He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. 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. 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. In the spring, his daughter, Meghan Plunkett, graduated with a business and marketing degree from Manhattan College in New York, which she attended on a volleyball scholarship. CAR 70. 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. 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. 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 is the first Latino to win the prestigious award. Sign-up for our newsletter to inspire your inbox. Jim Plunkett (Stanford University, 1970) was the runaway winner of the 1970 Heisman trophy as the nation's top college football player. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. Learn more here. [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. 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). 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. Submit your film TODAY!! She always knew. He was born to a blind mother and father.. He is valued at Stanford not only for his academic achievements, but also for his humility and commitment as a student from the very beginning. The Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XVIII, where they defeated the Washington Redskins, 389. "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. "Some of it has been wonderful and some of it has been absolutely horrific. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". Hearing the story again, Jim Plunkett, the One and Only, smiles and rolls his eyes to his wife's amusement. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. No rushing or total offense stats currently available for Plunkett. (Photo: Courtesy Jim Plunkett), HISTORY LESSON: The memorabilia room in Plunketts home is a reminder of his playing days, as are his knees, replaced a few years ago with titanium and Teflon. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. ''She also went to some of the Stanford games in Palo Alto,'' he said. And our father would tell us to take care of our mother. 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. 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. "We're as close as any group of guys can be," says Plunkett. The 1971 Rose Bowl is regarded as the period when Stanford football returned to prominence. He had some natural shyness, plus an unconventionally low-key approach to taking charge. He never let go of his dream. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. That goes to show that Jim Plunkett never ever gave up, even after everybody else did. 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. His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. The players liked him. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Although Plunkett is easily spotted at Stanford events and extends his help to each new generation of athletes, his connection to Lasater, Moore, Schultz and Vataha is part of his identity. 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. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. 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. '', Jim Plunkett works for the Peninsula Center for the Blind in the San Jose area. Rust didn't hesitate: We will honor your scholarship, he said. Help us celebrate the best of humanity, we need your support! Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. He worked from an early age, cleaning up at a gas station while in elementary school, delivering newspapers, bagging groceries, and working in orchards. I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. Plunkett's performance startled almost everyone as he completed 11-of-14 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions as Oakland defeated San Diego 38-24. Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place. His parents are blind. We took a lot of walks because neither of my parents could drive. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the Raiders franchise, whom he led to two Super Bowl titles.[1]. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. He's as tough a guy as I've ever met. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. As the No. His net yards passing and most yards total offense were NCAA records at the time. It was very hard to swallow. Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. Playing for the Oakland Raiders, Pastorini broke his shinbone and cartilage in his knee. They are a permanent set: Plunk, Red, B.M., Schultzie and Rabbit. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center Released from the 49ers after suffering further injuries, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders for 1978. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. In the family's home, one room is dedicated to Plunkett's accomplishments. "I'd never known anybody could throw a football so hard it whistled until Jim did it. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He could see a little bit. ''My parents were very stubborn,'' he said. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. 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. 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. "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.". Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. It was the low point in my career really hard to take, he says of the 49ers move. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. 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. 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. Jim continued to play for the Raiders until his retirement in 1986. led four postseason wins. When Jim was eight years old, his father died of a heart attack. The second title came after more struggles, after losing his starting job to Wilson and then regaining it after Wilson was injured. Randy Vataha had the same misgivings when he transferred in as a junior. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. 1 pick in the 1971 draft. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the New England Revolution and San Francisco 49ers before being released by both organizations in 1978. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. 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. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. These days, Plunkett and wife Gerry still live in the Bay Area, in Atherton, about a five-minute drive from Stanford. Stanford, California 94305. ''I want to make the most of my situation,'' Jim Plunkett was saying now, alluding to his potential income from motion pictures, books, commercials, endorsements and corporate sponsors, ''but without compromising my integrity and dignity. THP 86. His successful junior campaign saw him set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786). Jim also had two sisters. (Photo: Timothy Archibald). Carmen was born blind as a result of typhoid fever, which occurred when she was 19 years old. 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. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. My sisters Genevieve and Mary Ann don't like to tell me that my mother is coming to the game because they know I'll worry that she's all right.''. He played for the New England patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in addition to the 49ers. "We had experienced an awful lot of disappointment," including two straight defeats to USC on late field goals. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. "In 1972 my confidence ran into a stone wall," he said. After that, she was totally blind. