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UCLA coach Tommy Prothro had called Plunkett the "best pro quarterback prospect I've ever seen", echoing Sweeney's words from the year prior. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1947. 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. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. Unfortunately, Jims father died in 1969 when Jim was 21. Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! '', William Plunkett had a news stand in San Jose, Calif., at first in the Post Office building, later in the Unemployment Office. [9] ", 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. led four postseason wins. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's "eyes" by helping them cross the street. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? [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. He was born to a blind mother and father.. The Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XVIII, where they defeated the Washington Redskins, 389. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. 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). [10], When Jim was growing up, the family's financial situation was a big problem for him. 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. 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. Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". He played for the Patriots for four seasons, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. 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 like that. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's eyes by helping them cross the street. And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. ''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. 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 10 years and struggling with New England and San Francisco," he said, "that first one meant a lot to me.". What happened to Hart was not unintended. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. He sat out all of 1987 with a shoulder injury and his NFL career ended in the 1988 preseason when, at 40, the Raiders released him. With all the obstacles he went through, Jim never quit. The once-reticent Plunkett does Raiders postgame radio interviews and a weekly TV highlights show and gives corporate speeches. [5][6], Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. Tara VanDerveer took the Cardinal from doormat to dynamo and helped boost womens athletics. "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. 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 . The day Plunkett threw a football 80. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. QB Survey: Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett bucked the odds "They'd never faced a passing team such as ours," he said. He played quarterback on the schools football team and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 North Coast Section championship game. Download our Annual Report for more detailed information about our daily operations. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. ''She also went to some of the Stanford games in Palo Alto,'' he said. [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. Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. The next year he was, to San Francisco. ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. (Photo: Timothy Archibald), BAND OF BROTHERS: With Jack Lasater, Randy Vataha, Bob Murphy and Jack Schultz. Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. 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. Plunkett reflected that his life "sucks" as a result of his physical injuries. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. To this day he has a tendency to drop into the background, heightened sometimes by the pervasive sadness of his son's death. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. [4] In 1983, Plunkett again ascended from backup to starter to quarterback the relocated Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. As a boy, Jim always dreamed of being in the NFL. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. The surgery required to remove a malignant tumor would end his football playing days. Leading James Lick High School in San Jose to an unbeaten season as a senior, he was chosen for a state all-star game and was heavily recruited by colleges. 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. He never let go of his dream. He is also the only player to pass for 25, 882 yards, 164 touchdown passes, and 198 picks. 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. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. ''But growing up, I didn't feel like I had to take care of either my father or my mother. In college, however, Jim won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the Rose bowl. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. 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. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 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. 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. From the Americans WhoTell the Truth portrait series. ''So if I had quit, she probably would have liked that. Completing 13-of-21 passes and three scoring strikes, two to Cliff Branch and an 80-yarder to Kenny King, he accounted for all of Oakland's touchdowns in the 27-10 victory. He spent 12 years in the NFL, beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers and continuing with the Washington Redskins, Oakland As, and Philadelphia 76ers. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. 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. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. Completed artwork should reflect thoughtful ideas to show how the selected hero demonstrates heroic action and creates positive social change. America loved the kid. Plunkett, the most celebrated player in Stanford history, won his school's first Heisman after leading the Indians to an 8-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. 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. His father died of a heart problem in 1969. As the No. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. As a sophomore, 1968, he passed for 2,156 yards, a record in what was then the Pac-8 Conference. 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. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. the combining form for plasma minus the clotting proteins is jim plunkett parents blind He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. In 1968, he threw for 14 touchdowns and set a Pac-8 record with 2,156 yards passing. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. The first time he demonstrated athletic promise was at the age of 14, when he won a throwing contest with a toss of over 60 yards. 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. 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. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. He was the youngest of three children and his parents divorced when he was just a toddler. Stanford, California 94305. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. Still, he remains active at Stanford, regularly attending events on campus and raising money for athletic scholarships through his annual charity golf tournament. At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. He competed in basketball, baseball, track and wrestling - earning a California High School Individual Wrestling Championship. 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. He is an inspiration to all who know him. My father, and later on my sisters, prepared most of the meals. 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. Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. Slow to recover from the surgery on his neck, Plunkett didn't impress anybody during spring practice at the end of his freshman year. 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. Jim Plunketts nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is fraught with controversy. Poor Jim Plunkett. 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. "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. He led the team to a Pac-8 Conference championship and a berth in the 1971 Rose Bowl. And then there's family. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. Brothers Where it Mattered Most - Delta Tau Delta Learn more about sponsorship opportunities! 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. ''My parents were very stubborn,'' he said. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. 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. '', See the article in its original context from. Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. 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. 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. After having both knees replaced a few years ago, he says, Im in less pain. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. 1 pick in the 1971 draft. This display of offensive firepower led Washington State coach Jim Sweeney to call Plunkett "The best college football player I've ever seen." Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. He played for the last time in 1986, his injuries and pain settling the issue. Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa Fe and his father, William Gutierrez Plunkett, was born in Albuquerque. "I got so many great letters. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State. LATE RALLY: After struggling early in his NFL career, Plunkett led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. The Oakland Raiders have had a total of 25 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including players, executives, and coaches. 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. Wanting to stay closer to home to help look after his parents, Plunkett decided to attend Stanford University. Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season. Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. [15], Plunkett is the subject of annual debate about whether he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. Jim continued to play for the Raiders until his retirement in 1986. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. 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. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts Rust didn't hesitate: We will honor your scholarship, he said. I do feel somewhat slighted, Plunkett says. "You got the look from Jim," recalls Vataha, a wide receiver, "and the look was not comfortable. Physically and mentally, I was not in the best shape. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. Jim was born in San Jose, California, in 1948. Jim Plunkett - Wikipedia He set a new Pacific 8 record with 2,156 yards passing and 14 touchdown passes in his first season as a Stanford quarterback. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. But sometimes she would get too nervous to enjoy it. I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. Accepting Ongoing Submissions! Since Jim Plunkett's parents were blind, he worked a lot of his early years cleaning up gas stations. His career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. "Some of it has been wonderful and some of it has been absolutely horrific. ''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.'' "He gutted out that entire run. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. Jim Plunkett played 15 NFL seasons, but his eight years with the Raiders defined his career. [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. 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. "We didn't want to live through that again.". 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. "In 1972 my confidence ran into a stone wall," he said. 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. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. 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. DAC 79. ACC 77. Early Years. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. 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. JIM PLUNKETT is on a roll. After graduation, Jim attended Stanford University on a football scholarship. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. But it's not so much a walk as a trudge. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. 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 . BSK 80. "We had experienced an awful lot of disappointment," including two straight defeats to USC on late field goals. Browse and share audio in our library. Three years later, Plunkett helped Oakland to another Super Bowl triumph, this one over Washington.

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