for more detailed information about our daily operations. Jim Plunkett - Academic Kids "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. 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 was the first of three children born to James and Geraldine Plunkett. ''I don't think she would have cared if I had quit, she always was worried about me getting hurt,'' he said. Randy Vataha had the same misgivings when he transferred in as a junior. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. ", Plunkett, shy and modest, took a different view: "I wanted the Heisman, but my whole life wasn't centered on it.". Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. ''One parent always was taking care of the other. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. The Raiders ignored his request and five weeks into the season, Plunkett's resurrection began. The 1972 season brought a different look: only eight touchdown passes, 25 interceptions (up from 16 as a rookie), a 3-11 record and many hard knocks. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. (optional), What is a news vendor? [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. New York, NY, 10006. "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. Jim Plunkett - Wikipedia However, five weeks into the 1980 season, his career took a major turn when starting QB Dan Pastorini fractured his leg in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite his strong first two seasons, Plunkett was a long-shot Heisman candidate compared to the other favorites: quarterbacks Archie Manning of Mississippi and Joe Theismann of Notre Dame. When Gerry Plunkett recently won her sixth Stanford Women's Golf Club championshipshe and Jim are avid players she told friends that an appropriate celebration should have included temporarily covering up her husband's Heisman, just to emphasize her moment in the spotlight. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Jim also had two sisters. Her dad was afraid she'd stay in New York. ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. Completing 13-of-21 passes and three scoring strikes, two to Cliff Branch and an 80-yarder to Kenny King, he accounted for all of Oakland's touchdowns in the 27-10 victory. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. 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. Forty years later, his impact on college football hasn't lost any luster, even though the sport has become far more freewheeling and ratcheted up the stats of quarterbacks everywhere. Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. Wanting to stay near home and attend a university with strong academics, Plunkett selected Stanford over California, in part because the radical political environment in Berkeley could be hard on athletes. He received several accolades during his career, including the only Heisman Trophy (1970) in school history. 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. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. He also sits on the board at the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Palo Alto, supporting a cause close to his heart. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, released two seasons later, then signed by the Raiders. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? [20], Interviewed in 2017, Plunkett told of being in "constant pain" and discussed the effects of at least ten career concussions. He's as tough a guy as I've ever met. The answer is no. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft and went on to have a successful career in the league. [16] Arguments for induction focus on his two Super Bowl victories and Super Bowl MVP award, along with the personal challenges he overcame in the NFL. Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation During training camp in 1980, Plunkett asked to be traded because he expected to have virtually no playing time again. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. 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 did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. September 1st is the final deadline to submit work for the 2022 International Film Festival! Plunkett has many interests and ventures, ranging from speaking engagements and autograph contracts for football cards and jerseys to his longtime involvement on behalf of the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Palo Alto. But she might have. He worked from an early age, cleaning up at a gas station while in elementary school, delivering newspapers, bagging groceries, and working in orchards. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. The opponent: undefeated and heavily favored Ohio State. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. ", I got so many great letters. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. During his five seasons with the Pats, he was 23-38, completed 48.5% of his passes, threw 62 touchdown passes, and had 87 interception returns. Rust, now 82, remembers making that promise impulsively, confident that Stanford would back him up. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. Throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns, Plunkett was named the game's MVP; subsequently, Plunkett has the distinction of being the first minority to quarterback a team to a Super Bowl victory and the only Latino to be named Super Bowl MVP. Jim also had two sisters. Released from the 49ers after suffering further injuries, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders for 1978. Former Raider and Stanford star quarterback Jim Plunkett of Atherton wasn't too pleased with that last one. His father, William, was legally blind and worked as a news vendor. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. ''She always wanted to know what the trees and the hills looked like. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. Plunkett, who did not take a salary but used his newspaper delivery job to supplement his income, played football for the majority of his life. 111 Broadway, Suite 103A But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. Then followed three sensational seasons at Stanford, culminating with the 1970 Heisman Trophy. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. 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. 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. He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. And suddenly, from near-oblivion, a rise again to the top as 1981 Super Bowl MVP. "In 1972 my confidence ran into a stone wall," he said. A Heisman Trophy winner and future College Football Hall of Fame inductee at Stanford,[2] Plunkett was selected first overall by the New England Patriots in the 1971 NFL Draft. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. The players liked him. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. '', See the article in its original context from. A few examples include players who were considered busts but rebounded to make their mark on the game. Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. Visitors, teachers, students, and MY HERO staff publish all kinds of stories, from inspirational essays about a close friend, to important global issues. In 1983, Marc Wilson was the Raiders starter who went down hurt, and Plunkett again came off the bench, and again spurred the team to a Super Bowl championship, a 38-9 trouncing of the Washington Redskins. Jim Plunkett - Sports Junkie His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. Diamond in the Rust: Davis Reclaims Plunkett From NFL Junkyard Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". Hearing the story again, Jim Plunkett, the One and Only, smiles and rolls his eyes to his wife's amusement. Stanford, California 94305. Jim Plunkett was the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. Born to blind parents, he worked several part-time jobs in high school to help support the family. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. His excellent arm strength and precision made him attractive to pro teams that relied much more heavily on the passing game than most college teams of the late 1960s. Aside from the Heisman, he captured the Maxwell Award for the nation's best player and was named player of the year by United Press International, The Sporting News, and SPORT magazine. The next year he was, to San Francisco. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". Also Read: Mike Golic Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins.