Jim Plunkett

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Plunkett's path to immortality began at Stanford University, where he became the first Latino to win the Heisman Trophy in 1970. As a senior, he led the Indians to a 27–17 upset of undefeated Ohio State in their first Rose Bowl appearance in nineteen years, completing eighteen passing and three rushing touchdowns for 2,715 yards. Despite being drafted first overall by the Patriots in 1971, his early NFL tenure was marred by injury; a left shoulder separation in 1975 shortened his season before he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. After two years in San Francisco, injuries forced his release, leading him to sign with the Oakland Raiders in 1978 as a backup. His career turned five weeks into the 1980 season when starter Dan Pastorini fractured his leg against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although Plunkett threw five interceptions in that relief appearance, he took over as starter for the remainder of the year, guiding Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and four playoff wins.

In Their Own Story

The defining moments of Plunkett's career unfolded on the biggest stages. In Super Bowl XV against the Philadelphia Eagles, Plunkett completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions in his first game as a starter that season. He threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns, earning MVP honors and becoming the first minority to quarterback a team to a Super Bowl victory. Years later, after being benched early in the 1983 season due to an injury to Marc Wilson, Plunkett again assumed starting duties. The relocated Los Angeles Raiders advanced to Super Bowl XVIII, where they defeated the Washington Redskins 38–9. In that game, Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. Despite his two championship victories as a starter, he remains one of only two eligible quarterbacks with two Super Bowl wins not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though he was honored by induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Reader's Guide

Jim Plunkett's Raiders tenure began in 1978, where he served as a reserve, throwing no passes in 1978 and just fifteen in 1979. His breakthrough came in 1980 when he replaced the injured Dan Pastorini, leading the team to Super Bowl XV. In 1984, he started until Week 6 before abdominal and hip injuries made Marc Wilson the starter for the rest of the season; Plunkett returned as a playoff starter but lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card game. His final years included a separated shoulder in Week 3 of 1985 and rotating with Wilson in 1986 before missing the entire 1987 season following rotator cuff surgery. He retired during the 1988 pre-season as the fourth-leading passer in Raiders history. Plunkett also holds the distinction of being the second player to win both the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP, alongside Roger Staubach, Marcus Allen, and Desmond Howard.

Did You Know?

• Plunkett is the only Latino to be named Super Bowl MVP.
• He won a CIF Wrestling State Championship at 194 pounds in 1966 while attending James Lick High School.
• His father, William Gutierrez Plunkett, died of a heart attack in 1969 after working as a news vendor with progressive blindness.
• Plunkett was the first player of Hispanic heritage to be drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL draft (1971).
• He and Eli Manning are the only eligible quarterbacks with two Super Bowl wins as a starter who have not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.