He immediately stepped in as starter and led the conference in a variety of passing statistics throughout his college career.
In every year he led the Pac-8 in Completions, Yards, and TDs.
Over his college career he threw for 7,544 yards on 530 of 962 passes, with 52 TDs to 47 picks.
First overall pick of the New England Patriots in 1971.
After a pretty decent rookie season, where he threw for 19 TDs and 16 picks, he steadily guided the ship during the dead ball era over the next 4 seasons.
An injury plagued 1975, led Jim to be traded to the 49ers.
He’d play there from 1976-’77, completing 254 of 491 passes for 3285 yards, 22 TDs to 30 interceptions.
Plunkett stepped into the starting lineup after Pastorini got injured in 1980, and experienced a Renaissance.
He went 9-2 as a starter, completing 165 of 320 passes for 2299 yards and 18 TDs.
Led the team to a 27-10 win in Super Bowl XV.
After surviving a 2-5 season in 1981 and being benched, Plunkett again woke up leading the Raiders to a 10-3 record in 1983.
The Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII.
Injury plagued and faced with constant QB battles, played with Raiders through the ’86 season before retiring.
Spent 20 years after that working radio and TV as a commentator and post game analyst.
ACCOLADES:
Heisman Trophy Winner 1970
Offensive Rookie of the Year 1971
Superbowl XV MVP
1980 Comeback Player of the Year
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
California Sports Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
Maxwell Award 1970
Walter Camp Award 1970
Raiders Ring of Honor
NOTES:
Definitely a Raiders legend, Jim Plunkett went from near bust to Super Bowl MVP, and then to prove doubters wrong led the team to another title a few years later. He’s probably not going to get into the HoF. His numbers just aren’t strong enough and he never was All Pro or Pro Bowl bound.
Jim’s braille card was considered a rumor, a grail among collectors for a bit when it came out. After a while it showed up in about one per box. When an autographed copy appeared on eBay, I picked it up, even though its signed on the back.
CARD: Pro Set 1990 Super Bowl MVP ACQUIRED: 2020, Future Considerations
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
DL Richard Dent was an 8th round pick out of Tennessee State in 1983 by the Chicago Bears.
Became a permanent starter at RE in 1984.
Scored 17.5 sacks and a league leading 4 forced fumbles.
Followed that up in the Bears Super Bowl season with a league leading 17 sacks and an unbelievable league leading 7 forced fumbles.
He also scored a TD on a 9 yard interception.
Dent had 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2 FF earning Super Bowl MVP honors.
Over the next 8 seasons, he never failed to have less than 8.5 sacks.
Had at least 10.5 sacks in 6 of his last 8 years with the Bears.
Forced 6 fumbles in 1992.
Joined the San Fransisco 49ers in 1994, but spent nearly the entire year on IR.
Again injuries played a part in his return to Chicago for another year in 1995.
As a pass rush specialist, Dent saw new life in Indianapolis in ’96- posting 6.5 sacks and 2 FF.
Richard then closed out his career in Philadelphia in 1997 adding another 4.5 sacks and a FF.
At the time of his retirement, Dent’s 137.5 sacks ranked 3rd all time.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Super Bowl XX MVP
Black College Hall of Fame 2015
All Pro 1985
Second Team All Pro 1984, ’88, ’90
Pro Bowl 1984, ’85, ’90, ’93
100 Greatest Bears of All Time
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
NOTES:
Well who knows what my friend Bryan Gianquinta is up to. I’m not sure if he was settling up old debts after I sent him a few autographs of players that he wanted from Texas, but he gave me this one telling me he’d gotten it in person at Canton.
When I did these Super Bowl MVP cards back in 2022, I sent my friend Rick a copy of the Desmond Howard card since he was such a big fan of the Packers. Then I sent one out to Desmond myself.
Whether it got lost in the mail or Desmond saw it and kept it, I didn’t get mine back- but Rick did. I was pretty sad about it. I mean not like at Rick. No it was this feeling that punched my TTM desire in the gut. I just felt tired after not getting this one back in 2022 as I put a lot of work into these and I thought he’d be excited to sign.
Anyway I decided to give another shot this year after seeing a few successes on SCN and didn’t really expect anything. Lo and behold almost 6 months after I sent it, this one came back!
Unlike just sending TTM to players and what I interpret as letting them know that they are feeling seen- when I do customs- or hacks in this case, it is I who feels seen when they sign them.
Big win.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
