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. In 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. 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 Plunketts story is told in a film, and its a fascinating look at American football history. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. Jim had many obstacles he had to overcome. [14] The Raiders, however, believing that Marc Wilson did not have the experience they wanted, called on Plunkett to start for the remainder of the year. 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. His career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. Our gallery features art in the theme of heroism. He's still connected to the Raiders. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. 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. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. His parents were both blind. Learn more here. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. The year before, he was selected first overall in the draft, becoming the first Hispanic player to do so. ''My sisters would bring a radio so she could listen to what was happening. Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. But he's quick to turn conversations into the kind of comedic sparring he perfected in locker rooms. He was the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy. Hearing the story again, Jim Plunkett, the One and Only, smiles and rolls his eyes to his wife's amusement. (Photo: Timothy Archibald). The coaches realized everything had to be different, and they happened to discover the difference maker. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. In his senior year, 1970, he led Stanford to a conference championship and their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1952, a game that ended with a 2717 Stanford victory over the heavily favored Ohio State Buckeyes. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. Plunkett then joined the Oakland Raiders in 1978, serving in a reserve capacity over the next two years, throwing no passes in 1978 and just fifteen in 1979. TUP 83. Jim Plunkett - Wikipedia I still feel good when I think about it.". Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. 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. The Raiders ignored his request and five weeks into the season, Plunkett's resurrection began. An outstanding high school wrestler, Plunkett struck Ralston and his staff as someone they might convert to a defensive end. . In exchange for Ken Stabler, Jim Pastorini was traded by the Oakland Raiders to the Houston Astros. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. He is an inspiration to all who know him. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. What John Sande, '71, the team's center, remembers is a sound. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . After that, she was totally blind. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. Plunkett didn't stop there. He could have graduated the previous June, skipped his remaining year of Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. But sometimes she would get too nervous to enjoy it. For his career, Plunkett completed 1,943-of-3,701 passes for 25,882 yards with 164 touchdowns and 198 interceptions. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. Friends and family, meanwhile, wonder why the Pro Football Hall of Fame has snubbed him. It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. Tara VanDerveer took the Cardinal from doormat to dynamo and helped boost womens athletics. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . 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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. Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the game. California and was a high school star there. Jim Plunkett, 74, was a former American football quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Packers and the Houston Texans. 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. Jim attended high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. Enter the 2022 MY Hero Songwriting/Music Video Contest! Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1976, released two seasons later, then signed by the Raiders. He led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. But Plunkett was the face of the team's success, that strong chin like a pointer for his powerful arm. Jim Plunkett was instrumental in the Oakland Raiders winning Super Bowl titles in 1980 and 1983. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. 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. Sports of the Times; Jim Plunkett's Blind Parents The biggest obstacle he faced was when he was 30 years old and played for the San Francisco 49ers. Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins. For example, he once damaged his shoulder, but he kept on playing. "I'm 10 years older than you," says a sportswriter celebrating his 72nd birthday. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts After graduation, Jim attended Stanford University on a football scholarship. Three seasons later, he did it again, helping the relocated-to-Los Angeles Raiders defeat the Washington Redskins for the title. Submit your film TODAY!! In 1968, he threw for 14 touchdowns and set a Pac-8 record with 2,156 yards passing. The most prestigious award in college football. [7] Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. ''I know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. . '', His mother is of Mexican heritage, his father was a mixture of German, Irish and Mexican. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. Plunkett, the most celebrated player in Stanford history, won his school's first Heisman after leading the Indians to an 8-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth. A native of San Jose, Calif., Plunkett graduated from Lick High in 1967, where he was a star athlete who competed in football, basketball, baseball, track and wrestling. The world's most inspirational film competeition because of YOU. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. [16] Arguments for induction focus on his two Super Bowl victories and Super Bowl MVP award, along with the personal challenges he overcame in the NFL. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . Jim Plunkett (Stanford University, 1970) was the runaway winner of the 1970 Heisman trophy as the nation's top college football player. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. 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. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. 1981 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts In junior high school, he became a passing quarterback. "The best college football player I've ever seen," said Washington State coach Jim Sweeney. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. Rallying the Raiders from a 2-3 start, he capped his comeback season by passing for three touchdowns in a most-valuable-player performance in the Super Bowl. 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. 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). And suddenly, from near-oblivion, a rise again to the top as 1981 Super Bowl MVP. ''One parent always was taking care of the other. I asked to be traded, Plunkett says, and Mr. Davis said no.. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. (optional), What is a news vendor? 1 pick in the 1971 draft. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. (Photo: Timothy Archibald), BAND OF BROTHERS: With Jack Lasater, Randy Vataha, Bob Murphy and Jack Schultz. CAR 70. "When I found out I'd finished second to Jim," said Theismann in 1984, "I was genuinely crushed. "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.". Biography. 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. The Raiders have never made the Pro Bowl or the All-Pro team, and everything they have done since the inception has been bad. He received several accolades during his career, including the only Heisman Trophy (1970) in school history. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. He spent 12 years in the NFL, beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers and continuing with the Washington Redskins, Oakland As, and Philadelphia 76ers. Early Years. [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. Jim Plunkett - Heisman 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 . Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. 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 also had two sisters. "I'd never been in a losing situation before.". "I'd never known anybody could throw a football so hard it whistled until Jim did it. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. Jim Plunkett (1990) - Hall of Fame - National Football Foundation The Raiders became the first team from the Wild Card era to win a Super Bowl. Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa . It was never "just football" to them, Schultz remembers. He is also the only player to pass for 25, 882 yards, 164 touchdown passes, and 198 picks. Plunkett was born on Dec. 5, 1947, in San Jose, Calif., the youngest of three children. Three years later, Plunkett helped Oakland to another Super Bowl triumph, this one over Washington. Jim Plunkett - Academic Kids "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. ESPN Classic - Plunkett kept coming back Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. Diamond in the Rust: Davis Reclaims Plunkett From NFL Junkyard Sports of the Times; Jim Plunkett's Blind Parents, https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/01/sports/sports-of-the-times-jim-plunkett-s-blind-parents.html. 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. Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. MAC 76. THP 86. His final seasons in a backup role included the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. Bill Parcells was the first Hispanic-American head coach of the NFL, and Tom Flores won two Super Bowl rings. Success as a California high school quarterback was followed by an unsteady start in college, a beginning in which his coach almost took the ball from his hands. He was named Rookie of the Year that first season, but little worked out for either him or the team from that point on, and he took a steady beating behind the Pats' weak offensive line. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. 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. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. In a call with Rod Rust, the assistant coach who had recruited him, Plunkett relayed his fears. Jim also had two sisters. It hasn't all been laughs. It's the trudge of 15 surgeries and back pain that makes it difficult for him to stand for more than an hour at a time. 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. Jim Plunkett is my hero because he inspires me to never give up. 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. 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. ''Even at my age,'' he said with a laugh, ''when I walk in and hug her, she reaches for the top of my head and feels the hair in the back to see if I need a haircut. But none of it came easily. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. Haz clic aqu para leer la historia sobre Jim Plunkett en espaol. 1984 Topps Jim Plunkett | PSA CardFacts "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. She has high blood pressure. And then there's family. The massive arms of Plunkett transformed college football, changing the perception of the game from being a ground game to one that was exciting and fast. Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place. Jim Plunkett's road to Super Bowl champion wasn't always smooth 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. [20], Interviewed in 2017, Plunkett told of being in "constant pain" and discussed the effects of at least ten career concussions. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. [15], Plunkett is the subject of annual debate about whether he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. Click here to donate. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. September 1st is the final deadline to submit work for the 2022 International Film Festival! If Plunkett was a leading passer, he was also a sentimental favorite. Visitors, teachers, students, and MY HERO staff publish all kinds of stories, from inspirational essays about a close friend, to important global issues. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? - askingforanswer.com 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. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. 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. Jim Plunkett - Biography For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! Jim Plunketts nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is fraught with controversy. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 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.
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