His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. "I'd never known anybody could throw a football so hard it whistled until Jim did it. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. Plunkett showed his talent for tossing the football by winning a throwing contest at the age of 14 with a heave of over 60 yards. Jim was out of football for two years, before being signed by the Oakland Raiders in 1979. [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. But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. It foretold the enduring intensity of Plunkett's relationship with Stanford. [15], Plunkett is the subject of annual debate about whether he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. He is a role model for never giving up. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since she was 19 because of typhoid fever. 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. '', During his two years in oblivion, his mother was more concerned about him than his career. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. It took a lot of courage to get there. Jim Plunkett (Stanford University, 1970) was the runaway winner of the 1970 Heisman trophy as the nation's top college football player. Watch our short introduction video for more information. My father, and later on my sisters, prepared most of the meals. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. 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. ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. 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. Stanford, California 94305. "He gutted out that entire run. I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. He also owns a beer distributorship. In 1971, he was drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft by the New England Patriots (the team was still known as the Boston Patriots at the time of the draft; the name change to New England did not become official until March 21 of that year). ''She had a bad experience on a plane a few years ago coming back from visiting her family in New Mexico. ". Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. Was it that his parents were blind or they were deaf?, Jim threw a football 60 yards in his first ever competition. He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. 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. His upbringing was difficult as both his parents, William and Carmen, were blind. Jim Plunkett, on the other hand, is well known as one of the most absent Raider. "I got so many great letters. I know life goes on but its been devastating. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. The world's most inspirational film competeition because of YOU. 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. . ''Especially in the parks,'' he recalled. 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. 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. In exchange for Ken Stabler, Jim Pastorini was traded by the Oakland Raiders to the Houston Astros. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. He didn't play well for the freshman team, and when his performance didn't improve the next spring, coach John Ralston suggested a switch to defensive end. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. 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. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. As a boy, Jim always dreamed of being in the NFL. Jims parents also gave him a fighting spirit because even though they were blind, they didnt want to be treated any differently than anyone else. [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. "We didn't want to live through that again.". 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. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California, on December 5, 1947. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. Jim Plunkett, 74, was a former American football quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Packers and the Houston Texans. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. Her dad was afraid she'd stay in New York. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. 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. Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. 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). 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. ''My mother had her vision until she was about 20, but then she had an illness, scarlet fever I think it was. Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. The Oakland Raiders have had a total of 25 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including players, executives, and coaches. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's eyes by helping them cross the street. Ball Carrier. 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. 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. Jim Plunkett was instrumental in the Oakland Raiders winning Super Bowl titles in 1980 and 1983. ", Plunkett, shy and modest, took a different view: "I wanted the Heisman, but my whole life wasn't centered on it.". As a result, he is revered not only for his achievements at Stanford, but also for his humility and loyalty from the start. But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. Professionally created material to help you get started in hero film making! Last Update: May 30, 2022. But she might have. 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 . 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. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. The most prestigious award in college football. 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. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. 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 Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. Once he reaches the Hall of Fame, Eli Manning should be among the first group of players voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career ''My parents were very stubborn,'' he said. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities! When my room was a mess, my mother always knew. SPD 74. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. 1 choice in the N.F.L. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Geez, you'd think that we could have seen pretty quickly that he could throw the ball.". Plunkett was born on Dec. 5, 1947, in San Jose, Calif., the youngest of three children. He played for the Patriots for four seasons, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. 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. It had been anything but a happy Bay Area homecoming for the rifle-armed quarterback who first gained widespread notice at San Jose James Lick High. Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim, Flores says. 1 pick in the 1971 draft. (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. At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions. 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. 1 Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. It was never "just football" to them, Schultz remembers. Despite this, Hart has largely been overlooked, despite his role in the Raiders organization. Rust, now 82, remembers making that promise impulsively, confident that Stanford would back him up. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, released two seasons later, then signed by the Raiders. Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. During training camp in 1980, Plunkett asked to be traded because he expected to have virtually no playing time again. He would have been so proud to have been around all that. He worked from an early age, cleaning up at a gas station while in elementary school, delivering newspapers, bagging groceries, and working in orchards. 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. "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. He was the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal from 1968 to 1970. