This wasn't a home grown Raider, per se.
But, for the Silver and Black, he was the right man, at the right time.
This, is Jim Plunkett.
Jim's roots, run deep in California. Born in San Jose, to Mexican American parents, Jim first started showing great arm strength, at age 14, throwing a football over 60 yards in one contest. In High School, he was also busy, participating in 5 sports, and in football, playing both QB and DE. On entering college, he has a number of strikes against him, including a Thyroid problem, forcing his coach to try him at DE. Determined to QB, he would work out his arm, throwing 500 to 1000 times a day, to smooth out the edges. By the time he got to start, in 1968, he tossed for 200 plus yards, and 4 TDs, and never looked back.
Later, in 1970, he also won the heisman trophy, for Stanford, Ironically, beating out Joe Theismann, and Archie Manning that year.
Then, as fate would have it, we was selected with the first pick over all, in the draft, 1971, and went to the New England Patriots.
His first year, on the east coast, went decent, but then, the sophmore slump hit him hard. Injuries, a shot line, and other matters led to him being traded, in 1975, to the 49ers. Jim started out strong, going 6-1, before settling down to 8-6....shortly before the 1978 season, he was released.
The Raiders, it seemed, saw something of a good insurance policy. After all, they still had Stabler, so Plunkett waited to see if he'd ever have another chance.
Then, came 1980.
5 games into 1980, the QB, Dan Pastorini, who ironically, the Raiders had traded for, broke his leg, opening the door for Plunkett. Jim, started paving the way for history, helping lead Oakland that year, to a playoff berth....and then won the super bowl, behind the stellar defense, and the throwing talents of Plunkett....He'd found a way back into the NFL. For that, he would also get a second Ring, beating the Redskins 3 years later, in royal fashion.
Towards the end of his career, in 1986 and 87, Plunkett spent a lot of time injured, but showed some returning flashes, of his former self, but with Tom Flores leaving, Shanahan felt Jim's best days were behind him....and he never got to take another snap for the Raiders.
Most of these days, you can catch him, via the Raiders website, or during the season, on the Raiders broadcast.....one of the Raiders brightest stars!