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He was a star quarterback in high school, and went on to play for Stanford University. 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). Oklahoma's Chuck Fairbanks replaced John Mazur as Patriots coach in 1973 and installed an offense that had Plunkett running some option plays and continuing to take a beating. 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. 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. This display of offensive firepower led Washington State coach Jim Sweeney to call Plunkett "The best college football player I've ever seen." Submit your film TODAY!! Ball Carrier. 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. Playing for the Oakland Raiders, Pastorini broke his shinbone and cartilage in his knee. New York, NY, 10006. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. His father was born legally blind but, with thick enough glasses, could get around, even serving as the cook of the family. Browse, share, and add to our enormous collection of inspiring hero films. Despite his lack of fame, his contributions will not go unnoticed. His parents were blind, and he chose nearby Stanford so he could be near them. ''My mother had her vision until she was about 20, but then she had an illness, scarlet fever I think it was. jim plunkett parents blind But more than most athletes, he understands perspective. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. The nice thing now is that with the money I'm making, she has no financial problems. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. Jim Plunkett, Class: Induction: 1990 Sport(s): - Position: Quarterback Years: 1968-1970 Place of Birth: Santa Clara, CA Date of Birth: Dec 05, 1947 Jersey . Surgery for a benign tumor in his neck in August 1966 slowed him physically and academically during his first year at Stanford. Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. ''She also went to some of the Stanford games in Palo Alto,'' he said. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. 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. He was the first of three children born to James and Geraldine Plunkett. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Prominent among the photos and memorabilia is a famous trophy depicting a football player in a classic stiff-arm pose. I like that. PAC 81. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He could see a little bit. 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. 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. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. [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. William was legally blind and worked as a news vendor, in addition to working as a news vendor. Professionally created material to help you get started in hero film making! In the "Year of the Quarterback," he was voted the Heisman Trophy, easily beating out Notre Dame's Joe Theismann and Mississippi's Archie Manning. Jim Plunkett (born James William Plunkett, Jr. on December 5, 1947) was a U.S. football player. 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. 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. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . His father died of a heart problem in 1969. But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. Health Scare Nearly Ends Plunkett's College Career He also shined the light back on everybody else.". He is valued at Stanford not only for his academic achievements, but also for his humility and commitment as a student from the very beginning. '', See the article in its original context from. The surgery required to remove a malignant tumor would end his football playing days. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best . Rust didn't hesitate: We will honor your scholarship, he said. 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). And we've known that we're there for each other.". They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. His successful junior campaign saw him set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786). In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. [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. His father, William, was legally blind and worked as a news vendor. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. Ken Stabler won one Super Bowl championship as Ken Stabler played Sloth in The Goonies. John Matuszak portrayed him in the film. Were jim plunkett's parents blind? Explained by FAQ Blog With a Super Bowl MVP in hand, Plunkett's comeback season was complete. ''Especially in the parks,'' he recalled. 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. In 1971, he was drafted by the New England Patriots, and he went on to have a successful career in the NFL. For example, he once damaged his shoulder, but he kept on playing. "I'm proud of that game," Plunkett said of Oakland's 27-10 victory over Philadelphia. His parents were blind from the start. He achieved his greatest professional success during his final eight seasons with the Raiders franchise, whom he led to two Super Bowl titles.[1]. JIM PLUNKETT is on a roll. 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. Jim Plunkett - Heisman I remember them saying that they weren't handicapped, that they could do just about anything except see. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. Our type of system was almost perfect for Jim, Flores says. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. When starting quarterback Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg early in the 1980 season, Plunkett stepped in and led the Raiders all the way to a 27-10 Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, throwing three TD passes and becoming the game's most valuable player. Jim Plunkett arrived with other young playersJack Lasater, Bob Moore, Jack Schultzwho, like him, felt the pangs of being an outsider. He is the son of Native American and Hispanic parents. 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. They rallied around him and he just rose to the occasion, making big plays in big games.. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. After that, she was totally blind. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. Heart of a Legend | STANFORD magazine Jim Plunkett - Biography It was very hard to swallow. He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. ACC 77. Early life []. Resisting the temptation to turn pro in 1970, Plunkett stayed for his senior season. [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. . 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. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind. 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. Biography. ''During those two years when I didn't play, it was tough for me,'' he said, ''but I was able to put it in perspective.'' Yasmine Sherif, who leads Education Cannot Wait, a UN-hosted, global fund for education in emergencies. He did not like the area he lived in, often did not have money for dates, and avoided bringing friends to his house. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. 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. ''One parent always was taking care of the other. While working as a news vendor, his father, William, was legally blind. 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. 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 Plunkett played 15 NFL seasons, but his eight years with the Raiders defined his career. ''I'd go there and help him,'' Jim Plunkett said. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. 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. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. Jim Plunkett Bio - affair, married, spouse, salary, net worth, bio 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 . Still, he remains active at Stanford, regularly attending events on campus and raising money for athletic scholarships through his annual charity golf tournament. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 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. 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 a good student and an excellent athlete. In college, however, Jim won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to the Rose bowl. After two seasons as a backup to Ken Stabler, Plunkett opened the 1980 season backing up newcomer Dan Pastorini, whod been acquired in a trade for Stabler. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them.