1 pick in the 1971 draft. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. The Truth About Johnny Cash: Was The Country Legend Tone Deaf? He also helped them get their own food and stuff. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. 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. ''I don't think she would have cared if I had quit, she always was worried about me getting hurt,'' he said. Then followed three sensational seasons at Stanford, culminating with the 1970 Heisman Trophy. ''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. 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. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. 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. "The best college football player I've ever seen," said Washington State coach Jim Sweeney. He was the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal from 1968 to 1970. Plunkett has many interests and ventures, ranging from speaking engagements and autograph contracts for football cards and jerseys to his longtime involvement on behalf of the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Palo Alto. I know life goes on but its been devastating. Plunkett was the first player of Hispanic heritage to be drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. 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. During training camp in 1980, Plunkett asked to be traded because he expected to have virtually no playing time again. "It surprised me that he was able to come back because I thought physically he had been so punished that he couldn't come back - and he certainly did," says Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi about Jim Plunkett on ESPN Classic's SportsCentury series. "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. He was also named the nations top football player in addition to winning the Maxwell Award. William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. 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. Sign-up for our newsletter to inspire your inbox. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California, on December 5, 1947. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. The once-reticent Plunkett does Raiders postgame radio interviews and a weekly TV highlights show and gives corporate speeches. led four postseason wins. 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. [20], Interviewed in 2017, Plunkett told of being in "constant pain" and discussed the effects of at least ten career concussions. 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 . Jim also had two sisters. When Jim was eight years old, his father died of a heart attack. (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. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. Jim Plunkett learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. 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. Submit your film TODAY!! Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. THP 86. "You look a lot worse than that," Plunkett responds. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the Raiders franchise, whom he led to two Super Bowl titles.[1]. [7] Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. My father wouldn't let my mother cook. Plunkett led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. Andrew Luck is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time in college football. They are a permanent set: Plunk, Red, B.M., Schultzie and Rabbit. Since Jim Plunkett's parents were blind, he worked a lot of his early years cleaning up gas stations. Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. 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. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching. 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. 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 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. Click here to donate. "When I found out I'd finished second to Jim," said Theismann in 1984, "I was genuinely crushed. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. His parents were blind from the start. Biography. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. . "I'm 10 years older than you," says a sportswriter celebrating his 72nd birthday. We took a lot of walks because neither of my parents could drive. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. Yasmine Sherif, who leads Education Cannot Wait, a UN-hosted, global fund for education in emergencies. 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. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. '', Jim Plunkett works for the Peninsula Center for the Blind in the San Jose area. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? Jim was born in San Jose, California, in 1948. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . He played quarterback on the schools football team and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 North Coast Section championship game. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. The year before, he was selected first overall in the draft, becoming the first Hispanic player to do so. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. 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. His father died of a heart problem in 1969. Enter the 2022 MY Hero Songwriting/Music Video Contest! The Oakland Raiders have had a total of 25 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including players, executives, and coaches. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. While at Stanford he joined Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He could see a little bit. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. 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. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. . Nearly a decade into his professional career, the No. He had some natural shyness, plus an unconventionally low-key approach to taking charge. 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. [21], Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:58, List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders, List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders, "HOF Voter: Jim Plunkett Would Not Get My Vote", "Jim Plunkett and the Pro Football Hall of Fame", "Jim Plunkett's road to Super Bowl champion wasn't always smooth", "Greatest Cinderella stories in NFL history", "Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders Franchise Encyclopedia", "Oakland Raiders Quarterback Jim Plunkett vs. Denver Broncos Quarterback John Elway: Fan Take", "Why Raiders QB Jim Plunkett is not a Hall of Famer", "Barnwell: How the 'average' NFL QB has changed dramatically", "A Deeper Look at the Stabler Hall of Fame Debate", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett opens up on health: 'My life sucks', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jim_Plunkett&oldid=1140846577, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:58. 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 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. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. TUP 83. ACC 77. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State.