Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. ''My parents were very stubborn,'' he said. Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa . After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. 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. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. He responded by throwing for 2,156 yards and 14 touchdowns as a 1968 sophomore before adding 2,673 yards and 20 scores as a 1969 junior, helping him to finish eighth in that years Heisman vote. Ball Carrier. Later in his career, the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. "They'd never faced a passing team such as ours," he said. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. And he ended up an emblem of individual and shared achievement on a team that's linked forever by one revered season. It foretold the enduring intensity of Plunkett's relationship with Stanford. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. 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. In exchange for Ken Stabler, Jim Pastorini was traded by the Oakland Raiders to the Houston Astros. However, the tumor turned out to be benign and Plunkett was given a clean bill of health. He completed 571 of his 571 passes for a career-low 571 yards, three touchdown passes, and seven picks. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. ''I'd go there and help him,'' Jim Plunkett said. 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. Sign-up for our newsletter to inspire your inbox. In spite of never being selected to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, and everything the Ravens have done pre-raid, his tenure has been worthwhile. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. Hearing the story again, Jim Plunkett, the One and Only, smiles and rolls his eyes to his wife's amusement. He was born into a poor family, and his father was a news vendor who supported his wife and three children by selling news. 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. Jim made great contributions to professional football because he helped the Raiders beat the Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities! "After 10 years and struggling with New England and San Francisco," he said, "that first one meant a lot to me.". His career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. 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 the family's home, one room is dedicated to Plunkett's accomplishments. "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.". They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. 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. From the Americans WhoTell the Truth portrait series. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. Released from the 49ers after suffering further injuries, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders for 1978. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. The year before, he was selected first overall in the draft, becoming the first Hispanic player to do so. Jim Plunkett, 74, was a former American football quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Packers and the Houston Texans. Completed artwork should reflect thoughtful ideas to show how the selected hero demonstrates heroic action and creates positive social change. The answer is no. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. ", 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 reflected that his life "sucks" as a result of his physical injuries. Jim Plunkett's parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. 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. Jim Plunkett set records all three years he quarterbacked Stanford. Browse our About Page to get quick overviews of the different areas of MY HERO. He set a new Pacific 8 record with 2,156 yards passing and 14 touchdown passes in his first season as a Stanford quarterback. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Prior to the 1976 NFL Draft, Plunkett was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for quarterback Tom Owen, two first-round picks in 1976, and a first and second-round pick in 1977. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1947. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Despite some impressive moments in the Silver and Black, he will never make the Hall of Fame. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl January 1, 1971. He was the first of three children born to James and Geraldine Plunkett. Check out the Jim Plunkett Hispanic Heritage 83 item on Madden NFL 23 - Ratings, Prices and more! 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. When starting quarterback Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg early in the 1980 season, Plunkett stepped in and led the Raiders all the way to a 27-10 Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, throwing three TD passes and becoming the game's most valuable player. 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. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. During training camp in 1980, Plunkett asked to be traded because he expected to have virtually no playing time again. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. I like that. 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. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. "I wasn't an in-your-face guy." They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. 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 a role model for never giving up. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. It took a lot of courage to get there. They delighted last summer in the wedding of their daughter, Meghan, but theyre still mourning the loss of their son, James Jr., who was 25 when he died in November 2008. 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. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. His parents were both blind. "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 also helped them get their own food and stuff. [4] In 1983, Plunkett again ascended from backup to starter to quarterback the relocated Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Former Raider and Stanford star quarterback Jim Plunkett of Atherton wasn't too pleased with that last one. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. While Jim Plunketts story is a well-known one, he is not a Hall of Fame quarterback; he is considered an unlikely figure in the movie industry. 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. SAC 81. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's "eyes" by helping them cross the street. The First Deaf Player In The NHL: Jim Kyte. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. I still feel good when I think about it.". Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. My father wouldn't let my mother cook. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". As the No. Jim Plunkett arrived with other young playersJack Lasater, Bob Moore, Jack Schultzwho, like him, felt the pangs of being an outsider. '', Jim Plunkett is reminded of that whenever he visits his mother now. 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. 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. . ''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.'' "We didn't want to live through that again.". When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. He had some natural shyness, plus an unconventionally low-key approach to taking charge. Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. His parents were both blind. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. Early life []. 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. 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. Tom Flores, then the Raiders coach, was not surprised. 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. Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim, Flores says. What happened to Hart was not unintended. LATE RALLY: After struggling early in his NFL career, Plunkett led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. 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. 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. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. Unfortunately, Jims father died in 1969 when Jim was 21. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. [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. The Raiders ignored his request and five weeks into the season, Plunkett's resurrection began. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . Plunkett grew up in San Jose, California, the son of parents who were Native American and Hispanic. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Rallying the Raiders from a 2-3 start, he capped his comeback season by passing for three touchdowns in a most-valuable-player performance in the Super Bowl. He worked from an early age, cleaning up at a gas station while in elementary school, delivering newspapers, bagging groceries, and working in orchards. RUN 80. 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. Click here to donate. He never let go of his dream. He became the starting quarterback for the Raiders midway through the 1980 season. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. . The most celebrated player in Stanford football history came from just down the road, and a world away. 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. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. Plunkett was born on Dec. 5, 1947, in San Jose, Calif., the youngest of three children. "We're as close as any group of guys can be," says Plunkett. 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. 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. 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. Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. He led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. "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. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. When Jim was eight years old, his father died of a heart attack. CAR 70. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. Jim Plunkett was instrumental in the Oakland Raiders winning Super Bowl titles in 1980 and 1983. 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. 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. Plunkett led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. 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. Last Update: May 30, 2022. '', During his two years in oblivion, his mother was more concerned about him than his career. 3 quarterback, Plunkett didn't play in 1978. "The best college football player I've ever seen," said Washington State coach Jim Sweeney. 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. All artworks in our commercial free, age-appropriate Gallery are contributed by professional and student artists as well as curated from art institutions around the world. Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. Jim Plunkett wanted out, but Al Davis balked. 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. 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 . A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Several worthy Raiders, including Daryl Lamonica, Cliff Branch, and Lester Hayes, are no longer present in Canton, Ohio. After that, she was totally blind. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. He's as tough a guy as I've ever met. Biography. Otherwise, Plunkett might not have been playing for the Oakland Raiders in the fall of 1980, when the Heisman Trophy winner from Stanford jump-started an improbable career resurrection that culminated in two Super Bowl victories. ''Especially in the parks,'' he recalled. When my room was a mess, my mother always knew. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Lakers playoff hopes take another hit after comeback fades vs. Minnesota, Ducks strike with a pair of late power-play goals to defeat Canadiens, With Norman Powell out, Clippers are edged at Sacramento for fifth loss in a row, Harvard-Westlakes Bryce Rainer fires out 92-mph fastballs in first start since 2021, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, UCLAs senior trio has persevered in restoring the Bruins to national prominence, Hes taken the next step: How Boogie Ellis found his game as USCs point guard, Even after Gavin Lux injury, Andrew Friedman hints at patient approach with roster, Elliott: After trading away Jonathan Quick, Kings make more deals ahead of trade deadline, After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter. He wore very thick glasses,'' he said. MAC 76. [5][6], Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. He's a good guy.". Stanford University. Davis denied his trade request, Plunkett says, because he wanted the veteran available in case of emergency. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. ", I got so many great letters. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. And our father would tell us to take care of our mother. 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. That's where he was a leader. Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place. He was the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. Plunkett was the first player of Hispanic heritage to be drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Playing for a traditionally mediocre program on the West Coast, Plunkett was a long-shot Heisman candidate compared to the other favorites: quarterbacks Archie Manning of Mississippi and Joe Theismann of Notre Dame. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins. 326 Galvez Street Plunkett's pro career started promisingly after the New England Patriots made him the No. It was probably very hard to live with blind parents, but Jim figured out a way to do it. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He could see a little bit. The surgery required to remove a malignant tumor would end his football playing days. "We came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). 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. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. DAC 79. 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. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. Jim Plunkett was a football quarterback for Stanford University from 1968-1970. After graduation, Jim attended Stanford University on a football scholarship. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? As a result, he is revered not only for his achievements at Stanford, but also for his humility and loyalty from the start. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. Current head coach Jim Harbaugh describes Plunkett as an "iconic" figure, and as the school's only Heisman Trophy winner, Plunkett resides in a special place in Stanford's athletic pantheon. '', Jim Plunkett works for the Peninsula Center for the Blind in the San Jose area. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. ''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 was supposed to make my bed, but if I didn't, she'd walk in and feel the bed to see if I had. ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. Playing for the Oakland Raiders, Pastorini broke his shinbone and cartilage in his knee. He was named Rookie of the Year that first season, but little worked out for either him or the team from that point on, and he took a steady beating behind the Pats' weak offensive line. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. 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. I love my daughter. The most prestigious award in college football. Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. He received several accolades during his career, including the only Heisman Trophy (1970) in school history. What John Sande, '71, the team's center, remembers is a sound. Had they insisted on it, the number of Heisman Trophy winners at Stanford would still be zero. 111 Broadway, Suite 103A Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. He is also the only player to pass for 25, 882 yards, 164 touchdown passes, and 198 picks. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since she was 19 because of typhoid fever. William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. When the San Francisco 49ers released Jim Plunkett in 1978, he was stubborn enough to believe that he could still be a useful quarterback somewhere. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. 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. BSK 80. 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. 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.. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. He also helped them get their own food and stuff. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. His successful junior campaign saw him set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786). If Plunkett was a leading passer, he was also a sentimental favorite. In 1968, he threw for 14 touchdowns and set a Pac-8 record with 2,156 yards passing. Three years later, Plunkett helped Oakland to another Super Bowl triumph, this one over Washington. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. ", Plunkett's against-the-odds story drew legions of fans, including some who were only casual football rooters. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. ''My sisters would bring a radio so she could listen to what was happening. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett won by a wide margin. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history.