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The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. The Raiders have never made the Pro Bowl or the All-Pro team, and everything they have done since the inception has been bad. Early life []. He wore very thick glasses,'' he said. He set a new Pacific 8 record with 2,156 yards passing and 14 touchdown passes in his first season as a Stanford quarterback. [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. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. Perhaps the most profound expression of the men's continuing devotion occurred during the anguish that overwhelmed them when the Plunketts' 25-year-old son Jimmy died two years ago. [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. [10], When Jim was growing up, the family's financial situation was a big problem for him. 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. 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. "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. In a call with Rod Rust, the assistant coach who had recruited him, Plunkett relayed his fears. 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. 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 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. Three seasons later, he did it again, helping the relocated-to-Los Angeles Raiders defeat the Washington Redskins for the title. He could have graduated the previous June, skipped his remaining year of AWR 80. With a career total offense of 7,887 yards, including passing for 7,544, Plunkett set an NCAA record. Biography. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and his ethnicity is white, making him an American by nationality. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. 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. He also helped them get their own food and stuff. In addition to this, he became the second of four players to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP, alongside Roger Staubach, Marcus Allen, and Desmond Howard. 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. led four postseason wins. 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. Stanford University. ''One parent always was taking care of the other. CAR 70. 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. 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. 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. Fortunately, he says, I was able to take advantage.. He is the son of Native American and Hispanic parents. The surgery required to remove a malignant tumor would end his football playing days. Carmen was born blind as a result of typhoid fever, which occurred when she was 19 years old. His parents are blind. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. ''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 came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. 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. Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. He was born to a blind mother and father.. Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. ", 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. Browse and share audio in our library. They are a permanent set: Plunk, Red, B.M., Schultzie and Rabbit. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The Oakland Raiders have had a total of 25 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including players, executives, and coaches. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? And then there's family. [9] 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. Browse our About Page to get quick overviews of the different areas of MY HERO. (optional), What is a news vendor? 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. America loved the kid. [17] The arguments against his induction center on Plunkett having only three winning seasons, unimpressive career statistics, and no Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. Was he a child, a teen, or an adult?Bonus 100 pts: How old was he exactly? 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. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. 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. The biggest obstacle he faced was when he was 30 years old and played for the San Francisco 49ers. Jims parents also gave him a fighting spirit because even though they were blind, they didnt want to be treated any differently than anyone else. It foretold the enduring intensity of Plunkett's relationship with Stanford. If Plunkett was a leading passer, he was also a sentimental favorite. Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. In three seasons with the Indians, Jims total offensive records included most pass attempts (962); most pass completions (530); most net yards passing (7,544); most touchdown passes (52); most plays total offense (1,174); and most yards total offense (7,887). He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. His parents were both blind. 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. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". Jim attended James Lick High School in East San Jose, California.He won the Heisman Trophy in 1970 as quarterback for Stanford University. Theyre both very important to me, Plunkett says of his Super Bowl victories, but the first one, after the resurrection, the struggle, the payoff at the end was quite incredible.. Friends and family, meanwhile, wonder why the Pro Football Hall of Fame has snubbed him. But sometimes I'd forget. '', When he and his mother, Carmen, took walks, he would describe the scenery to her. Anyone can read what you share. ". . Playing for the Oakland Raiders, Pastorini broke his shinbone and cartilage in his knee. 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. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities! Jim was a hard worker because, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he spent his time trying to improve. But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. Plunkett delivered newspapers and took odd jobs to earn pocket money but still found time for football. STR 59. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. After two seasons as a backup to Ken Stabler, Plunkett opened the 1980 season backing up newcomer Dan Pastorini, whod been acquired in a trade for Stabler. New York, NY, 10006. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. What happened to Hart was not unintended. Despite this, Hart has largely been overlooked, despite his role in the Raiders organization. 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. 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. He was able to throw for 2,395 yards and 20 touchdown passes in his best season in 1983, and he threw 18 intercepted passes that year. 326 Galvez Street . He led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. 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. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. '', Jim Plunkett is reminded of that whenever he visits his mother now. The coaches realized everything had to be different, and they happened to discover the difference maker. For example, he once damaged his shoulder, but he kept on playing. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. Click here to donate. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Plunkett led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. 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. 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 performance led to Plunkett playing in a state all-star game and that in turn led to interest from numerous colleges. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. 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. I still feel good when I think about it.". 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. He didn't want her to get burned on the stove.''