QB Survey: Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett bucked the odds 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. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. ", 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. Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. His parents were blind from the start. jim plunkett parents blind That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. ESPN Classic - Plunkett kept coming back Plunkett showed his talent for tossing the football by winning a throwing contest at the age of 14 with a heave of over 60 yards. 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). I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett won by a wide margin. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. He played for the New England patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in addition to the 49ers. For any number of questions about what sustains Plunkett, what fulfills him, there is just one answer: "I love my wife. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. [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. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since . 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. At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. "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.". Biography. His parents in San Jose were both blind, and his father died his junior year, so Plunkett and his sisters worked to support their mother. 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. Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. My mother would tell us kids to take care of our father. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts ", I got so many great letters. She has high blood pressure. Plunkett led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. . "We'd all gone to public schools instead of prep schools, and none of us had a lump of cash in our pocket," Lasater recalls. Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season. The 1971 Rose Bowl is regarded as the period when Stanford football returned to prominence. 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. 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 is the son of Native American and Hispanic parents. With eighteen passing and three rushing touchdowns added to his 2,715 passing yards on the year (which broke his own conference record), Plunkett was awarded the 1970 Heisman Trophy. 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. Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. Plunkett, 63, is still involved with the Raiders, co-hosting a team-produced weekly television program, The Silver and Black Show, and sitting in Davis box during games. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . Once he reaches the Hall of Fame, Eli Manning should be among the first group of players voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What John Sande, '71, the team's center, remembers is a sound. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. Jim got cut after everyone called him washed up. Then, in 1980, he was picked up by the Oakland Raiders and led them to the Super Bowl. 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. Early Years. 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. 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. ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. It hasn't all been laughs. Plunkett's pro career started promisingly after the New England Patriots made him the No. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. He was the first of three children born to James and Geraldine Plunkett. She always knew. 1972 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. From the Americans WhoTell the Truth portrait series. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. Jim Plunkett, on the other hand, is well known as one of the most absent Raider. In 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. His upbringing was difficult as both his parents, William and Carmen, were blind. The High Unemployment Rate Among Deaf People In Burundi. '', William Plunkett had a news stand in San Jose, Calif., at first in the Post Office building, later in the Unemployment Office. 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. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. The Raiders became the first team from the Wild Card era to win a Super Bowl. 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 . 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. He's a good guy.". In exchange for Ken Stabler, Jim Pastorini was traded by the Oakland Raiders to the Houston Astros. Also Read: Mike Golic Friends and family, meanwhile, wonder why the Pro Football Hall of Fame has snubbed him. The Life And Career Of QB Jim Plunkett (Complete Story) 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. Learn more about select judges in the MY HERO International Film Festival. ''My parents were very stubborn,'' he said. He also owns a beer distributorship. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. 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. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. 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. 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. '', During his two years in oblivion, his mother was more concerned about him than his career. 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. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. For example, he once damaged his shoulder, but he kept on playing. [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. . Accepting Ongoing Submissions! 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 wouldn't let my mother cook. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. After having both knees replaced a few years ago, he says, Im in less pain. 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. 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. He was a member of the National Football Leagues Atlanta Falcons for 16 seasons. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". (Photo: Timothy Archibald). But when I wanted to keep playing, she understood that, too. 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. "We've all tasted what life has to deliver," says Schultz. "I'd never been in a losing situation before.". He was the youngest of three children and his parents divorced when he was just a toddler. They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. California and was a high school star there. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. 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. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. He was born to a blind mother and father.. Randy Vataha had the same misgivings when he transferred in as a junior. [4] In 1983, Plunkett again ascended from backup to starter to quarterback the relocated Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. And we've known that we're there for each other.". His net yards passing and most yards total offense were NCAA records at the time. Despite some impressive moments in the Silver and Black, he will never make the Hall of Fame. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. Prominent among the photos and memorabilia is a famous trophy depicting a football player in a classic stiff-arm pose. Sign-up for our newsletter to inspire your inbox. 