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990. His parents are blind. ''Even at my age,'' he said with a laugh, ''when I walk in and hug her, she reaches for the top of my head and feels the hair in the back to see if I need a haircut. "When I found out I'd finished second to Jim," said Theismann in 1984, "I was genuinely crushed. He also captured the Maxwell Award for the nations best quarterback and was named player of the year by United Press International, The Sporting News, and SPORT magazine. And in three of the four seasons before Plunkett's emergence, Stanford had gone 5-5. And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. Its still hard for me to talk about it, Plunkett says during a phone interview, his voice catching. "We came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. They were from poor or middle-class families, and they wondered how they would ever fit in at a university swarming with well-heeled classmates. In his senior year, 1970, he led Stanford to a conference championship and their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1952, a game that ended with a 2717 Stanford victory over the heavily favored Ohio State Buckeyes. Three years later, Plunkett helped Oakland to another Super Bowl triumph, this one over Washington. He received several accolades during his career, including the only Heisman Trophy (1970) in school history. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. In 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. Sign-up for our newsletter to inspire your inbox. He led the team to a Pac-8 Conference championship and a berth in the 1971 Rose Bowl. Passing. These days, Plunkett and wife Gerry still live in the Bay Area, in Atherton, about a five-minute drive from Stanford. His father died of a heart problem in 1969. 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. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. 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. And suddenly, from near-oblivion, a rise again to the top as 1981 Super Bowl MVP. 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. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. The massive arms of Plunkett transformed college football, changing the perception of the game from being a ground game to one that was exciting and fast. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. 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. 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. No rushing or total offense stats currently available for Plunkett. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. It was probably very hard to live with blind parents, but Jim figured out a way to do it. He became the starting quarterback for the Raiders midway through the 1980 season. His parents were blind from the start. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and his ethnicity is white, making him an American by nationality. 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. Learn more here. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. 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. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. The tumor turned out to be benign, but Plunkett has never forgotten the generosity shown by Rust. The Raiders ignored his request and five weeks into the season, Plunkett's resurrection began. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. Plunkett reflected that his life "sucks" as a result of his physical injuries. Had they insisted on it, the number of Heisman Trophy winners at Stanford would still be zero. 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. 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). That goes to show that Jim Plunkett never ever gave up, even after everybody else did. The most celebrated player in Stanford football history came from just down the road, and a world away. California and was a high school star there. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. The biggest obstacle he faced was when he was 30 years old and played for the San Francisco 49ers. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. He spent 12 years in the NFL, beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers and continuing with the Washington Redskins, Oakland As, and Philadelphia 76ers. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. My father wouldn't let my mother cook. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. Was he a child, a teen, or an adult?Bonus 100 pts: How old was he exactly? Haz clic aqu para leer la historia sobre Jim Plunkett en espaol. Also Read: Mike Golic "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. 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. He was born to a blind mother and father.. He is an inspiration to all who know him. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. Hearing the story again, Jim Plunkett, the One and Only, smiles and rolls his eyes to his wife's amusement. 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. She has high blood pressure. Plunkett also carries innumerable physical scars from his playing days. Any time that I didn't do that, I heard about it. ''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. Unfortunately, Jims father died in 1969 when Jim was 21. For his career, Plunkett completed 1,943-of-3,701 passes for 25,882 yards with 164 touchdowns and 198 interceptions. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. Plunkett received the Voit Trophy in both 1969 and 1970. She always knew. 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 mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. Jim attended James Lick High School in East San Jose, California.He won the Heisman Trophy in 1970 as quarterback for Stanford University. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". ''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 became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. . He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. DAC 79. In a call with Rod Rust, the assistant coach who had recruited him, Plunkett relayed his fears. ''I don't think she would have cared if I had quit, she always was worried about me getting hurt,'' he said. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. I do feel somewhat slighted, Plunkett says. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. While working as a news vendor, his father, William, was legally blind. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. 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. With eighteen passing and three rushing touchdowns added to his 2,715 passing yards on the year (which broke his own conference record), Plunkett was awarded the 1970 Heisman Trophy. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. He's a good guy.". [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. 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. My mother would tell us kids to take care of our father. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. 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. The coaches realized everything had to be different, and they happened to discover the difference maker. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. September 1st is the final deadline to submit work for the 2022 International Film Festival! But none of it came easily. ''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. Biography. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. 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. The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year then As the No. "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. 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. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. 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. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching.
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