jim plunkett parents blind
Jim Plunkett, 74, was a former American football quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Packers and the Houston Texans. ACC 77. 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. Once in the press box, he growls "lousy" when asked how he's feeling. What was Jim Plunkett childhood like? He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. It hasn't all been laughs. 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. After a 59 season in 1977, the 49ers released him during the 1978 preseason. Our gallery features art in the theme of heroism. 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. 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 . Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. He also owns a beer distributorship. 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. He is the only eligible quarterback with two Super Bowl wins as a starter not to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His father, who was of Irish descent, passed away when Plunkett was just nine years old. Two years after that, Pastorinis injury gave Plunkett the opportunity hed long awaited. He's still connected to the Raiders. The Truth About Johnny Cash: Was The Country Legend Tone Deaf? But sometimes she would get too nervous to enjoy it. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. He played for the Patriots for four seasons, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. Poor Jim Plunkett. The USC game fell halfway into that 1970 season. "You got the look from Jim," recalls Vataha, a wide receiver, "and the look was not comfortable. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft and went on to have a successful career in the league. What made it hard for Jim to grow up? He was the starting quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal from 1968 to 1970. In junior high school, he became a passing quarterback. 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. Plunkett, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, rejected the idea, and Ralston redshirted him in 1967. The family lived in relative poverty, and received state financial aid. Plunkett is on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick. Jim continued to play for the Raiders until his retirement in 1986. In 1971, he was drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft by the New England Patriots (the team was still known as the Boston Patriots at the time of the draft; the name change to New England did not become official until March 21 of that year). 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. ''My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around.He. Is it a person who sells newspapers or a company that makes newspapers?, Name 2 other sports that Jim played. Stanford went 22-8-2 in his three years, and he said his best game was a 27-17 victory over Ohio . It took a lot of courage to get there. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. He led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1981. 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. As a boy, Jim always dreamed of being in the NFL. After having both knees replaced a few years ago, he says, Im in less pain. The next year he was, to San Francisco. Jim also had two sisters. He retired after undergoing 18 surgical procedures during his playing days. Five mostly difficult seasons in New England followed, preceding a trade to the 49ers and, in 1978, Plunketts outright release. 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. The world's most inspirational film competeition because of YOU. Plunkett, by then a star with growing national acclaim, threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Moore to key a 24-14 victory, Stanford's first over the Trojans in 13 years. The year before, he was selected first overall in the draft, becoming the first Hispanic player to do so. After that, she was totally blind. Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center . '', His father died at age 56 after Jim Plunkett's sophomore year at Stanford. She's 67 now and I don't think she went to any of the Raider games last year. Two weeks later, Stanford beat UCLA for the first time in eight years. In the family's home, one room is dedicated to Plunkett's accomplishments. Accepting Ongoing Submissions! 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. James William "Jim" Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a former American football quarterback who played college football . The second title came after more struggles, after losing his starting job to Wilson and then regaining it after Wilson was injured. 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. Plunkett's Stanford career nearly ended before it began. Although Plunkett passed for 19 touchdowns and led the Pats to a 7-7 record in 1974, injuries mounted. The next season, he threw only 15 passes. 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. "Many people felt I was washed up, and I wasn't sure they were wrong. After all, the quarterback Jim Plunkett replaced early last season, Dan Pastorini, made nearly $360,000. In the spring, his daughter, Meghan Plunkett, graduated with a business and marketing degree from Manhattan College in New York, which she attended on a volleyball scholarship. Jim Plunkett is the story of a three-year NFL career that was filled with busts. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett won by a wide margin. "When I found out I'd finished second to Jim," said Theismann in 1984, "I was genuinely crushed. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. Plunkett was the only quarterback who led his team to two Super Bowl victories, and he is the only starter to lead his team to two Super Bowl victories but is not eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. No rushing or total offense stats currently available for Plunkett. But he taught us a new meaning to the word temperament as we rode his success. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 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. . A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. General. New York, NY, 10006. Before family and friends in Northern California, Plunkett had two inconsistent years with the 49ers and then was released before the 1978 season. As White notes, the Stanford coaching staff had learned football as mostly an exercise in running the ball. The Raiders have never made the Pro Bowl or the All-Pro team, and everything they have done since the inception has been bad. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. 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. ''If they wanted to go somewhere, they went. 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. 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 earned the opportunity to start in 1968, and in his first game, completed ten of thirteen passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns, and never relinquished his hold on the starting spot. (Photo: Bettmann/Corbis), THE HOME TEAM: Gerry and Meghan with Jim at their Atherton residence. "Years of getting my butt kicked," Plunkett says. [9], The Plunketts moved to California during World War II. 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. Once he arrived at the school, he played quarterback and defensive end for the football team. Back-to-back winning seasons had been blemished by key losses, and they were down to their last chance to win a championship. 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. Then followed three sensational seasons at Stanford, culminating with the 1970 Heisman Trophy. He could have graduated the previous June, skipped his remaining year of He was regarded as a bust after being released by the 49ers in 2010. At 30, Plunkett considered quitting, but two weeks later the Raiders' Davis signed him to a three-year contract for a total of $465,000. 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. 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. [10], When Jim was growing up, the family's financial situation was a big problem for him. My father, and later on my sisters, prepared most of the meals. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius, and his ethnicity is white, making him an American by nationality. THP 86. . From the spoken words of influential leaders, to emotionally powerful lyrics in a song, heroic audio is all around us. The 1971 Rose Bowl is regarded as the period when Stanford football returned to prominence. "I'd never known anybody could throw a football so hard it whistled until Jim did it. ", Plunkett, shy and modest, took a different view: "I wanted the Heisman, but my whole life wasn't centered on it.". In a call with Rod Rust, the assistant coach who had recruited him, Plunkett relayed his fears. MAC 76. Nothing got draped over the Heisman. His dad sold newspapers at a corner stand in San Jose, right outside San Francisco. '', William Plunkett had a news stand in San Jose, Calif., at first in the Post Office building, later in the Unemployment Office. While working as a news vendor, his father, William, was legally blind. JIM PLUNKETT is on a roll. Learn more here. PAC 81. She has high blood pressure. "The team was full of an awful lot of talented guys as well as egos," says Schultz, who was a strong safety. Jim Plunkett set records all three years he quarterbacked Stanford. Plunkett's parents were both born in New Mexico, both Mexican Americans; his mother, whose maiden name was Carmen Blea, was born in Santa . 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. His parents were poor and blind, but they were very proud. Some of them said my story gave them a new sense of purpose in life. Its a stark contrast to 1980, when Plunkett longed to leave Oakland in hopes of reinvigorating a fading career. Stanford, CA 94305-6105. He spent 12 years in the NFL, beginning with the Philadelphia 76ers and continuing with the Washington Redskins, Oakland As, and Philadelphia 76ers. William Plunkett first worked in the Richmond shipyards. 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. A doctor discovered a thyroid tumor, which nearly ended his college career. He played quarterback on the schools football team and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 North Coast Section championship game. "We socialize together, we do business together, and we tell lies together about how great we used to be.". Andrew Luck, a rising star in the NFL, has established himself as one of the leagues best quarterbacks. From 1984-86, Plunkett made only 17 starts, mostly because of injury. 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. 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. Today, he carries the various hurts he has sufferedphysical and emotionalgamely. His parents were blind from the start. Plunkett was also selected first overall in the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He didn't want her to get burned on the stove.''. 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. Former Raider and Stanford star quarterback Jim Plunkett of Atherton wasn't too pleased with that last one. (Photo: Timothy Archibald), BAND OF BROTHERS: With Jack Lasater, Randy Vataha, Bob Murphy and Jack Schultz. Sometimes the measure of a hero isnt that he did something amazing, but that he inspires many people. His performance led to Plunkett playing in a state all-star game and that in turn led to interest from numerous colleges. Plunkett was selected by the New England Patriots as the number one overall draft choice in 1971. Or if they wanted to clean the house, they cleaned the house. STR 59. View winning films from the MY HERO International Film Festival! He would have been so proud to have been around all that. Jim was born in 1946, and was their only child. 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. "We're as close as any group of guys can be," says Plunkett. Then he threw for 261 yards again in the Super Bowl. [9] 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. Jim Plunketts story is told in a film, and its a fascinating look at American football history. 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. Wins over Oregon State and Washington nailed down the Pac-8 title and a January 1 Rose Bowl berth. Jim and his sisters learned to work hard and do things for themselves as they grew up. But Plunkett suffered a left shoulder separation early in the 1975 season, giving rookie Steve Grogan, who would become a fixture with the club for 16 seasons, extensive experience, and under the leadership of coach Chuck Fairbanks, New England's offense became more run-oriented, led by Sam Cunningham. (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. Jim Plunkett was born in San Francisco, California, on December 5, 1947. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. [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. He is the only eligible two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has not been voted in. Randy Vataha had the same misgivings when he transferred in as a junior. 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. '', Jim Plunkett works for the Peninsula Center for the Blind in the San Jose area. "People had read about my parents, about my family life growing up," says Plunkett, his voice catching. Teammates never doubted who was in command if they didn't do their jobs. 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. I never wanted to worry them unnecessarily. 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. Jack and Aletha were determined to give Jim a normal life, and he attended public schools and played sports. Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970. "We've all tasted what life has to deliver," says Schultz. 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. Plunkett didn't stop there. [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. Jim was out of football for two years, before being signed by the Oakland Raiders in 1979. But I have a terrible back and my left shoulder really doesnt work too well.. Finally, after Pastorini suffered a broken leg in early October, Plunkett was pressed into service. Learn more about select judges in the MY HERO International Film Festival. Harbaugh, who has a reverence for football tradition, is emphatic about Plunkett's identity now. Despite his lack of fame, his contributions will not go unnoticed. 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. RUN 80. However, the tumor turned out to be benign and Plunkett was given a clean bill of health. But Plunkett was the face of the team's success, that strong chin like a pointer for his powerful arm. 3 quarterback, Plunkett didn't play in 1978. I took a tough road to get where I finally got.. In his high school years, he worked during the summer.[11]. '', During his two years in oblivion, his mother was more concerned about him than his career. And if I left some clothes on the floor, she would step on them and find out. He grew up in Santa Clara before the family sought less-expensive housing in San Jose. "We came so close to making an unbelievably catastrophic decision. Jim Plunkett - Biography Biography Plunkett was born to Mexican American parents with an Irish-German great-grandfather on his paternal side. After returning to the backup role in 1983, Plunkett again assumed starting duties, this time after an injury to Marc Wilson. Plunkett's father was a news vendor afflicted with progressive blindness, who had to support his blind wife along with their three children. In his first game as a starter, he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. Even Plunkett's buddies underestimated him occasionally. 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. 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. William Plunkett ran a newsstand in San Jose, but struggled to care for his wife . Plunkett led the 49ers to a 61 start before faltering to an 86 record. Only his family means more, and even in that context, there is a special rapport. Later in his career, the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille. It had been anything but a happy Bay Area homecoming for the rifle-armed quarterback who first gained widespread notice at San Jose James Lick High. His mother, Carmen, was sightless since . But as far as shes concerned, its still a work in progress. 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. ''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. 111 Broadway, Suite 103A They rallied around him and he just rose to the occasion, making big plays in big games.. Watch our short introduction video for more information. Rust, now 82, remembers making that promise impulsively, confident that Stanford would back him up. He is an inspiration to all who know him. Plunkett threw for 2,935 yards, 20 touchdown passes, and 18 picks in that season. As a result, he was raised by his mother who worked as a secretary to support the family. His successful junior campaign saw him set league records for touchdown passes (20), passing yards (2,673) and total offense (2,786). He became the starting quarterback for the Raiders midway through the 1980 season. He led the team to a Pac-8 Conference championship and a berth in the 1971 Rose Bowl. '', When he and his mother, Carmen, took walks, he would describe the scenery to her. Playing for a traditionally mediocre program on the West Coast, Plunkett was a long-shot Heisman candidate compared to the other favorites: quarterbacks Archie Manning of Mississippi and Joe Theismann of Notre Dame. They met while attending the California School for the Blind in Berkeley, and were married in 1934. She always knew. Haz clic aqu para leer la historia sobre Jim Plunkett en espaol. Prior to retiring, he earned between $400,000 and $600,000 per year. "The show became kind of a tribute to him.". He also sits on the board at the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Palo Alto, supporting a cause close to his heart. He did radio and television interviews after retiring from football, as well as weekly highlights shows on television, following his playing days. He was a quarterback, although the coaches weren't so sure he should be. He wasnt selected to the Pro Bowl, never made the All-Pro team, and completed less than half of his passes. He received several accolades during his career, including the only Heisman Trophy (1970) in school history. Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild card. The Northern California native, who was born to blind parents, chose Stanford University to remain close to them. He played in two Super Bowls and was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XV. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett had won by a wide margin. His father William died of a heart attack in 1969. Browse our About Page to get quick overviews of the different areas of MY HERO. It's another thread of allegiance in a life emblazoned by attachments formed under exceptional circumstances. But his stellar performances week after week, as well as a bootstrapped marketing campaign by the athletic department (see sidebar), increased Plunkett's visibility. A former rhythmic gymnastics powerhouseand current Stanford sophomoreexplains why shes OK with how things turned out.
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