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"He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. To this day he has a tendency to drop into the background, heightened sometimes by the pervasive sadness of his son's death. Learn more here. Jim continued to play for the Raiders until his retirement in 1986. 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. From the Americans WhoTell the Truth portrait series. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. Jim Plunketts parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. ", In addition to mustering his physical skills, Plunkett had to change the coaches' perception of what a leader was. CAR 70. 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). Were jim plunkett's parents blind? His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. ''I'd go there and help him,'' Jim Plunkett said. He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. Thirty years ago this week, Plunkett led the Raiders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio . When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. Its still hard for me to talk about it, Plunkett says during a phone interview, his voice catching. 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. 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. Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa . [17] The arguments against his induction center on Plunkett having only three winning seasons, unimpressive career statistics, and no Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections. And we've known that we're there for each other.". 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. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State. 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. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. "It was almost a miracle," says White, "that Jim Plunkett showed up at Stanford exactly as we were searching for a new football identity.". Rust, now 82, remembers making that promise impulsively, confident that Stanford would back him up. 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. 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. After graduation, Jim attended Stanford University on a football scholarship. Plunkett reflected that his life "sucks" as a result of his physical injuries. ''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 was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990. Once he reaches the Hall of Fame, Eli Manning should be among the first group of players voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. He was the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal from 1968 to 1970. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. 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 learned about perspective growing up as the only son, along with two older sisters, of blind parents. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. '', When he and his mother, Carmen, took walks, he would describe the scenery to her. ''My mother had her vision until she was about 20, but then she had an illness, scarlet fever I think it was. 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. 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. During training camp in 1980, Plunkett asked to be traded because he expected to have virtually no playing time again. Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. He was a member of the National Football Leagues Atlanta Falcons for 16 seasons. He didn't play well for the freshman team, and when his performance didn't improve the next spring, coach John Ralston suggested a switch to defensive end. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. Later in his career, the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. The 32-year-old Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini, throwing five interceptions in a 3117 loss. "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 know my mother didn't make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl because she doesn't fly anymore,'' he said. 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). After Jimmy's death, Meghan chose to keep the dog with her in part to honor what she believed would have been her brother's wish. Jim Plunkett's parents, Jack and Aletha, were both blind. THP 86. 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. [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 led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. 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. [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. As the No. I didn't do things to put them out, though. ", I got so many great letters. But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. It was never "just football" to them, Schultz remembers. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. "Some of it has been wonderful and some of it has been absolutely horrific. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl January 1, 1971. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. 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. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. SPD 74. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. The nice thing now is that with the money I'm making, she has no financial problems. Plunkett was born on Dec. 5, 1947, in San Jose, Calif., the youngest of three children. Four hours before a Raiders preseason game in Oakland, Plunkett can walk in relative anonymity through the smattering of fans near the stadium's press entrance. I still feel good when I think about it.". . [10], When Jim was growing up, the family's financial situation was a big problem for him. The star running back was the 2012 National Championship winner with Stanford and was the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 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. 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. "We're as close as any group of guys can be," says Plunkett. 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. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. led four postseason wins. 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. 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. Browse our About Page to get quick overviews of the different areas of MY HERO. Bill Parcells was the first Hispanic-American head coach of the NFL, and Tom Flores won two Super Bowl rings. And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. 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. 1 pick in the 1971 draft. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. Jim Plunkett wanted out, but Al Davis balked. [9] 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. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. Plunkett's first game was a 206 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots' first regular-season contest at Schaefer Stadium. After two seasons in oblivion, the 32-year-old quarterback took the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl XV and was selected as the most valuable player in their 27-10 triumph. For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. Jim Plunkett (Stanford University, 1970) was the runaway winner of the 1970 Heisman trophy as the nation's top college football player. He holds the Raider record, and is tied for the league record, for the longest career pass, which occurred during a 99-yard pass play against the Washington Redskins on October 2, 1983. 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. Was it that his parents were blind or they were deaf?, Jim threw a football 60 yards in his first ever competition. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. Jim Plunkett was the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. New York, NY, 10006. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. While Jim Plunketts story is a well-known one, he is not a Hall of Fame quarterback; he is considered an unlikely figure in the movie industry. I remember them saying that they weren't handicapped, that they could do just about anything except see. In a call with Rod Rust, the assistant coach who had recruited him, Plunkett relayed his fears. But when I wanted to keep playing, she understood that, too. He wore very thick glasses,'' he said. Submit your film TODAY!! He never let go of his dream. ''My sisters would bring a radio so she could listen to what was happening. The press made much of his personal story. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. 111 Broadway, Suite 103A ", Plunkett's against-the-odds story drew legions of fans, including some who were only casual football rooters. Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. 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. 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. Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. All artworks in our commercial free, age-appropriate Gallery are contributed by professional and student artists as well as curated from art institutions around the world. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. Help us celebrate the best of humanity, we need your support! Haz clic aqu para leer la historia sobre Jim Plunkett en espaol. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. 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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. "I said iconic," notes Harbaugh, "but he lives it with such little fanfare. Early Years. In the 1984 Super Bowl, Plunkett passed for 172 yards and one touchdown in the Raiders' 38-9 rout of Washington, to that point the biggest Super Bowl victory margin. The players liked him. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. An outstanding rookie year in the NFL with the New England Patriots preceded numerous injuries and a drift to the ranks of the ordinary. Jim Plunkett (http://www.stanfordalumni.org/. "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. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. Jim Plunkett was a football quarterback for Stanford University from 1968-1970. For his career, Plunkett completed 1,943-of-3,701 passes for 25,882 yards with 164 touchdowns and 198 interceptions. Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. . The first time he demonstrated athletic promise was at the age of 14, when he won a throwing contest with a toss of over 60 yards. And then there's family. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. 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. The Oakland Raiders have had a total of 25 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including players, executives, and coaches. She's 67 now and I don't think she went to any of the Raider games last year. His final seasons in a backup role included the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. "I got so many great letters. His career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. His father died of a heart problem in 1969. 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. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. He played for the Patriots for four seasons, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. He played quarterback on the schools football team and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 North Coast Section championship game. With a career total offense of 7,887 yards, including passing for 7,544, Plunkett set an NCAA record. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. His performance led to Plunkett playing in a state all-star game and that in turn led to interest from numerous colleges. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. Plunkett was the first player of Hispanic heritage to be drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. They rallied around him and he just rose to the occasion, making big plays in big games.. In 1970, he led Stanford to a 9-3 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against mighty Ohio State. He was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. Physically and mentally, I was not in the best shape. With all the obstacles he went through, Jim never quit. This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. 1 Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl. 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. The coaches realized everything had to be different, and they happened to discover the difference maker. Stanford, California 94305. . Passing. Other quarterbacks who started for two Super Bowl winning teams but are not yet members of the Hall of Fame include Joe Gibbs Washington Redskins (Mark Rypien and Doug Williams), Tom Flores Oakland Raiders (Jim Plunkett), and Warren Moons San Francisco 49ers (Don Maynard). Plunkett went on to an NFL career that included two Super Bowl victories while quarterbacking the Raiders, but also included years of physical trauma that left him hobbled and in near constant pain. Visitors, teachers, students, and MY HERO staff publish all kinds of stories, from inspirational essays about a close friend, to important global issues. That's where he was a leader. He competed in basketball, baseball, track and wrestling - earning a California High School Individual Wrestling Championship. As a boy, Jim always dreamed of being in the NFL. I like that. 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. "I wasn't an in-your-face guy." His parents were blind from the start. Friends helped talk him out of retiring and, two weeks later, he signed with the Raiders. [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. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". Yasmine Sherif, who leads Education Cannot Wait, a UN-hosted, global fund for education in emergencies. It seems to me that Jim has a lot of courage because he played even when he was injured or in pain. 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. 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. I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. If Plunkett was a leading passer, he was also a sentimental favorite. Still, he remains active at Stanford, regularly attending events on campus and raising money for athletic scholarships through his annual charity golf tournament. 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. 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. They later moved to San Jose where William ran a newsstand, and where they were able to find low-cost housing. From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. His parents were both blind. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. His father, William, was legally blind and worked as a news vendor. Plunkett's pro career started promisingly after the New England Patriots made him the No. Plunkett received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Roger Staubach in 1981. The most celebrated player in Stanford football history came from just down the road, and a world away. He is estimated to be worth $10 million, with the majority of his money coming from his NFL career. Accepting Ongoing Submissions! Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. AGI 74. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. Upon entering Stanford University, Plunkett endured a rough freshman campaign after being weakened by a thyroid operation. Two forgettable seasons with the San Francisco 49ers were followed by two fruitless years with the Raiders, who plucked him from the NFL scrapheap but buried him on the bench. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". 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. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. "I worried more about Stanford being good enough for Jim Plunkett," he says. Two weeks before the Patriots defeated the Colts, Plunkett engineered a 3413 victory over the Dolphins. Browse and share audio in our library. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. And in three of the four seasons before Plunkett's emergence, Stanford had gone 5-5. . Ball Carrier. He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. 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. 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. His successful junior campaign saw him set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786). 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 parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. They also helped Carmen with cooking and other household chores. The year before, he was selected first overall in the draft, becoming the first Hispanic player to do so. For example, he once damaged his shoulder, but he kept on playing. 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 . Jim Plunketts story is something out of a movie, and he has his rightful place in history, but he is not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Every single one of the teams tenures has resulted in a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro selection, and the tenure has been disastrous. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV.

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