Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. Heart of a Legend | STANFORD magazine Randy Vataha had the same misgivings when he transferred in as a junior. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. Bill Parcells was the first Hispanic-American head coach of the NFL, and Tom Flores won two Super Bowl rings. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. 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. Browse our About Page to get quick overviews of the different areas of MY HERO. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. 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. It was never "just football" to them, Schultz remembers. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. Andrew Luck is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time in college football. Physically and mentally, I was not in the best shape. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. And our father would tell us to take care of our mother. 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 is the son of Native American and Hispanic parents. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. When Jim was eight years old, his father died of a heart attack. 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. ACC 77. America loved the kid. led four postseason wins. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". The surgery required to remove a malignant tumor would end his football playing days. Learn more about select judges in the MY HERO International Film Festival. 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. That's where he was a leader. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and his ethnicity is white, making him an American by nationality. 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. That goes to show that Jim Plunkett never ever gave up, even after everybody else did. His final seasons in a backup role included the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. '', See the article in its original context from. 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. 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. Enter the 2022 MY Hero Songwriting/Music Video Contest! The day Plunkett threw a football 80. My father, and later on my sisters, prepared most of the meals. His parents are blind. In college, however, Jim won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the Rose bowl. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. She has high blood pressure. RUN 80. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. To this day he has a tendency to drop into the background, heightened sometimes by the pervasive sadness of his son's death. 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. Former Raider and Stanford star quarterback Jim Plunkett of Atherton wasn't too pleased with that last one. 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. "The best college football player I've ever seen," said Washington State coach Jim Sweeney. What happened to Hart was not unintended. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. [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. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. AGI 74. Rust didn't hesitate: We will honor your scholarship, he said. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since . Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California on December 5th, 1947. This display of offensive firepower led Washington State coach Jim Sweeney to call Plunkett "The best college football player I've ever seen." 1 pick in the 1971 draft had been all but branded an NFL washout, his promising rookie-of-the-year season with the New England Patriots notwithstanding. He worked from an early age, cleaning up at a gas station while in elementary school, delivering newspapers, bagging groceries, and working in orchards. His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. They came together in Oakland after Plunkett washed out in New England and San Francisco and was contemplating retirement. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . His upbringing was difficult as both his parents, William and Carmen, were blind. 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. In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation While working as a news vendor, his father, William, was legally blind. 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. [5][6], Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. 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 played for the New England patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in addition to the 49ers. 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. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. 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. Plunkett, Lasater and Schultz were there with friends and other former teammates before the Wake Forest game in September, reveling in the juiciest memories. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. "We're as close as any group of guys can be," says Plunkett. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. Though Plunkett threw five interceptions in the 31-17 defeat, he got the start the next week for the 2-3 Raiders, who thought rookie Marc Wilson was too green. "We've all tasted what life has to deliver," says Schultz. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. But none of it came easily. Tom Flores, then the Raiders coach, was not surprised. [4] In 1983, Plunkett again ascended from backup to starter to quarterback the relocated Los Angeles Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVIII. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. 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. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. 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. She always knew. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. '', When he and his mother, Carmen, took walks, he would describe the scenery to her. The second title came after more struggles, after losing his starting job to Wilson and then regaining it after Wilson was injured. ''But growing up, I didn't feel like I had to take care of either my father or my mother. the combining form for plasma minus the clotting proteins is jim plunkett parents blind He could have graduated the previous June, skipped his remaining year of Anyone can read what you share. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . But Plunkett was the face of the team's success, that strong chin like a pointer for his powerful arm. ''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. STR 59. But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. 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. 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. Check out the Jim Plunkett Hispanic Heritage 83 item on Madden NFL 23 - Ratings, Prices and more! 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). The next season, he threw only 15 passes. Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season. His father died of a heart problem in 1969. Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? Wanting to stay closer to home to help look after his parents, Plunkett decided to attend Stanford University. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Jim Plunkett arrived with other young playersJack Lasater, Bob Moore, Jack Schultzwho, like him, felt the pangs of being an outsider. 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. By their senior season in 1970, the insecurities that had pulled them all together had matured into a deep bond, stoked by stubborn dreams and maddening frustration. His parents were blind from the start. (Photo: Timothy Archibald). 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. 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. In junior high school, he became a passing quarterback. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. Jim Plunkett Hispanic Heritage 83 OVR - Madden NFL 23 - MUT.GG Friends helped talk him out of retiring and, two weeks later, he signed with the Raiders. 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. "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. 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 had many obstacles he had to overcome. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. He is a role model for never giving up. ''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 chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. It was the low point in my career really hard to take, he says of the 49ers move. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. Click here to donate. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career As a sophomore, 1968, he passed for 2,156 yards, a record in what was then the Pac-8 Conference. Jim Plunkett (http://www.stanfordalumni.org/. 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. As a boy, Jim always dreamed of being in the NFL. Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. Jim Plunkett | American Football Wiki | Fandom Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. I have taught linguistics and phonetics at multiple universities for the past 15 years.Technology has made exciting advances in phonetics, the science concerned with the structure and function of human speech, in recent years. CAR 70. 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.