But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. Hearing the story again, Jim Plunkett, the One and Only, smiles and rolls his eyes to his wife's amusement. His mother, Carmen, had not seen the outside world since she was 19 years old due to typhoid. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. For any number of questions about what sustains Plunkett, what fulfills him, there is just one answer: "I love my wife. ''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.'' I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. The coaches realized everything had to be different, and they happened to discover the difference maker. He became the starting quarterback for the Raiders midway through the 1980 season. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Born to blind parents, he worked several part-time jobs in high school to help support the family. He could have graduated the previous June, skipped his remaining year of Jim Plunkett is my hero because he inspires me to never give up. "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He. The most celebrated player in Stanford football history came from just down the road, and a world away. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. He's a good guy.". 326 Galvez Street After two seasons in oblivion, the 32-year-old quarterback took the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl XV and was selected as the most valuable player in their 27-10 triumph. 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. Anyone can read what you share. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. He played quarterback on the schools football team and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 North Coast Section championship game. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. 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. Plunkett, 63, is still involved with the Raiders, co-hosting a team-produced weekly television program, The Silver and Black Show, and sitting in Davis box during games. 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. He is also the only player to pass for 25, 882 yards, 164 touchdown passes, and 198 picks. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. Plunkett was selected by the New England Patriots as the number one overall draft choice in 1971. 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. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. I love my daughter. Several worthy Raiders, including Daryl Lamonica, Cliff Branch, and Lester Hayes, are no longer present in Canton, Ohio. "I said iconic," notes Harbaugh, "but he lives it with such little fanfare. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. Watch our short introduction video for more information. For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 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. She's 67 now and I don't think she went to any of the Raider games last year. 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. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1947. Andrew Luck is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time in college football. ''Especially in the parks,'' he recalled. He is an inspiration to all who know him. With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. He also shined the light back on everybody else.". 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. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. 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. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. In the family's home, one room is dedicated to Plunkett's accomplishments. 1 pick in the 1971 draft. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. 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. He even spent two seasons on the bench with the Raiders. Despite this, Hart has largely been overlooked, despite his role in the Raiders organization. Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. His parents were blind from the start. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. "You got the look from Jim," recalls Vataha, a wide receiver, "and the look was not comfortable. Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. His parents in San Jose were both blind, and his father died his junior year, so Plunkett and his sisters worked to support their mother. He had some natural shyness, plus an unconventionally low-key approach to taking charge. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. But she might have. 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. ''So if I had quit, she probably would have liked that. . His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. The Truth About Johnny Cash: Was The Country Legend Tone Deaf? William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. 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). Jim Plunketts story is something out of a movie, and he has his rightful place in history, but he is not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played for the Patriots for four seasons, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. 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. Jim Plunkett was the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. ''My sisters would bring a radio so she could listen to what was happening. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. [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. His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching. '', When he and his mother, Carmen, took walks, he would describe the scenery to her. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. [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. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. 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. 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. 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 set a new Pacific 8 record with 2,156 yards passing and 14 touchdown passes in his first season as a Stanford quarterback. The First Deaf Player In The NHL: Jim Kyte. 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. My father wouldn't let my mother cook. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. 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. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. Jim Plunkett (Stanford University, 1970) was the runaway winner of the 1970 Heisman trophy as the nation's top college football player. Jim Plunkett wanted out, but Al Davis balked. 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 . The 1971 Rose Bowl is regarded as the period when Stanford football returned to prominence. Plunkett, the most celebrated player in Stanford history, won his schools first Heisman after leading the Indians to an 8-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. When the San Francisco 49ers released Jim Plunkett in 1978, he was stubborn enough to believe that he could still be a useful quarterback somewhere. 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. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. Plunkett also carries innumerable physical scars from his playing days. 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. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. Nothing got draped over the Heisman. The press made much of his personal story. He was born to the parents of William Plunkett and Carmella Plunkett. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. He was also named the nations top football player in addition to winning the Maxwell Award. 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. However, the tumor turned out to be benign and Plunkett was given a clean bill of health. 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. Carmen was born blind as a result of typhoid fever, which occurred when she was 19 years old. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio . Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. His father died of a heart problem in 1969. 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. 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. '', That's not always easy when the hucksters move in. It took a lot of courage to get there. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. (Photo: Timothy Archibald). "I wasn't an in-your-face guy." He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. 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. As the No. '', William Plunkett had a news stand in San Jose, Calif., at first in the Post Office building, later in the Unemployment Office. Jim had many obstacles he had to overcome. Plunkett reflected that his life "sucks" as a result of his physical injuries. Last Update: May 30, 2022. 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. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. "The best college football player I've ever seen," said Washington State coach Jim Sweeney. 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). With all the obstacles he went through, Jim never quit. 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. Ball Carrier. 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. 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. I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. Was it that his parents were blind or they were deaf?, Jim threw a football 60 yards in his first ever competition. I remember my father always told me to come straight home after school. 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. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). 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. Learn more here. Despite his lack of fame, his contributions will not go unnoticed. 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). UCLA coach Tommy Prothro had called Plunkett the "best pro quarterback prospect I've ever seen", echoing Sweeney's words from the year prior. 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. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the New England Revolution and San Francisco 49ers before being released by both organizations in 1978. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. What happened to Hart was not unintended. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. I still feel good when I think about it.". 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. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . This display of offensive firepower led Washington State coach Jim Sweeney to call Plunkett "The best college football player I've ever seen."
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