Jim Plunkett facts for kids
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Plunkett in 2018
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| No. 16 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
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| Born: | December 5, 1947 San Jose, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | William C. Overfelt (San Jose, California) James Lick (San Jose, California) |
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| College: | Stanford (1968–1970) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1971 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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James "Jim" William Plunkett (born December 5, 1947) is a famous American football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. Jim is best known for leading the Raiders to two amazing Super Bowl victories.
He played college football for the Stanford Indians. There, he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1970. The New England Patriots chose him as the very first pick in the 1971 NFL draft. After playing for the Patriots and San Francisco 49ers, Plunkett joined the Oakland Raiders in 1978.
Jim started as a backup quarterback for the Raiders. But in 1980, he became the main starter and led them to win Super Bowl XV. He was even named the MVP for that game! In 1983, Jim helped the Los Angeles Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII. He is the only quarterback with two Super Bowl wins as a starter not yet in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Contents
Jim Plunkett's Early Life & Challenges
Jim Plunkett was born on December 5, 1947. His parents were Mexican-American. His father had some Irish and German family history too. Jim's father worked as a news vendor. He also had a vision problem and had to support his wife, who was blind, and their three children.
Jim's parents were from New Mexico. His mother, Carmen, was born in Santa Fe. His father, William, was born in Albuquerque. Carmen also had Native American family roots.
The Plunkett family moved to California during World War II. They lived in San Jose, where Jim's father ran a newsstand. The family faced tough times financially. Jim learned to work hard from a young age. He delivered newspapers and worked at a gas station. He also helped his mother with chores at home.
High School Football Star
Jim went to William C. Overfelt High School and then James Lick High School. Both schools are in San Jose, California. When he was 14, Jim showed his strong arm by winning a throwing contest. He threw the football over 60 yards!
In high school, he played quarterback and defensive end on the football team. He also played basketball, baseball, track, and even wrestling. He won a California High School Individual Wrestling Championship. Jim Plunkett is honored on the Hall of Fame wall at James Lick High School.
Jim Plunkett's College Football Journey
Jim went to Stanford University. His first year was a bit tough after a medical procedure. His coach, John Ralston, thought about moving him to defensive end. But Jim really wanted to be a quarterback. He practiced throwing hundreds of passes every day to get better.
In 1968, he got his chance to start. In his first game, he threw for 277 yards and four touchdowns! He never lost his starting spot after that. Jim's playing style helped bring in a new era of exciting passing offenses in college football.
Setting Records and Winning Awards
In his junior year, Jim set new records for touchdown passes (20) and passing yards (2,673). A coach from Washington State University called him "The best college football player I've ever seen."
In his senior year (1970), Jim led Stanford to a conference championship. They also made it to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1952. Stanford won the game 27–17 against the strong Ohio State Buckeyes team.
Jim threw for 2,715 yards and 18 touchdowns that year. He also scored three rushing touchdowns. For his amazing performance, he won the 1970 Heisman Trophy. He was the first Latino player to win this award. Jim also won the Maxwell Award and was named player of the year by several sports organizations.
Jim Plunkett's Professional Career in the NFL
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Coaches believed Jim Plunkett was a top prospect for professional football. His strong arm and accurate passes were perfect for the NFL's passing game. In 1971, the New England Patriots picked him as the first overall player in the NFL draft. He was the first player of Hispanic heritage to be drafted first overall.
The Patriots finished the 1971 season with a 6–8 record. Jim's first game was a 20–6 win against the Oakland Raiders. He even threw an 88-yard touchdown pass in a game against the Baltimore Colts. This helped the Miami Dolphins win their division.
Moving Teams and Overcoming Injuries
Jim continued to play well for the Patriots. In 1973, he was second in the NFL in passing yards. In 1974, the Patriots started strong with a 6–1 record. But Jim got a shoulder injury in 1975. This led to a new rookie quarterback, Steve Grogan, getting more playing time.
Before the 1976 NFL draft, Jim was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He led the 49ers to a 6–1 start, but they finished the season 8–6. After another tough season in 1977, the 49ers released him in 1978.
