The second title came after more struggles, after losing his starting job to Wilson and then regaining it after Wilson was injured. Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. Jim Plunkett arrived with other young playersJack Lasater, Bob Moore, Jack Schultzwho, like him, felt the pangs of being an outsider. Carmen was also of Native American ancestry. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. It proved to be one of the most astute decisions made by the Raiders oft-criticized owner. 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. For years he has opened the guesthouse at his Atherton home to Stanford athletes ex-quarterback Tavita Pritchard, '10, is the current resident. His reputation was severely hampered by his shadow, and he was ignored andunderappreciated. His final seasons in a backup role included the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. Still, he remains active at Stanford, regularly attending events on campus and raising money for athletic scholarships through his annual charity golf tournament. 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. He was born to a blind mother and father.. RUN 80. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. Jim Plunkett is a remarkable man who has overcome many obstacles in his life. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities! DAC 79. Click here to donate. Jim was born in San Jose, California, in 1948. 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. "They'd never faced a passing team such as ours," he said. Jim was out of football for two years, before being signed by the Oakland Raiders in 1979. Born to blind Mexican-American parents, Jim Plunkett beat the odds to make a name for himself. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. What happened to Hart was not unintended. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. "I was extremely quiet when I got to Stanford," acknowledges Plunkett. The next year he was, to San Francisco. As he grew up, Jim learned how to be his parent's "eyes" by helping them cross the street. 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. And while he is a celebrity, he is hoping to complete a pass at the Raiders' treasury for a new contract that might double his $180,000 annual salary. Plunkett spent most of the 19841986 seasons either injured or as a backup, and missed the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. ACC 77. Then followed three sensational seasons at Stanford, culminating with the 1970 Heisman Trophy. And our father would tell us to take care of our mother. He was sacked six times in one game at Pittsburgh, on his way to 97 sacks over three seasons (1972-74). Plunkett was born to Mexican-American parents with an Irish-German grandfather on his paternal side. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Three years later, Plunkett helped Oakland to another Super Bowl triumph, this one over Washington. ''I'd go there and help him,'' Jim Plunkett said. That year he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. Its still hard for me to talk about it, Plunkett says during a phone interview, his voice catching. Anyone can read what you share. Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. They were too busy taking care of my sisters and me. Rust, now 82, remembers making that promise impulsively, confident that Stanford would back him up. Jim got cut after everyone called him washed up. Then, in 1980, he was picked up by the Oakland Raiders and led them to the Super Bowl. Leading James Lick High School in San Jose to an unbeaten season as a senior, he was chosen for a state all-star game and was heavily recruited by colleges. Jims son jumped from a high-rise apartment building four years ago while suffering from severe manic depression. Since 1995, The MY HERO Project has been using media, art and technology to celebrate the best of humanity. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Was he a child, a teen, or an adult?Bonus 100 pts: How old was he exactly? And suddenly, from near-oblivion, a rise again to the top as 1981 Super Bowl MVP. Also Read: Mike Golic It was very hard to swallow. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. Jim was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. . Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 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. I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. 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. He was named the NFLs Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. His career began as a backup to Plunkett but he was never able to establish himself as a starter. Its a stark contrast to 1980, when Plunkett longed to leave Oakland in hopes of reinvigorating a fading career. UCLA coach Tommy Prothro had called Plunkett the "best pro quarterback prospect I've ever seen", echoing Sweeney's words from the year prior. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Friends helped talk him out of retiring and, two weeks later, he signed with the Raiders. 3 quarterback, Plunkett didn't play in 1978. He is an inspiration to all who know him. Released from the 49ers after suffering further injuries, Plunkett signed with the Oakland Raiders for 1978. Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. He set a new Pacific 8 record with 2,156 yards passing and 14 touchdown passes in his first season as a Stanford quarterback. '', His mother attended the 1971 Rose Bowl game that Stanford won, 27-17, from Ohio State. . "He was on my shoulder the whole time," Moore recalls. Early life []. ", I got so many great letters. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. ''One parent always was taking care of the other. When my room was a mess, my mother always knew. [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. These days, Plunkett and wife Gerry still live in the Bay Area, in Atherton, about a five-minute drive from Stanford. "I really thought I was going to be the savior," Plunkett said, "but all I did was put more pressure on myself.". His mother then took a job as a bank teller to support the family. Jim Plunkett was the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories in the 1980s. Plunkett didn't stop there. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. My mother would tell us kids to take care of our father. ''Especially in the parks,'' he recalled. His parents were blind from the start. From the Americans WhoTell the Truth portrait series. ''I tell people that one of the things that always annoyed my parents was having others thinking they were handicapped. When the dog began to display some nervous aggression, Meghan despaired. 