[15], Plunkett is the subject of annual debate about whether he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? Explained by FAQ Blog Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. 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. [13] The Patriots finished the season at 68 for fourth place in the AFC East. He was a member of the National Football Leagues Atlanta Falcons for 16 seasons. 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. 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. Plunkett was selected by the New England Patriots as the number one overall draft choice in 1971. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. Ever since then, her doctor hasn't wanted her to fly. In 1968, he threw for 14 touchdowns and set a Pac-8 record with 2,156 yards passing. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. "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. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. During the NFL season, Plunkett co-hosts the team's weekly TV program, The Silver and Black Show, and he sits with owner Al Davis during games. [5][6], Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. The once-reticent Plunkett does Raiders postgame radio interviews and a weekly TV highlights show and gives corporate speeches. She always knew. Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. Jim Plunkett played 15 NFL seasons, but his eight years with the Raiders defined his career. September 1st is the final deadline to submit work for the 2022 International Film Festival! SAC 81. Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. He was born to a blind mother and father.. My mother would tell us kids to take care of our father. There was a famous juncture at which Stanford head coach John Ralston, an eventual college football Hall of Famer, almost coached Plunkett out of quarterback contention. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. 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. Nancy founded the Kelp Fest in 2009 in order to help local communities better understand and appreciate the kelp forest. ''So if I had quit, she probably would have liked that. Also Read: Mike Golic Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. "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. Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. 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. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first deaf player to win the award. General. 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). In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. 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. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. Whenever we went on a trip, we usually took a bus. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. He even spent two seasons on the bench with the Raiders. The Life And Career Of QB Jim Plunkett (Complete Story) 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. For that, he collected a black and silver Toyota automobile and a Seiko watch from Sport magazine at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria last week. Geez, you'd think that we could have seen pretty quickly that he could throw the ball.". But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. America loved the kid. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? And suddenly, from near-oblivion, a rise again to the top as 1981 Super Bowl MVP. [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. THP 86. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. 326 Galvez Street Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. 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. Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins. The rest of the Stanford cast was anything but ordinary. "Stanford is in both our hearts," says Gerry Plunkett, Jim's wife of 28 years, "because I see how very much it means to him.". 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. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. But he also was gifted with staunch confidence and a ferocious appetite for challenges. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". It was probably very hard to live with blind parents, but Jim figured out a way to do it. He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. 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. The defense included linebacker Jeff Siemon, '72, and tackle Pete Lazetich, '72, who became first-team All-Americans the following season and helped lead Stanford back to the Rose Bowl. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. Plunkett's pro career started promisingly after the New England Patriots made him the No. 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. The 1971 Rose Bowl is regarded as the period when Stanford football returned to prominence. 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. When Jim was eight years old, his father died of a heart attack. Plunkett received the Voit Trophy in both 1969 and 1970. 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. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. I do feel somewhat slighted, Plunkett says. She has high blood pressure. Since Jim Plunkett's parents were blind, he worked a lot of his early years cleaning up gas stations. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. His excellent arm strength and precision made him attractive to pro teams that relied much more heavily on the passing game than most college teams of the late 1960s. Jim was out of football for two years, before being signed by the Oakland Raiders in 1979. The First Deaf Player In The NHL: Jim Kyte. His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. I still feel good when I think about it.". But sometimes I'd forget. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts LATE RALLY: After struggling early in his NFL career, Plunkett led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. Jim Plunkett | Latina/o/x @ Stanford - Spotlight at Stanford For any number of questions about what sustains Plunkett, what fulfills him, there is just one answer: "I love my wife. "He has to be one of the great comeback stories of our time," said Raiders owner Al Davis. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. But sometimes she would get too nervous to enjoy it. ACC 77. 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. "But there was no hint whatsoever of jealousy for all of the accolades and attention being heaped on Jim. However, five weeks into the 1980 season, his career took a major turn when starting QB Dan Pastorini fractured his leg in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In an effort to aid the family's financial situation, Plunkett worked a series of odd jobs while growing up, including serving as a gas . 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. Jim Plunkett - Biography It took a lot of courage to get there. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. Continuing to be effective, Plunkett finished second in the NFL in passing yards in 1973, and in 1974 led the Patriots to an impressive 6-1 start, and the team's first non losing season in eight years, finishing second in the NFL in team scoring with 348 points, seven behind league leader Oakland. 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. He completed 571 of his 571 passes for a career-low 571 yards, three touchdown passes, and seven picks. 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. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. [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. Plunkett, Lasater and Schultz were there with friends and other former teammates before the Wake Forest game in September, reveling in the juiciest memories. Armada Halogen is the leading technology powered travel security risk management company with swift response capabilities. '', That's not always easy when the hucksters move in. He also owns a beer distributorship. "After 10 years and struggling with New England and San Francisco," he said, "that first one meant a lot to me.". '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. Jim Plunketts nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is fraught with controversy. His father, William, was legally blind and worked as a news vendor. For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. He could have graduated the previous June, skipped his remaining year of When my room was a mess, my mother always knew. . Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card.