Raiders Success: Two Super Bowl Wins
Jim joined the Oakland Raiders in 1978 as a backup quarterback. In 1980, the starting quarterback, Dan Pastorini, got hurt. Jim, who was 32 years old, stepped in. Even though his first game back was tough, the Raiders trusted him.
Jim led the Raiders to nine wins in eleven games. They made it to the playoffs as a wild card team. Jim then led the Raiders to four playoff victories, including a win in Super Bowl XV. They beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27–10. Jim threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, earning him the MVP award for the game. He became the first minority quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Later, the Raiders moved to Los Angeles. In 1983, Jim became the starter again after another injury to Marc Wilson. He led the Los Angeles Raiders to Super Bowl XVIII. They defeated the Washington Redskins 38–9. Jim completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in that game.
Jim continued to play for the Raiders until 1986. He faced more injuries during these years. He retired in 1988. Jim holds the Raiders' record for the longest career pass, a 99-yard touchdown pass. He is also the only NFL quarterback to win two Super Bowls with the same team in different cities (Oakland and Los Angeles).
Jim Plunkett's NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Super Bowl MVP | |
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Lng | Rtg | ||
| 1971 | NE | 14 | 14 | 6–8 | 158 | 328 | 48.2 | 2,158 | 6.6 | 19 | 16 | 88 | 68.6 |
| 1972 | NE | 14 | 14 | 3–11 | 169 | 355 | 47.6 | 2,196 | 6.2 | 8 | 25 | 62 | 45.7 |
| 1973 | NE | 14 | 14 | 5–9 | 193 | 376 | 51.3 | 2,550 | 6.8 | 13 | 17 | 64 | 65.8 |
| 1974 | NE | 14 | 14 | 7–7 | 173 | 352 | 49.1 | 2,457 | 7.0 | 19 | 22 | 69 | 64.1 |
| 1975 | NE | 5 | 5 | 2–3 | 36 | 92 | 39.1 | 571 | 6.2 | 3 | 7 | 76 | 39.7 |
| 1976 | SF | 12 | 12 | 6–6 | 126 | 243 | 51.9 | 1,592 | 6.6 | 13 | 16 | 85 | 63.0 |
| 1977 | SF | 14 | 14 | 5–9 | 128 | 248 | 51.6 | 1,693 | 6.8 | 9 | 14 | 47 | 62.1 |
| 1979 | OAK | 4 | 0 | — | 7 | 15 | 46.7 | 89 | 5.9 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 60.1 |
| 1980 | OAK | 13 | 11 | 9–2 | 165 | 320 | 51.6 | 2,299 | 7.2 | 18 | 16 | 86 | 72.9 |
| 1981 | OAK | 9 | 7 | 2–5 | 94 | 179 | 52.5 | 1,045 | 5.8 | 4 | 9 | 42 | 56.7 |
| 1982 | RAI | 9 | 9 | 8–1 | 152 | 261 | 58.2 | 2,035 | 7.8 | 14 | 15 | 52 | 77.0 |
| 1983 | RAI | 14 | 13 | 10–3 | 230 | 379 | 60.7 | 2,935 | 7.7 | 20 | 18 | 99 | 82.7 |
| 1984 | RAI | 8 | 6 | 5–1 | 108 | 198 | 54.5 | 1,473 | 7.4 | 6 | 10 | 73 | 67.6 |
| 1985 | RAI | 3 | 3 | 1–2 | 71 | 103 | 68.9 | 803 | 7.8 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 89.6 |
| 1986 | RAI | 10 | 8 | 3–5 | 133 | 252 | 52.8 | 1,986 | 7.9 | 14 | 9 | 81 | 82.5 |
| Career | 157 | 144 | 72–72 | 1,943 | 3,701 | 52.5 | 25,882 | 7.0 | 164 | 198 | 99 | 67.5 | |
Hall of Fame Recognition
People often discuss whether Jim Plunkett should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Supporters point to his two Super Bowl wins and his Super Bowl MVP award. They also highlight the personal challenges he overcame. Those who disagree often mention his overall career statistics and that he didn't make any Pro Bowl teams.
Jim Plunkett was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990. He also joined the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. These honors recognize his amazing college and professional football careers.
See Also
In Spanish: Jim Plunkett para niños
- Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
- California Sports Hall of Fame
- List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders
- List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders
