Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. Plunkett, who did not take a salary but used his newspaper delivery job to supplement his income, played football for the majority of his life. Biography. Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. He also helped them get their own food and stuff. 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 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). Knee and shoulder surgeries became almost commonplace, and after a season of limited play in 1975, he asked to be traded. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. Aside from the Heisman, he captured the Maxwell Award for the nation's best player and was named player of the year by United Press International, The Sporting News, and SPORT magazine. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. It was very hard to swallow. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. The Life And Career Of QB Jim Plunkett (Complete Story) 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. Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. Download our Annual Report for more detailed information about our daily operations. He led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. 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. Jim Plunkett Bio - affair, married, spouse, salary, net worth, bio I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. 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. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Physically and mentally, I was not in the best shape. 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. But Plunkett was the face of the team's success, that strong chin like a pointer for his powerful arm. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. Early 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). '', Jim Plunkett works for the Peninsula Center for the Blind in the San Jose area. 1973 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts 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. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. Stanford University. He played for the 49ers for two seasons, before being released in 1977. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. It hasn't all been laughs. 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. I do feel somewhat slighted, Plunkett says. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . 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. 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. We provide safe, convenient and unique travel experience using intel, modern technology and quality resources, after considering all threats to ensure clients arrive safely at their destinations. [8] 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. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. On the field or in the studio, Andrew Luck is a guy you can build around. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. 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. His father, William, was legally blind and worked as a news vendor. Plunkett led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. 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. 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. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. ''Especially in the parks,'' he recalled. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since she was 19 because of typhoid fever. In the NFL, prospects who were expected to make big waves are frequently busts. The Raiders became the first team from the Wild Card era to win a Super Bowl. Plunkett was the only quarterback who led his team to two Super Bowl victories, and he is the only starter to lead his team to two Super Bowl victories but is not eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. (Photo: Timothy Archibald). And in three of the four seasons before Plunkett's emergence, Stanford had gone 5-5. (Photo: Timothy Archibald), BAND OF BROTHERS: With Jack Lasater, Randy Vataha, Bob Murphy and Jack Schultz. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching. He set a new Pacific 8 record with 2,156 yards passing and 14 touchdown passes in his first season as a Stanford quarterback. To this day he has a tendency to drop into the background, heightened sometimes by the pervasive sadness of his son's death. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. ''She also went to some of the Stanford games in Palo Alto,'' he said. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. His mother lives in San Jose with Mary Ann, the younger of his two sisters. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. 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. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. 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. (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. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. 1972 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts The coaches realized everything had to be different, and they happened to discover the difference maker. 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. Jim Plunkett - Heisman I remember them saying that they weren't handicapped, that they could do just about anything except see. He was the first of three children born to James and Geraldine Plunkett. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. His parents are blind. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. 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. 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. 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. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". . [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. 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. Theyre both very important to me, Plunkett says of his Super Bowl victories, but the first one, after the resurrection, the struggle, the payoff at the end was quite incredible.. "I'd never been in a losing situation before.". MY HERO Project seeks unique works of art by professional and student artists that celebrate the lives and courageous acts of heroes who work to promote change by positively affecting others and their communities. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the Raiders franchise, whom he led to two Super Bowl titles.[1].