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. Born to blind parents, he worked several part-time jobs in high school to help support the family. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. But it's not so much a walk as a trudge. Enter the 2022 MY Hero Songwriting/Music Video Contest! "We've all tasted what life has to deliver," says Schultz. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. 111 Broadway, Suite 103A He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. Accepting Ongoing Submissions! In exchange for Ken Stabler, Jim Pastorini was traded by the Oakland Raiders to the Houston Astros. Rust, now 82, remembers making that promise impulsively, confident that Stanford would back him up. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. Learn more about select judges in the MY HERO International Film Festival. 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. 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Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! 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 career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. Early life []. The nice thing now is that with the money I'm making, she has no financial problems. Mike Antonucci is the senior writer at Stanford. The defense included linebacker Jeff Siemon, '72, and tackle Pete Lazetich, '72, who became first-team All-Americans the following season and helped lead Stanford back to the Rose Bowl. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, released two seasons later, then signed by the Raiders. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. ''I don't think she would have cared if I had quit, she always was worried about me getting hurt,'' he said. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. His father died of a heart problem in 1969. ''My mother had her vision until she was about 20, but then she had an illness, scarlet fever I think it was. He retired as the only NFL quarterback to win two Super Bowls with the same franchise in different cities, winning his first while the Raiders were in Oakland and his second while they were in Los Angeles. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1947. 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. "You look a lot worse than that," Plunkett responds. He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. 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. BSK 80. draft, things like that. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. 326 Galvez Street 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. The biggest obstacle he faced was when he was 30 years old and played for the San Francisco 49ers. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. "He gutted out that entire run. "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 played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. 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. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since . ''One parent always was taking care of the other. His father, William, was legally blind and worked as a news vendor. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. "We didn't want to live through that again.". 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. I know life goes on but its been devastating. Plunkett, who on November 24 had been named the winner of the Heisman Trophy, directed a fourth-quarter comeback for an electrifying 27-17 upset over the Buckeyes. Jim was born in San Jose, California, in 1948. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). He's a good guy.". Plunkett, Lasater and Schultz were there with friends and other former teammates before the Wake Forest game in September, reveling in the juiciest memories. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He. 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. 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. 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. He was the youngest of three children and his parents divorced when he was just a toddler. 3 quarterback, Plunkett didn't play in 1978. (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. 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). And he ended up an emblem of individual and shared achievement on a team that's linked forever by one revered season. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. 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. Last Update: May 30, 2022. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. He didn't want her to get burned on the stove.''. 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. AWR 80. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. 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. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. It just felt unbelievable to me, Jim said, knowing what I did. Despite the fact that Andrew Lucks dazzling arm elevated the game to a whole new level, the notion that college football was primarily a running game was quickly overturned. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's eyes by helping them cross the street. 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. Jim Plunketts story is told in a film, and its a fascinating look at American football history. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. Biography. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. In junior high school, he became a passing quarterback. Had they insisted on it, the number of Heisman Trophy winners at Stanford would still be zero. It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. 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. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . 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. 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. 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. After graduation, Jim attended Stanford University on a football scholarship. What happened to Hart was not unintended. My father, and later on my sisters, prepared most of the meals. [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. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. I love my daughter. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. And then there's family. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. He competed in basketball, baseball, track and wrestling - earning a California High School Individual Wrestling Championship. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. Wanting to stay closer to home to help look after his parents, Plunkett decided to attend Stanford University. 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. He would have been so proud to have been around all that. Ball Carrier. "I'm 10 years older than you," says a sportswriter celebrating his 72nd birthday. [9] The next year he was, to San Francisco. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching. Plunkett excelled in athletics from a young age and went on to attend Stanford University on a football scholarship. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! [3] His tenure with the Patriots was productive, but after an injury-shortened 1975 season he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he played in 1976 and 1977. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. 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. Professionally created material to help you get started in hero film making! 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. 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.