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. James William Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. Plunkett, Lasater and Schultz were there with friends and other former teammates before the Wake Forest game in September, reveling in the juiciest memories. [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. (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. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. ", Each former teammate, it seems, has a singular piece of lore. Plunkett's performance startled almost everyone as he completed 11-of-14 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions as Oakland defeated San Diego 38-24. 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. "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. 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. He played for the Patriots for four seasons, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. The day Plunkett threw a football 80. He sat out all of 1987 with a shoulder injury and his NFL career ended in the 1988 preseason when, at 40, the Raiders released him. He gives of his time, his energy, his money, and he's got a genuine humility. In 1983, Marc Wilson was the Raiders starter who went down hurt, and Plunkett again came off the bench, and again spurred the team to a Super Bowl championship, a 38-9 trouncing of the Washington Redskins. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. He even spent two seasons on the bench with the Raiders. His father was a police officer and his mother was a homemaker. It was never "just football" to them, Schultz remembers. He was tall in the pocket, very powerful, a strong leader. ", Plunkett, shy and modest, took a different view: "I wanted the Heisman, but my whole life wasn't centered on it.". After that, she was totally blind. Plunketts Stanford career nearly ended before it began. "I don't know where I would have gone," Plunkett says, "but I would have transferred. Completed artwork should reflect thoughtful ideas to show how the selected hero demonstrates heroic action and creates positive social change. During his five seasons with the Pats, he was 23-38, completed 48.5% of his passes, threw 62 touchdown passes, and had 87 interception returns. He competed in basketball, baseball, track and wrestling - earning a California High School Individual Wrestling Championship. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. Since Jim Plunkett's parents were blind, he worked a lot of his early years cleaning up gas stations. If Plunkett was a leading passer, he was also a sentimental favorite. 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. Had they insisted on it, the number of Heisman Trophy winners at Stanford would still be zero. 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. Jim also had two sisters. With all the obstacles he went through, Jim never quit. 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. His mother, Carmen, had not seen the outside world since she was 19 years old due to typhoid. ''So if I had quit, she probably would have liked that. ''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. Learn more about select judges in the MY HERO International Film Festival. His mind only replays moments; his body replays every minute of damage. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. However, the tumor turned out to be benign and Plunkett was given a clean bill of health. Later in his career, the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. He was a hard-knocks kid from San Jose, a Mexican-American with an Irish surname, who gravitated to Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. And he ended up an emblem of individual and shared achievement on a team that's linked forever by one revered season. '', When he and his mother, Carmen, took walks, he would describe the scenery to her. The Oakland Raiders have had a total of 25 members inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including players, executives, and coaches. 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. Accepting Ongoing Submissions! 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. 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). The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. . What John Sande, '71, the team's center, remembers is a sound. Life, it seems, has been a struggle for Plunkett. The High Unemployment Rate Among Deaf People In Burundi. '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. "Our daughter was very upset; she didn't want to feel she was letting Jimmy down," says Plunkett. ''But growing up, I didn't feel like I had to take care of either my father or my mother. Jim Plunkett, on the other hand, is well known as one of the most absent Raider. 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. CAR 70. The once-reticent Plunkett does Raiders postgame radio interviews and a weekly TV highlights show and gives corporate speeches. 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. Friends and family, meanwhile, wonder why the Pro Football Hall of Fame has snubbed him. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio . With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. Plunkett was the first player of Hispanic heritage to be drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. A Heisman Trophy winner and future College Football Hall of Fame inductee at Stanford,[2] Plunkett was selected first overall by the New England Patriots in the 1971 NFL Draft. The world's most inspirational film competeition because of YOU. 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. Despite this, Hart has largely been overlooked, despite his role in the Raiders organization. TUP 83. For example, he once damaged his shoulder, but he kept on playing. It's the trudge that comes from aching knees, although they've been better since he had bone and cartilage replaced with titanium and Teflon a couple of years ago. He passed for 18 touchdowns and 2,299 yards during the season, guiding the Raiders to nine victories in their last 11 games and a wild-card spot in the playoffs. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. ", In 2009, Jim, Gerry and their daughter, Meghan, filmed an episode of the TV program Dog Whisperer (scheduled to air in October 2010) featuring the pit bull, Gotti, that had belonged to Jimmy. 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. . He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. Jim Plunkett (http://www.stanfordalumni.org/. But in a Stanford timeline, the ultimate demarcation is Before Plunkett and After Plunkett. 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 . He played for the New England patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in addition to the 49ers.

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