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). 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. ''During those two years when I didn't play, it was tough for me,'' he said, ''but I was able to put it in perspective.'' But she might have. Jim also had two sisters. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). SPD 74. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. As the No. His mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. 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. 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. Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. 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. Jim Plunkett played 15 NFL seasons, but his eight years with the Raiders defined his career. America loved the kid. He was born to a blind mother and father.. 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. (Photo: Timothy Archibald). Jim Plunkett Jeopardy Template Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. They came together in Oakland after Plunkett washed out in New England and San Francisco and was contemplating retirement. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. ''I don't think she would have cared if I had quit, she always was worried about me getting hurt,'' he said. His parents were both blind. ", I got so many great letters. Anyone can read what you share. In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. Plunkett reflected that his life "sucks" as a result of his physical injuries. 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. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. By their senior season in 1970, the insecurities that had pulled them all together had matured into a deep bond, stoked by stubborn dreams and maddening frustration. 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. He was the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal from 1968 to 1970. 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. Spotlighting Jim Plunkett In Honor Of National Hispanic Heritage Month I remember them saying that they weren't handicapped, that they could do just about anything except see. The Remarkable Story Of Jim Plunkett: From Police Officer's Son To 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. "In 1972 my confidence ran into a stone wall," he said. 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. Jim Plunkett, Class: Induction: 1990 Sport(s): - Position: Quarterback Years: 1968-1970 Place of Birth: Santa Clara, CA Date of Birth: Dec 05, 1947 Jersey . The nice thing now is that with the money I'm making, she has no financial problems. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. The race was 440 yards, and Moore says he expected to beat Plunkett, "who never looked good as a runner," by 30 yards or more. Plunkett, Lasater and Schultz were there with friends and other former teammates before the Wake Forest game in September, reveling in the juiciest memories. 1 choice in the N.F.L. It foretold the enduring intensity of Plunkett's relationship with Stanford. 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. "We came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. Jim was a hard worker because, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he spent his time trying to improve. Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. Browse and share audio in our library. The day Plunkett threw a football 80. "It was almost a miracle," says White, "that Jim Plunkett showed up at Stanford exactly as we were searching for a new football identity.". Prior to retiring, he earned between $400,000 and $600,000 per year. While working as a news vendor, his father, William, was legally blind. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. And then there's family. 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. MAC 76. He is a role model for never giving up. TUP 83. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. He got his opportunity when starter Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg against Kansas City. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. He was a member of the National Football Leagues Atlanta Falcons for 16 seasons. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. It was very hard to swallow. Click here to donate. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990. "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. . Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. 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. 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. 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. 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. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. But none of it came easily. Submit your film TODAY!! Stanford, CA 94305-6105. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career Jim Plunkett is the first Latino to win the prestigious award. He grew up in a poor family and his parent's financial condition was extremely weak, his father was a news vendor who had to support his blind wife along with his three children. Plunkett, who had assumed the starting quarterback job as a sophomore, piled up three seasons of record-breaking numbers, all long ago eclipsed by other Stanford players. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Physically and mentally, I was not in the best shape. draft, things like that. 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. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. The 1971 Rose Bowl is regarded as the period when Stanford football returned to prominence. The next year he was, to San Francisco. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. Had they insisted on it, the number of Heisman Trophy winners at Stanford would still be zero. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. 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. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. 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. In an effort to aid the family's financial situation, Plunkett worked a series of odd jobs while growing up, including serving as a gas . As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's "eyes" by helping them cross the street. After two seasons in oblivion, the 32-year-old quarterback took the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl XV and was selected as the most valuable player in their 27-10 triumph. Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California, on December 5, 1947. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. Any time that I didn't do that, I heard about it. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. 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. "I said iconic," notes Harbaugh, "but he lives it with such little fanfare. THP 86. He played for the New England patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in addition to the 49ers. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. Tara VanDerveer took the Cardinal from doormat to dynamo and helped boost womens athletics. Sports of the Times; Jim Plunkett's Blind Parents, https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/01/sports/sports-of-the-times-jim-plunkett-s-blind-parents.html. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . After that, she was totally blind. CAR 70. Jim Plunkett (Stanford University, 1970) was the runaway winner of the 1970 Heisman trophy as the nation's top college football player. 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. After having both knees replaced a few years ago, he says, Im in less pain. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Slow to recover from the surgery on his neck, Plunkett didn't impress anybody during spring practice at the end of his freshman year. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. That goes to show that Jim Plunkett never ever gave up, even after everybody else did. His final seasons in a backup role included the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. Learn more here. "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.". AGI 74. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Prominent among the photos and memorabilia is a famous trophy depicting a football player in a classic stiff-arm pose. With a career total offense of 7,887 yards, including passing for 7,544, Plunkett set an NCAA record. 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. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. ''She had a bad experience on a plane a few years ago coming back from visiting her family in New Mexico. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. Check out the Jim Plunkett Hispanic Heritage 83 item on Madden NFL 23 - Ratings, Prices and more! 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. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts 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. Bill Parcells was the first Hispanic-American head coach of the NFL, and Tom Flores won two Super Bowl rings. The tumor turned out to be benign, but Plunkett has never forgotten the generosity shown by Rust. It was probably very hard to live with blind parents, but Jim figured out a way to do it. She always knew. 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 found in his neck during a physical examination before his freshman year at Stanford. [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. But sometimes I'd forget. BSK 80. [9] His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. Plunkett was born December 5, 1947 in Santa Clara, California and was a high school star there. "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Jim Plunkett, on the other hand, is well known as one of the most absent Raider. Friends helped talk him out of retiring and, two weeks later, he signed with the Raiders. The Raiders became the first team from the Wild Card era to win a Super Bowl. That's where he was a leader. He had some natural shyness, plus an unconventionally low-key approach to taking charge. 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. The Truth About Johnny Cash: Was The Country Legend Tone Deaf? Unfortunately, Jims father died in 1969 when Jim was 21. For example, he once damaged his shoulder, but he kept on playing. The most celebrated player in Stanford football history came from just down the road, and a world away. It took a lot of courage to get there. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. As a sophomore, 1968, he passed for 2,156 yards, a record in what was then the Pac-8 Conference. 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. Four hours before a Raiders preseason game in Oakland, Plunkett can walk in relative anonymity through the smattering of fans near the stadium's press entrance. Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. No rushing or total offense stats currently available for Plunkett. '', Jim Plunkett is reminded of that whenever he visits his mother now. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. 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. General. As a result, he is revered not only for his achievements at Stanford, but also for his humility and loyalty from the start. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. Born to blind parents, he worked several part-time jobs in high school to help support the family. 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. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? 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 received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation Tom Flores, then the Raiders coach, was not surprised. Enter the 2022 MY Hero Songwriting/Music Video Contest! 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. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. I like that. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. He competed in basketball, baseball, track and wrestling - earning a California High School Individual Wrestling Championship. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. "After 10 years and struggling with New England and San Francisco," he said, "that first one meant a lot to me.". Plunkett, the most celebrated player in Stanford history, won his schools first Heisman after leading the Indians to an 8-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. 1972 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. Jim Plunkett - Academic Kids Randy Vataha had the same misgivings when he transferred in as a junior. "We're as close as any group of guys can be," says Plunkett. ", Plunkett, shy and modest, took a different view: "I wanted the Heisman, but my whole life wasn't centered on it.". He's a good guy.". Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Wanting to stay closer to home to help look after his parents, Plunkett decided to attend Stanford University. He led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. 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. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa . Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. He responded by throwing for 2,156 yards and 14 touchdowns as a 1968 sophomore before adding 2,673 yards and 20 scores as a 1969 junior, helping him to finish eighth in that years Heisman vote. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. These days, Plunkett and wife Gerry still live in the Bay Area, in Atherton, about a five-minute drive from Stanford. All artworks in our commercial free, age-appropriate Gallery are contributed by professional and student artists as well as curated from art institutions around the world. He was the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy. Otherwise, Plunkett might not have been playing for the Oakland Raiders in the fall of 1980, when the Heisman Trophy winner from Stanford jump-started an improbable career resurrection that culminated in two Super Bowl victories. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Plunkett beat Notre Dame's Joe Theismann and Archie Manning of Ole Miss to win the award. 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. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. 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. Jim Plunkett (http://www.stanfordalumni.org/. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. She's 67 now and I don't think she went to any of the Raider games last year. 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. 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. Brothers Where it Mattered Most - Delta Tau Delta There was a famous juncture at which Stanford head coach John Ralston, an eventual college football Hall of Famer, almost coached Plunkett out of quarterback contention. William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. My mother would tell us kids to take care of our father. Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. [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. September 1st is the final deadline to submit work for the 2022 International Film Festival! The surgery required to remove a malignant tumor would end his football playing days. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.".
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