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. Jim Plunkett - Biography He was the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy. Jim also had two sisters. 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. He spent 12 years in the NFL, beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers and continuing with the Washington Redskins, Oakland As, and Philadelphia 76ers. He never let go of his dream. The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year then 1 Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl. Jim Plunketts nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is fraught with controversy. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. 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. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. "After 10 years and struggling with New England and San Francisco," he said, "that first one meant a lot to me.". TUP 83. It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. Wanting to stay closer to home to help look after his parents, Plunkett decided to attend Stanford University. After a 59 season in 1977, the 49ers released him during the 1978 preseason. 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. The First Deaf Player In The NHL: Jim Kyte. Jim Plunkett | Latina/o/x @ Stanford - Spotlight at Stanford He holds the Raider record, and is tied for the league record, for the longest career pass, which occurred during a 99-yard pass play against the Washington Redskins on October 2, 1983. 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 . [5][6], Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. Three years later, Plunkett helped Oakland to another Super Bowl triumph, this one over Washington. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. 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. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. We took a lot of walks because neither of my parents could drive. Diamond in the Rust: Davis Reclaims Plunkett From NFL Junkyard Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. Continuing to be effective, Plunkett finished second in the NFL in passing yards in 1973, and in 1974 led the Patriots to an impressive 6-1 start, and the team's first non losing season in eight years, finishing second in the NFL in team scoring with 348 points, seven behind league leader Oakland. 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. In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . General. 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. Three seasons later, he did it again, helping the relocated-to-Los Angeles Raiders defeat the Washington Redskins for the title. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. Tom Flores, then the Raiders coach, was not surprised. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. My father, and later on my sisters, prepared most of the meals. In college, however, Jim won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the Rose bowl. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. Tara VanDerveer took the Cardinal from doormat to dynamo and helped boost womens athletics. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. But sometimes she would get too nervous to enjoy it. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. Jim Plunkett was a football quarterback for Stanford University from 1968-1970. 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. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Nothing got draped over the Heisman. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! His mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. These days, Plunkett and wife Gerry still live in the Bay Area, in Atherton, about a five-minute drive from Stanford. 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. 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. 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. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. Leading James Lick High School in San Jose to an unbeaten season as a senior, he was chosen for a state all-star game and was heavily recruited by colleges. Submit your film TODAY!! I do feel somewhat slighted, Plunkett says. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . 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. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. His 15 surgeries have included six on his left shoulder, one on his right shoulder, two on his neck and six on his knees. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. 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. DAC 79. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. 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. Click here to donate. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. "I got so many great letters. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. 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. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? Ball Carrier. Jim Plunkett's road to Super Bowl champion wasn't always smooth ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. Plunkett grew up in San Jose, California, the son of parents who were Native American and Hispanic. Jim Plunkett arrived with other young playersJack Lasater, Bob Moore, Jack Schultzwho, like him, felt the pangs of being an outsider. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. I know life goes on but its been devastating. And the people who grew close to him 40 years ago are the same ones who are closest to him today: a circle of love and mutual support that owes its origins to a team and a time that shaped Jim Plunkett's life, and those of many others. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the Raiders franchise, whom he led to two Super Bowl titles.[1]. With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio . And in three of the four seasons before Plunkett's emergence, Stanford had gone 5-5. His final seasons in a backup role included the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. Geez, you'd think that we could have seen pretty quickly that he could throw the ball.". (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. 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. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. He became the starting quarterback for the Raiders midway through the 1980 season. This display of offensive firepower led Washington State coach Jim Sweeney to call Plunkett "The best college football player I've ever seen." It was very hard to swallow. Enter the 2022 MY Hero Songwriting/Music Video Contest! Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. "Bob [Moore] and Jack Schultz came to our house every day," Gerry Plunkett recalls. "I said iconic," notes Harbaugh, "but he lives it with such little fanfare. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? While at Stanford he joined Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. That's where he was a leader. He didn't want her to get burned on the stove.''. Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. But Plunkett was the face of the team's success, that strong chin like a pointer for his powerful arm. 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 is an inspiration to all who know him. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. The opponent: undefeated and heavily favored Ohio State. 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. Jim had many obstacles he had to overcome. Jim Plunkett - Heisman Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74).