. Jim Plunkett's parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. He competed in basketball, baseball, track and wrestling - earning a California High School Individual Wrestling Championship. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. [15], Plunkett is the subject of annual debate about whether he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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. Her dad was afraid she'd stay in New York. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. 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). The nice thing now is that with the money I'm making, she has no financial problems. 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. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. "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. 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. At 30, Plunkett considered quitting, but two weeks later the Raiders' Davis signed him to a three-year contract for a total of $465,000. '', During his two years in oblivion, his mother was more concerned about him than his career. Learn more here. Plunkett grew up in San Jose, California, the son of parents who were Native American and Hispanic. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching. "After 10 years and struggling with New England and San Francisco," he said, "that first one meant a lot to me.". That goes to show that Jim Plunkett never ever gave up, even after everybody else did. Poor Jim Plunkett. 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. Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. His mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. 1 choice in the N.F.L. They were from poor or middle-class families, and they wondered how they would ever fit in at a university swarming with well-heeled classmates. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. 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 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. September 1st is the final deadline to submit work for the 2022 International Film Festival! Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. And suddenly, from near-oblivion, a rise again to the top as 1981 Super Bowl MVP. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. While working as a news vendor, his father, William, was legally 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 first Latino to win the prestigious award. 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. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim, Flores says. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett won by a wide margin. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. "When I found out I'd finished second to Jim," said Theismann in 1984, "I was genuinely crushed. Plunkett, the most celebrated player in Stanford history, won his school's first Heisman after leading the Indians to an 8-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. Early Years. After a 59 season in 1977, the 49ers released him during the 1978 preseason. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. The second title came after more struggles, after losing his starting job to Wilson and then regaining it after Wilson was injured. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio . The tumor turned out to be benign, but Plunkett has never forgotten the generosity shown by Rust. "Some of it has been wonderful and some of it has been absolutely horrific. TUP 83. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . And our father would tell us to take care of our mother. 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 was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. Yasmine Sherif, who leads Education Cannot Wait, a UN-hosted, global fund for education in emergencies. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. I like that. She always knew. Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. Jim Plunkett, 74, was a former American football quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Packers and the Houston Texans. He was born to the parents of William Plunkett and Carmella Plunkett. Rust, now 82, remembers making that promise impulsively, confident that Stanford would back him up. The next year he was, to San Francisco. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. 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. 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. Haz clic aqu para leer la historia sobre Jim Plunkett en espaol. Plunkett excelled in athletics from a young age and went on to attend Stanford University on a football scholarship. As a boy, Jim always dreamed of being in the NFL. Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. [7] Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. 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. While at Stanford he joined Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. He is an inspiration to all who know him. [4] In 1983, Plunkett again ascended from backup to starter to quarterback the relocated Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. And we've known that we're there for each other.". His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. Davis denied his trade request, Plunkett says, because he wanted the veteran available in case of emergency. 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. 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. For any number of questions about what sustains Plunkett, what fulfills him, there is just one answer: "I love my wife. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. 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). Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. He was the first of three children born to James and Geraldine Plunkett. I have taught linguistics and phonetics at multiple universities for the past 15 years.Technology has made exciting advances in phonetics, the science concerned with the structure and function of human speech, in recent years. Plunkett received the Voit Trophy in both 1969 and 1970. 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. That's where he was a leader. Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. "In 1972 my confidence ran into a stone wall," he said. He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. [19], Plunkett was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 in San Francisco, California, and finally the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 in recognition for both his college and pro football careers. 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. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. For his career, Plunkett completed 1,943-of-3,701 passes for 25,882 yards with 164 touchdowns and 198 interceptions. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . 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. Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. It was the low point in my career really hard to take, he says of the 49ers move. He spent 12 years in the NFL, beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers and continuing with the Washington Redskins, Oakland As, and Philadelphia 76ers. For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. 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. The once-reticent Plunkett does Raiders postgame radio interviews and a weekly TV highlights show and gives corporate speeches. Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season. Since Jim Plunkett's parents were blind, he worked a lot of his early years cleaning up gas stations. Plunkett led the Raiders to four playoff victories, including the first-ever victory by a wild card team in the Super Bowl, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 2710 in Super Bowl XV. James William Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons.