. Was it that his parents were blind or they were deaf?, Jim threw a football 60 yards in his first ever competition. But she might have. He was the youngest of three children and his parents divorced when he was just a toddler. [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. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Jim Plunkett was the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. LATE RALLY: After struggling early in his NFL career, Plunkett led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. Jim was out of football for two years, before being signed by the Oakland Raiders in 1979. 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. Jim Plunkett, 74, was a former American football quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Packers and the Houston Texans. Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. In 1968, he threw for 14 touchdowns and set a Pac-8 record with 2,156 yards passing. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. As the No. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. 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. 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. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. 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 . 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. Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. 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. 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. 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. To this day he has a tendency to drop into the background, heightened sometimes by the pervasive sadness of his son's death. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. "We had experienced an awful lot of disappointment," including two straight defeats to USC on late field goals. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State. "We're as close as any group of guys can be," says Plunkett. [14] The Raiders, however, believing that Marc Wilson did not have the experience they wanted, called on Plunkett to start for the remainder of the year. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since she was 19 because of typhoid fever. He is a role model for never giving up. 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. Bill Parcells was the first Hispanic-American head coach of the NFL, and Tom Flores won two Super Bowl rings. 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. I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". The First Deaf Player In The NHL: Jim Kyte. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . The Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XVIII, where they defeated the Washington Redskins, 389. Download our Annual Report for more detailed information about our daily operations. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. He never let go of his dream. 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. But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. "It was almost a miracle," says White, "that Jim Plunkett showed up at Stanford exactly as we were searching for a new football identity.". He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990. TUP 83. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. It foretold the enduring intensity of Plunkett's relationship with Stanford. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. The biggest obstacle he faced was when he was 30 years old and played for the San Francisco 49ers. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. "We've all tasted what life has to deliver," says Schultz. ''But growing up, I didn't feel like I had to take care of either my father or my mother. We took a lot of walks because neither of my parents could drive. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. She has high blood pressure. 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. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. led four postseason wins. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. [20], Interviewed in 2017, Plunkett told of being in "constant pain" and discussed the effects of at least ten career concussions. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. Despite his lack of fame, his contributions will not go unnoticed. A few examples include players who were considered busts but rebounded to make their mark on the game. The rest of the Stanford cast was anything but ordinary. 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. His upbringing was difficult as both his parents, William and Carmen, were blind. . His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. ''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. 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. He's a good guy.". Jim continued to play for the Raiders until his retirement in 1986. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. 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. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. Learn more here. Sign-up for our newsletter to inspire your inbox. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. [5][6], Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. 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. 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. Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. 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. (Photo: Timothy Archibald). 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. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". They rallied around him and he just rose to the occasion, making big plays in big games.. Other quarterbacks who started for two Super Bowl winning teams but are not yet members of the Hall of Fame include Joe Gibbs Washington Redskins (Mark Rypien and Doug Williams), Tom Flores Oakland Raiders (Jim Plunkett), and Warren Moons San Francisco 49ers (Don Maynard). "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. Plunkett, by then a star with growing national acclaim, threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Moore to key a 24-14 victory, Stanford's first over the Trojans in 13 years. Submit your film TODAY!! "I said iconic," notes Harbaugh, "but he lives it with such little fanfare. Jim Plunkett was born in San Jose, California, to parents of Native American and Hispanic descent. Visitors, teachers, students, and MY HERO staff publish all kinds of stories, from inspirational essays about a close friend, to important global issues. ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? 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. He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. Plunkett reflected that his life "sucks" as a result of his physical injuries. He also sits on the board at the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Palo Alto, supporting a cause close to his heart. After a 59 season in 1977, the 49ers released him during the 1978 preseason. Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. "We came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. It had been anything but a happy Bay Area homecoming for the rifle-armed quarterback who first gained widespread notice at San Jose James Lick High. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1947. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. He passed for 18 touchdowns and 2,299 yards during the season, guiding the Raiders to nine victories in their last 11 games and a wild-card spot in the playoffs. 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). And he ended up an emblem of individual and shared achievement on a team that's linked forever by one revered season. Stanford, California 94305. ", Plunkett's against-the-odds story drew legions of fans, including some who were only casual football rooters. 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. He played for the Patriots for four seasons, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. Its a stark contrast to 1980, when Plunkett longed to leave Oakland in hopes of reinvigorating a fading career. 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. It was the low point in my career really hard to take, he says of the 49ers move. Five mostly difficult seasons in New England followed, preceding a trade to the 49ers and, in 1978, Plunketts outright release. SAC 81. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. 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. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. Ball Carrier. [12] His performance originally caused head coach John Ralston to switch him to defensive end, but Plunkett was adamant in remaining at quarterback, throwing 500 to 1,000 passes every day to polish his arm. Jim Plunkett played 15 NFL seasons, but his eight years with the Raiders defined his career. [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. [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. 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. The Raiders ignored his request and five weeks into the season, Plunkett's resurrection began. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He. MAC 76. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 3 quarterback, Plunkett didn't play in 1978. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. Moore, a tight end who went on to an eight-year NFL career, talked himself into a one-on-one foot race with Plunkett the summer before their senior season, when players gave up trips home and time off to continue training together. He was a member of the National Football Leagues Atlanta Falcons for 16 seasons. 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. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. He was the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy. Tom Flores, then the Raiders coach, was not surprised. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. 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. 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. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . Plunkett's arrival ushered in an era of wide-open passing, pro-style offenses in the Pac-8, a trend that has continued to the present. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. It was probably very hard to live with blind parents, but Jim figured out a way to do it. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. Professionally created material to help you get started in hero film making! ''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.'' Later in his career, the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. 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. 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. 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. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. The year of practice and no play helped Plunkett. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? 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. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. "Some of it has been wonderful and some of it has been absolutely horrific. But sometimes she would get too nervous to enjoy it. Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. Despite this, Hart has largely been overlooked, despite his role in the Raiders organization. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions. 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. Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place. 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. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett won by a wide margin. Plunkett received the Voit Trophy in both 1969 and 1970. Her dad was afraid she'd stay in New York. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. 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 most prestigious award in college football. 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. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. ''She always wanted to know what the trees and the hills looked like. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. Physically and mentally, I was not in the best shape. . At tailgates, they are now the keepers of the same patch of ground in the Chuck Taylor Grove that was established by players' parents in the 1960s. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. 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). It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. 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. But none of it came easily. He had some natural shyness, plus an unconventionally low-key approach to taking charge. Friends and family, meanwhile, wonder why the Pro Football Hall of Fame has snubbed him. ''My sisters would bring a radio so she could listen to what was happening. The Truth About Johnny Cash: Was The Country Legend Tone Deaf? Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. Rust didn't hesitate: We will honor your scholarship, he said. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. Mike Antonucci is the senior writer at Stanford.