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. Plunkett was the first player of Hispanic heritage to be drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. 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. Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. 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. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. These days, Plunkett and wife Gerry still live in the Bay Area, in Atherton, about a five-minute drive from Stanford. With a career total offense of 7,887 yards, including passing for 7,544, Plunkett set an NCAA record. Read our IMPACT:blog to see how teachers, visitors and organizations around the world are using MY HERO to affect positive changes in the world. His final seasons in a backup role included the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. Check out the Jim Plunkett Hispanic Heritage 83 item on Madden NFL 23 - Ratings, Prices and more! Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . Jim also had two sisters. "Some of it has been wonderful and some of it has been absolutely horrific. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. Ball Carrier. General. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. After Jimmy's death, Meghan chose to keep the dog with her in part to honor what she believed would have been her brother's wish. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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 also carries innumerable physical scars from his playing days. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . Several worthy Raiders, including Daryl Lamonica, Cliff Branch, and Lester Hayes, are no longer present in Canton, Ohio. 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. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. 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 is the only eligible quarterback with two Super Bowl wins as a starter not to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the New England Revolution and San Francisco 49ers before being released by both organizations in 1978. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, released two seasons later, then signed by the Raiders. 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. [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. The Raiders became the first team from the Wild Card era to win a Super Bowl. William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. He got his opportunity when starter Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg against Kansas City. The day Plunkett threw a football 80. But sometimes I'd forget. 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. I remember them saying that they weren't handicapped, that they could do just about anything except see. He played for the New England patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in addition to the 49ers. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. 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. 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's where he was a leader. 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. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. After surgery, Plunkett resumed playing too quickly and performed so poorly on the freshman team that then-Stanford coach John Ralston asked him to switch to defensive end. When my room was a mess, my mother always knew. Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa . Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. During the NFL season, Plunkett co-hosts the team's weekly TV program, The Silver and Black Show, and he sits with owner Al Davis during games. 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. Plunkett was born on Dec. 5, 1947, in San Jose, Calif., the youngest of three children. He wore very thick glasses,'' he said. He didn't play well for the freshman team, and when his performance didn't improve the next spring, coach John Ralston suggested a switch to defensive end. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. Plunkett grew up in San Jose, California, the son of parents who were Native American and Hispanic. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. I didn't do things to put them out, though. A native of San Jose, Calif., Plunkett graduated from Lick High in 1967, where he was a star athlete who competed in football, basketball, baseball, track and wrestling. He completed 571 of his 571 passes for a career-low 571 yards, three touchdown passes, and seven picks. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. Despite his lack of fame, his contributions will not go unnoticed. He was born to a blind mother and father.. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. It took a lot of courage to get there. Whenever we went on a trip, we usually took a bus. After having both knees replaced a few years ago, he says, Im in less pain. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. "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.". The first time he demonstrated athletic promise was at the age of 14, when he won a throwing contest with a toss of over 60 yards. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. He is the son of Native American and Hispanic parents. What John Sande, '71, the team's center, remembers is a sound. 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. Last Update: May 30, 2022. ", I got so many great letters. Although Plunkett is easily spotted at Stanford events and extends his help to each new generation of athletes, his connection to Lasater, Moore, Schultz and Vataha is part of his identity. For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. 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. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. To this day he has a tendency to drop into the background, heightened sometimes by the pervasive sadness of his son's death. But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. He also captured the Maxwell Award for the nations best quarterback and was named player of the year by United Press International, The Sporting News, and SPORT magazine. Though Plunkett threw five interceptions in the 31-17 defeat, he got the start the next week for the 2-3 Raiders, who thought rookie Marc Wilson was too green. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. ''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 any number of questions about what sustains Plunkett, what fulfills him, there is just one answer: "I love my wife. In 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. [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. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. Yasmine Sherif, who leads Education Cannot Wait, a UN-hosted, global fund for education in emergencies. "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. 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. His parents were both blind. Plunkett was born December 5, 1947 in Santa Clara, California and was a high school star there. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. Plunkett beat Notre Dame's Joe Theismann and Archie Manning of Ole Miss to win the award. In junior high school, he became a passing quarterback. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. The nice thing now is that with the money I'm making, she has no financial problems. Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. He's still connected to the Raiders. "You got the look from Jim," recalls Vataha, a wide receiver, "and the look was not comfortable. 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. He sat out all of 1987 with a shoulder injury and his NFL career ended in the 1988 preseason when, at 40, the Raiders released him. ", In 2009, Jim, Gerry and their daughter, Meghan, filmed an episode of the TV program Dog Whisperer (scheduled to air in October 2010) featuring the pit bull, Gotti, that had belonged to Jimmy. [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. RUN 80. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. 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. 1 Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. They delighted last summer in the wedding of their daughter, Meghan, but theyre still mourning the loss of their son, James Jr., who was 25 when he died in November 2008. Early life []. It foretold the enduring intensity of Plunkett's relationship with Stanford. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. ''My parents were very stubborn,'' he said. But she might have. It's the trudge that comes from aching knees, although they've been better since he had bone and cartilage replaced with titanium and Teflon a couple of years ago. I still feel good when I think about it.". My father wouldn't let my mother cook. Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. AWR 80. California and was a high school star there. Plunkett was selected by the New England Patriots as the number one overall draft choice in 1971. And in three of the four seasons before Plunkett's emergence, Stanford had gone 5-5. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. His net yards passing and most yards total offense were NCAA records at the time. 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. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. The Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XVIII, where they defeated the Washington Redskins, 389. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery.

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