Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. Jim Plunkett was born in San Jose, California, to parents of Native American and Hispanic descent. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl January 1, 1971. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. . "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. He got his opportunity when starter Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg against Kansas City. He was the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy. 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's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. 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. "We came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Plunkett was selected by the New England Patriots as the number one overall draft choice in 1971. "Bob [Moore] and Jack Schultz came to our house every day," Gerry Plunkett recalls. Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. 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. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. Two forgettable seasons with the San Francisco 49ers were followed by two fruitless years with the Raiders, who plucked him from the NFL scrapheap but buried him on the bench. [7] Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Former Raider and Stanford star quarterback Jim Plunkett of Atherton wasn't too pleased with that last one. At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions. 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. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. 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. '', William Plunkett had a news stand in San Jose, Calif., at first in the Post Office building, later in the Unemployment Office. During training camp in 1980, Plunkett asked to be traded because he expected to have virtually no playing time again. As a result, he is revered not only for his achievements at Stanford, but also for his humility and loyalty from the start. When the San Francisco 49ers released Jim Plunkett in 1978, he was stubborn enough to believe that he could still be a useful quarterback somewhere. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. ''I'd go there and help him,'' Jim Plunkett said. He was also named the nations top football player in addition to winning the Maxwell Award. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. It's the trudge of 15 surgeries and back pain that makes it difficult for him to stand for more than an hour at a time. [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. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl.
Jim Plunkett - Wikipedia "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. [9] Oklahoma's Chuck Fairbanks replaced John Mazur as Patriots coach in 1973 and installed an offense that had Plunkett running some option plays and continuing to take a beating. In the spring, his daughter, Meghan Plunkett, graduated with a business and marketing degree from Manhattan College in New York, which she attended on a volleyball scholarship. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. Physically and mentally, I was not in the best shape. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. This display of offensive firepower led Washington State coach Jim Sweeney to call Plunkett "The best college football player I've ever seen." And suddenly, from near-oblivion, a rise again to the top as 1981 Super Bowl MVP. 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. However, the tumor turned out to be benign and Plunkett was given a clean bill of health. The tumor turned out to be benign, but Plunkett has never forgotten the generosity shown by Rust. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. 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. As the No.
Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation Jim Plunketts story is something out of a movie, and he has his rightful place in history, but he is not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Whenever we went on a trip, we usually took a bus. I still feel good when I think about it.". At Stanford, Plunkett set a school records for passing yards (2,156) and touchdowns (14) as a sophomore, and then broke those records in subsequent seasons finishing his NCAA career with 7,809 passing yards and 53 touchdowns. 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. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. AGI 74. 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Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. Released from the 49ers after suffering further injuries, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders for 1978. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. 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. William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. A few examples include players who were considered busts but rebounded to make their mark on the game. [14] The Raiders, however, believing that Marc Wilson did not have the experience they wanted, called on Plunkett to start for the remainder of the year. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. In the 1984 Super Bowl, Plunkett passed for 172 yards and one touchdown in the Raiders' 38-9 rout of Washington, to that point the biggest Super Bowl victory margin. (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. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. Anyone can read what you share. 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. His performance led to Plunkett playing in a state all-star game and that in turn led to interest from numerous colleges. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. 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. Playing for the Oakland Raiders, Pastorini broke his shinbone and cartilage in his knee. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. And then there's family. 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. Early Years. The most prestigious award in college football. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. 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. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. Plunkett was born December 5, 1947 in Santa Clara, California and was a high school star there. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. 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. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. 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. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since . I didn't do things to put them out, though. Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. Was he a child, a teen, or an adult?Bonus 100 pts: How old was he exactly? A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California, on December 5, 1947. Check out the Jim Plunkett Hispanic Heritage 83 item on Madden NFL 23 - Ratings, Prices and more! He received several accolades during his career, including the only Heisman Trophy (1970) in school history. Jim Plunkett, 74, was a former American football quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Packers and the Houston Texans. The nice thing now is that with the money I'm making, she has no financial problems. He completed 571 of his 571 passes for a career-low 571 yards, three touchdown passes, and seven picks. He is an inspiration to all who know him. My father wouldn't let my mother cook. September 1st is the final deadline to submit work for the 2022 International Film Festival! Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. At Stanford, Plunkett set a school records for passing yards (2,156) and touchdowns (14) as a sophomore, and then broke those records in subsequent seasons finishing his NCAA career with 7,809 passing yards and 53 touchdowns. 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. Then followed three sensational seasons at Stanford, culminating with the 1970 Heisman Trophy. The opponent: undefeated and heavily favored Ohio State. Geez, you'd think that we could have seen pretty quickly that he could throw the ball.". Jim Plunkett arrived with other young playersJack Lasater, Bob Moore, Jack Schultzwho, like him, felt the pangs of being an outsider. 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. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. "I'm 10 years older than you," says a sportswriter celebrating his 72nd birthday. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. I still feel good when I think about it., Assistant coach Mike Whitewho later was head coach for Cal, the University of Illinois and the Oakland Raidersremembers vividly the doubts about whether Plunkett "could project enough" to motivate a team as a quarterback. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft.