Jim Plunkett arrived with other young playersJack Lasater, Bob Moore, Jack Schultzwho, like him, felt the pangs of being an outsider. The Raiders ignored his request and five weeks into the season, Plunkett's resurrection began. 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. Davis denied his trade request, Plunkett says, because he wanted the veteran available in case of emergency. 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 didn't want her to get burned on the stove.''. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. 3 quarterback, Plunkett didn't play in 1978. The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year then 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. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. Jim continued to play for the Raiders until his retirement in 1986. 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. He grew up in a poor family and his parent's financial condition was extremely weak, his father was a news vendor who had to support his blind wife along with his three children. 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. Passing. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim, Flores says. His parents are blind. Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. 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. 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. Our gallery features art in the theme of heroism. Jim Plunkett is my hero because he inspires me to never give up. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. ", Plunkett's against-the-odds story drew legions of fans, including some who were only casual football rooters. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. 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. Together they won Super Bowl XV, when Flores became the first minority . When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett won by a wide margin. "I said iconic," notes Harbaugh, "but he lives it with such little fanfare. Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Biography. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. LATE RALLY: After struggling early in his NFL career, Plunkett led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. "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. 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. Whenever we went on a trip, we usually took a bus. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. His performance led to Plunkett playing in a state all-star game and that in turn led to interest from numerous colleges. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. The next year he was, to San Francisco. If Plunkett was a leading passer, he was also a sentimental favorite. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. The Raiders became the first team from the Wild Card era to win a Super Bowl. Friends and family, meanwhile, wonder why the Pro Football Hall of Fame has snubbed him. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. Jim Plunkett is the first Latino to win the prestigious award. Jim was a hard worker because, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he spent his time trying to improve. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. 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. Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. His mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. 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. 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. William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. It was probably very hard to live with blind parents, but Jim figured out a way to do it. (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. [15], Plunkett is the subject of annual debate about whether he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. Fortunately, he says, I was able to take advantage.. 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. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since . He was also named the nations top football player in addition to winning the Maxwell Award. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. ''So if I had quit, she probably would have liked that. "It was almost a miracle," says White, "that Jim Plunkett showed up at Stanford exactly as we were searching for a new football identity.". He is an inspiration to all who know 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.'' The second title came after more struggles, after losing his starting job to Wilson and then regaining it after Wilson was injured. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. 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. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. 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). His successful junior campaign saw him set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786). ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. The 1971 Rose Bowl is regarded as the period when Stanford football returned to prominence. 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. They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's eyes by helping them cross the street. ''My mother had her vision until she was about 20, but then she had an illness, scarlet fever I think it was. Oklahoma's Chuck Fairbanks replaced John Mazur as Patriots coach in 1973 and installed an offense that had Plunkett running some option plays and continuing to take a beating. CAR 70. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. Jim Plunketts nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is fraught with controversy. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. His mother, Carmen, had not seen the outside world since she was 19 years old due to typhoid. 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 retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. The rest of the Stanford cast was anything but ordinary. It was very hard to swallow. ACC 77. Browse our About Page to get quick overviews of the different areas of MY HERO. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. 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. [5][6], Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. 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. 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. He was traded in 1976 to the 49ers, and in 1980, joined the Oakland Raiders and quarterbacked them to two Super Bowl wins in 1980 and 1983, and was named the MVP of the 1980 match-up. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, released two seasons later, then signed by the Raiders. 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 wanted out, but Al Davis balked. Carmen was born blind as a result of typhoid fever, which occurred when she was 19 years old. Unfortunately, Jims father died in 1969 when Jim was 21. [4] In 1983, Plunkett again ascended from backup to starter to quarterback the relocated Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. 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 . 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. But Plunkett suffered a left shoulder separation early in the 1975 season, giving rookie Steve Grogan, who would become a fixture with the club for 16 seasons, extensive experience, and under the leadership of coach Chuck Fairbanks, New England's offense became more run-oriented, led by Sam Cunningham. The opponent: undefeated and heavily favored Ohio State. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. 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. 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. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. After that, she was totally blind. . But Plunkett was the face of the team's success, that strong chin like a pointer for his powerful arm. Wanting to stay closer to home to help look after his parents, Plunkett decided to attend Stanford University. 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. Several worthy Raiders, including Daryl Lamonica, Cliff Branch, and Lester Hayes, are no longer present in Canton, Ohio. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. 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. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. 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. Plunkett declined, threatened to transfer and, given a second chance, led Stanford to a Rose Bowl upset of Ohio State to cap his Heisman Trophy-winning senior season. '', William Plunkett had a news stand in San Jose, Calif., at first in the Post Office building, later in the Unemployment Office. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. 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. draft, things like that. But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? Learn more here. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. He wore very thick glasses,'' he said. He is also the only player to pass for 25, 882 yards, 164 touchdown passes, and 198 picks. Any time that I didn't do that, I heard about it. 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. They came together in Oakland after Plunkett washed out in New England and San Francisco and was contemplating retirement. He worked from an early age, cleaning up at a gas station while in elementary school, delivering newspapers, bagging groceries, and working in orchards. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. The most celebrated player in Stanford football history came from just down the road, and a world away. He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. 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. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. 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). "He gutted out that entire run. Jim Plunkett, on the other hand, is well known as one of the most absent Raider. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 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). (optional), What is a news vendor? 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. RUN 80. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. A few examples include players who were considered busts but rebounded to make their mark on the game. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities! The Truth About Johnny Cash: Was The Country Legend Tone Deaf? "You look a lot worse than that," Plunkett responds. 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. 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. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. In the family's home, one room is dedicated to Plunkett's accomplishments. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! 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. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. Jim was born in San Jose, California, in 1948. Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. Jim Plunkett played 15 NFL seasons, but his eight years with the Raiders defined his career. Jim Plunkett's parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. 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. He played for the New England patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in addition to the 49ers. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. James William Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California, on December 5, 1947. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. Yasmine Sherif, who leads Education Cannot Wait, a UN-hosted, global fund for education in emergencies. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. My mother would tell us kids to take care of our father. While working as a news vendor, his father, William, was legally blind. (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. He led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. 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. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. PAC 81. In 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. Plunkett didn't stop there. [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. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career We took a lot of walks because neither of my parents could drive. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . Plunkett, Lasater and Schultz were there with friends and other former teammates before the Wake Forest game in September, reveling in the juiciest memories. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. I remember them saying that they weren't handicapped, that they could do just about anything except see. In 1968, he threw for 14 touchdowns and set a Pac-8 record with 2,156 yards passing. 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. His 15 surgeries have included six on his left shoulder, one on his right shoulder, two on his neck and six on his knees. He is the son of Native American and Hispanic parents. Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Jim Plunkett set records all three years he quarterbacked Stanford. No rushing or total offense stats currently available for Plunkett. 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. 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. Tara VanDerveer took the Cardinal from doormat to dynamo and helped boost womens athletics. He threw for more touchdown passes than interception in all of his professional seasons except five, but he had more losing seasons than winning seasons. Early life []. ''My sisters would bring a radio so she could listen to what was happening. He will always be remembered as one of the Silver and Blacks best players, and his exploits in the teams past will live on after his playing days are over. Plunkett grew up in San Jose, California, the son of parents who were Native American and Hispanic. 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.''. [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. The once-reticent Plunkett does Raiders postgame radio interviews and a weekly TV highlights show and gives corporate speeches. ''I don't think she would have cared if I had quit, she always was worried about me getting hurt,'' he said. America loved the kid. 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. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. This display of offensive firepower led Washington State coach Jim Sweeney to call Plunkett "The best college football player I've ever seen." Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since she was 19 because of typhoid fever. Jim Plunkett was instrumental in the Oakland Raiders winning Super Bowl titles in 1980 and 1983. New York, NY, 10006. In college, however, Jim won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the Rose bowl. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. 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. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. . Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. Five mostly difficult seasons in New England followed, preceding a trade to the 49ers and, in 1978, Plunketts outright release. Accepting Ongoing Submissions! 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. He played quarterback on the schools football team and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 North Coast Section championship game. 326 Galvez Street Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. It was a memorable year as he surpassed many of his league records, passing for 2,715 yards and 18 touchdowns as Stanford went 8-3 and won the Pac-8. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the Raiders franchise, whom he led to two Super Bowl titles.[1]. Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. Its a stark contrast to 1980, when Plunkett longed to leave Oakland in hopes of reinvigorating a fading career. Throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns, Plunkett was named the game's MVP; subsequently, Plunkett has the distinction of being the first minority to quarterback a team to a Super Bowl victory and the only Latino to be named Super Bowl MVP. Mike Antonucci is the senior writer at Stanford. Plunkett beat Notre Dame's Joe Theismann and Archie Manning of Ole Miss to win the award. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. 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.