WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett, age 76, has one of the most prolific records in National Football League (NFL) history as a quarterback winning two Super Bowls, the only Latino player to ever do so, and has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame based in Canton, Ohio; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett, who wore jersey number 16, is a source of pride for California residents and his resilience and life story continue to be an inspiration about overcoming all odds; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett was born on December 5, 1947, in San Jose, California, to Mexican American parents, William Gutierrez Plunkett and Carmen Blea. His mother was also of Cherokee Native American ancestry and his paternal grandfather was Irish-German. Both of his parents suffered from blindness and his family faced much economic hardship while growing up. His father died at 56 years of age after Jim Plunketts sophomore year in college; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett graduated from James Lick High School in east San Jose in 1967, where he was a star athlete competing in basketball, baseball, track, and wrestling, winning a California high school wrestling championship title; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett graduated from Stanford University in 1971 and, as quarterback, led the Stanford football team to a Rose Bowl victory, defeating number-one-ranked Ohio State 27-17. He was also awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1970, becoming the first Latino and the only Stanford player to ever win the prestigious honor; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, Jim Plunkett was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft by the New England Patriots (at that time named the Boston Patriots), becoming the first Latino player to ever be drafted with the first overall pick. Jim Plunkett later played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1976 to 1978, inclusive; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett joined the Oakland Raiders in 1978, where he and legendary coach Tom Flores would lead the Raiders to four playoff victories, including the first-ever victory by a wild card team in Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981, over the Philadelphia Eagles. Plunkett was named game Most Valuable Player (MVP) and became the first person of color to quarterback a team to a Super Bowl victory. He became the second of only four players to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP; and

WHEREAS, During the 1983 season, Jim Plunkett led the Los Angeles Raiders to Super Bowl XVIII, where the team defeated the Washington D.C. team on January 22, 1984. He became the only NFL quarterback to win two Super Bowls with the same franchise in different cities, Oakland and Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett retired in the 1988 preseason after a serious shoulder injury. During his 17-year NFL career, he completed 25,882 yards and 164 touchdowns, and he rushed for 1,337 yards and 14 touchdowns; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990, the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1990, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, and the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Jim Plunkett has previously been nominated to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, yet he remains the only starting quarterback with two Super Bowl rings who has not yet been inducted; and

WHEREAS, Any person, including the 50 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, may nominate any eligible players, coaches, or contributors; and

WHEREAS, The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will be voting in early 2025 and Jim Plunkett must receive 80 percent of the votes from the 50-member panel to be inducted; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate urges the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee to induct legendary NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett into its Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Class of 2025, an honor that is long overdue; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and to the author for appropriate distribution.

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