Stanford University

Plunkett, the most celebrated player in Stanford history, won his school's first Heisman after leading the Indians to an 8-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth.

Heisman Winner

Jim Plunkett

QB | RS Senior | Stanford University

Plunkett, the most celebrated player in Stanford history, won his school’s first Heisman after leading the Indians to an 8-3 record and a Rose Bowl berth.

A native of San Jose, Calif., Plunkett graduated from Lick High in 1967, where he was a star athlete who competed in football, basketball, baseball, track and wrestling. He chose to play for Stanford in part because he wanted to stay close to his parents, both of whom were blind.

Plunkett’s Stanford career nearly ended before it began. A month before his enrollment, Plunkett was told by doctors that the lump he had felt at the base of his neck was cancerous. Surgery was required to remove a malignant tumor that would end his football playing days. However, the tumor turned out to be benign and Plunkett was given a clean bill of health.

He responded by throwing for 2,156 yards and 14 touchdowns as a 1968 sophomore before adding 2,673 yards and 20 scores as a 1969 junior, helping him to finish eighth in that year’s Heisman vote.

Despite his strong first two seasons, Plunkett was a long-shot Heisman candidate compared to the other favorites: quarterbacks Archie Manning of Mississippi and Joe Theismann of Notre Dame. But Plunkett had a huge senior year, passing for 2,715 yards and 19 touchdowns as upstart Stanford won the Pac-8 title. When the Heisman vote was announced, Plunkett won by a wide margin.

He also captured the Maxwell Award for the nation’s best quarterback and was named player of the year by United Press International, The Sporting News, and SPORT magazine. In addition, the American College Football Coaches Association designated him as their Offensive Player of the Year. He became the second multiple recipient of the W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast.

Plunkett capped his college career by leading Stanford to a 27-17 victory over undefeated No. 1 Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl.

In three seasons with the Indians, Jim’s 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). His net yards passing and most yards total offense were NCAA records at the time.

Plunkett was selected by the New England Patriots as the number one overall draft choice in 1971. He was traded in 1976 to the 49ers, and in 1980, joined the Oakland Raiders and quarterbacked them to two Super Bowl wins in 1980 and 1983, and was named the MVP of the 1980 match-up.

He was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1990.

More Articles About Jim Plunkett

Heisman Voting Results

Number of electors: 1264 - Announced: November 24, 1970.

 PlayerClassPositionSchool1st2nd3rdTotal Points
1Jim PlunkettSRQBStanford5102851292229
2Joe TheismannSRQBNotre Dame2422551741410
3Archie ManningSRQBMississippi138133169849
4Steve WorsterSRFBTexas478195398
5Rex KernSRQBOhio State173959188
6Pat SullivanJRQBAuburn243734180
7Jack TatumSRSOhio State84853173
8Ernie JenningsSRWRAir Force182024118
9Don McCauleySRRBNorth Carolina6101957
10Lynn DickeySRQBKansas State661949

Three points are awarded for first place on a ballot, with two points for second place and one point for third place.

Heisman Voting By Region

At this time, Heisman voters are spread out across five regions.

South

 Player
1Jim Plunkett
2Archie Manning
3Joe Theismann
4Pat Sullivan
5Steve Worster

East

 Player
1Jim Plunkett
2Joe Theismann
3Archie Manning
4Steve Worster
5Jack Tatum

Midwest

 Player
1Jim Plunkett
2Joe Theismann
3Archie Manning
4Rex Kern
5Jack Tatum

Southwest

 Player
1Jim Plunkett
2Steve Worster
3Joe Theismann
4Archie Manning
5Joe Spagnola

Far West

 Player
1Jim Plunkett
2Joe Theismann
3Ernie Jennings
4Archie Manning
5Steve Worster

Statistics

Jim Plunkett’s Heisman Year Statistics

DateOpponentResultAttCompPct.YdsYPATDIntRating
9/12/70at #11 ArkansasW 34-28392256.42626.723114.38
9/19/70San Jose StateW 34-3291758.630210.410157.48
9/26/70at OregonW 33-10381847.42506.631123.42
10/3/70PurdueL 26-14361541.72005.61569.72
10/10/70#15 USCW 24-14311961.32758.911140.00
10/17/70at Washington StateW 63-16141071.422416.020252.97
10/24/70at UCLAW 9-7371848.62627.10297.32
10/31/70Oregon StateW 48-10261350.02108.132140.54
11/7/70WashingtonW 29-22362261.12687.442149.20
11/14/70at #16 Air ForceL 31-14351748.61825.20092.25
11/21/70at CaliforniaL 22-14372054.12807.622124.65
Heisman StatsAP #128-335819153.327157.61918124.51
1/1/71+ #5 Ohio StateW 27-17302066.72658.811145.20
Totals9-3, #8 in AP38821154.329807.72019126.11

(+) Neutral Site

No rushing or total offense stats currently available for Plunkett.

Media

Jim Plunkett completes his comeback