I know life goes on but its been devastating. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since she was 19 because of typhoid fever. His parents were both blind. During his five seasons with the Pats, he was 23-38, completed 48.5% of his passes, threw 62 touchdown passes, and had 87 interception returns. Jim also had two sisters. 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. ''My parents were very stubborn,'' he said. 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. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. ''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'd never known anybody could throw a football so hard it whistled until Jim did it. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. He was the first of three children born to James and Geraldine Plunkett. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Rust's mother had gone blind, and he related so strongly to the Plunkett family's closeness that he had moved beyond any concern about what Plunkett could contribute to Stanford. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. 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. His mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. 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. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. Stanford University. 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 . "You look a lot worse than that," Plunkett responds. Only two teams in NFL history have made two Super Bowl appearances in the same five-year period without a Hall of Fame or future Hall of Fame quarterback at the helm the Redskins (Mark Rypien and Doug Williams) and the Raiders (Jim Plunkett). Jim was a hard worker because, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he spent his time trying to improve. 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. [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. Unfortunately, Jims father died in 1969 when Jim was 21. Jim also had two sisters. 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. I remember them saying that they weren't handicapped, that they could do just about anything except see. ''I'd go there and help him,'' Jim Plunkett said. Jim had many obstacles he had to overcome. Geez, you'd think that we could have seen pretty quickly that he could throw the ball.". Prior to retiring, he earned between $400,000 and $600,000 per year. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. Plunkett's pro career started promisingly after the New England Patriots made him the No. 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 . Jim Plunkett is the first Latino to win the prestigious award. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. (Photo: Timothy Archibald), BAND OF BROTHERS: With Jack Lasater, Randy Vataha, Bob Murphy and Jack Schultz. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. 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 Plunkett is reminded of that whenever he visits his mother now. As a sophomore, 1968, he passed for 2,156 yards, a record in what was then the Pac-8 Conference. At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions. Jim Plunkett's parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. Three seasons later, he did it again, helping the relocated-to-Los Angeles Raiders defeat the Washington Redskins for the title. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. His successful junior campaign saw him set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786). He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. 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. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. 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.''. . His net yards passing and most yards total offense were NCAA records at the time. His performance led to Plunkett playing in a state all-star game and that in turn led to interest from numerous colleges. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). BSK 80. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. . Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. As a result, he is revered not only for his achievements at Stanford, but also for his humility and loyalty from the start. Plunkett didn't stop there. 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. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. 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. Jim Plunkett wanted out, but Al Davis balked. "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. STR 59. In college, however, Jim won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the Rose bowl. If Plunkett was a leading passer, he was also a sentimental favorite. Tom Flores, then the Raiders coach, was not surprised. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. Tara VanDerveer took the Cardinal from doormat to dynamo and helped boost womens athletics. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. AGI 74. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. And our father would tell us to take care of our mother. She always knew. He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. Had they insisted on it, the number of Heisman Trophy winners at Stanford would still be zero. Later in his career, the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. It was never "just football" to them, Schultz remembers. [9] Early life []. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. "We've all tasted what life has to deliver," says Schultz. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. 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. LATE RALLY: After struggling early in his NFL career, Plunkett led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. And he ended up an emblem of individual and shared achievement on a team that's linked forever by one revered season. RUN 80. He played quarterback on the schools football team and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 North Coast Section championship game. In a call with Rod Rust, the assistant coach who had recruited him, Plunkett relayed his fears. 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. Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim, Flores says. Jim Plunkett was a football quarterback for Stanford University from 1968-1970. The year before, he was selected first overall in the draft, becoming the first Hispanic player to do so. '', That's not always easy when the hucksters move in. MAC 76. 1 pick in the 1971 draft had been all but branded an NFL washout, his promising rookie-of-the-year season with the New England Patriots notwithstanding. He's as tough a guy as I've ever met. He is an inspiration to all who know him. He is also the only player to pass for 25, 882 yards, 164 touchdown passes, and 198 picks. That goes to show that Jim Plunkett never ever gave up, even after everybody else did. They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. . the combining form for plasma minus the clotting proteins is jim plunkett parents blind After that, she was totally blind. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. 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. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. . William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. Sign-up for our newsletter to inspire your inbox. Plunkett excelled in athletics from a young age and went on to attend Stanford University on a football scholarship. Its a stark contrast to 1980, when Plunkett longed to leave Oakland in hopes of reinvigorating a fading career. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. 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. It was probably very hard to live with blind parents, but Jim figured out a way to do it. 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. In exchange for Ken Stabler, Jim Pastorini was traded by the Oakland Raiders to the Houston Astros. With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. 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. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. The Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XVIII, where they defeated the Washington Redskins, 389. 1 choice in the N.F.L. The players liked him. He's a good guy.". 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. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. 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. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. My mother would tell us kids to take care of our father. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's eyes by helping them cross the street. '', Jim Plunkett works for the Peninsula Center for the Blind in the San Jose area. draft, things like that. Her dad was afraid she'd stay in New York. For any number of questions about what sustains Plunkett, what fulfills him, there is just one answer: "I love my wife. 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. [17] The arguments against his induction center on Plunkett having only three winning seasons, unimpressive career statistics, and no Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections. He also owns a beer distributorship. America loved the kid. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. The press made much of his personal story. He was the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal from 1968 to 1970. As the No. 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. Was it that his parents were blind or they were deaf?, Jim threw a football 60 yards in his first ever competition. In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. 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. Any time that I didn't do that, I heard about it. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. He didn't want her to get burned on the stove.''. Jim was born in San Jose, California, in 1948. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. But none of it came easily. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. I still feel good when I think about it.". ''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.'' Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 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.. 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. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. With a career total offense of 7,887 yards, including passing for 7,544, Plunkett set an NCAA record. Knee and shoulder surgeries became almost commonplace, and after a season of limited play in 1975, he asked to be traded. The answer is no. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. Despite some impressive moments in the Silver and Black, he will never make the Hall of Fame. 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. 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. And while he is a celebrity, he is hoping to complete a pass at the Raiders' treasury for a new contract that might double his $180,000 annual salary. Despite his lack of fame, his contributions will not go unnoticed. No rushing or total offense stats currently available for Plunkett. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. 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. Help us celebrate the best of humanity, we need your support! Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, released two seasons later, then signed by the Raiders. ", Plunkett's against-the-odds story drew legions of fans, including some who were only casual football rooters. 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. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. But sometimes I'd forget. 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. Born to blind parents, he worked several part-time jobs in high school to help support the family. ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. Plunkett was selected by the New England Patriots as the number one overall draft choice in 1971. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. '', See the article in its original context from. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Playing for the Oakland Raiders, Pastorini broke his shinbone and cartilage in his knee. Learn more here. 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. Last Update: May 30, 2022. Jim Plunkett was born in San Jose, California, to parents of Native American and Hispanic descent. . He also shined the light back on everybody else.". [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. ''So if I had quit, she probably would have liked that. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. Nothing got draped over the Heisman. His parents were blind from the start. Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. 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. 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). [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.
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