Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1993-96
Place of Birth: Boise, Idaho
Date of Birth: Dec 19, 1974
Jersey Number: 16
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190
High School: Capital HS (Boise, ID)
One of the greatest passers in Arizona State history, Jake Plummer led the Sun Devils to one of the greatest seasons in the program’s history. He is the eighth player in school history to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
A First Team All-American in 1996, “Jake the Snake” finished third for the Heisman Trophy after leading Arizona State to an 11-1 season that included an undefeated regular season and the program’s second-ever Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl berth. The 1996 Pac-10 Player of the Year was also a finalist for the Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas awards as a senior. A two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, Plummer led the Sun Devils to a No. 4 national ranking in 1996 while claiming the Pop Warner Trophy as the most valuable player on the West Coast.
A four-year starter, Plummer was the first freshman to start at quarterback for the Sun Devils in nearly a decade. Boasting an Arizona State-record 34 games with either a passing or rushing touchdown, the Boise, Idaho, native ranks third in school history with 8,827 career passing yards and 1,142 career pass attempts. Plummer also sits fourth in Sun Devil annals with 65 touchdown passes while ranking fifth with 632 completions and 8,711 yards of total offense during his career. The 1996 team captain and two-time Arizona State MVP earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in 1995. Plummer also excelled in the classroom, earning First Team Academic All-Pac-10 honors as a senior and Honorable Mention laurels as a junior and sophomore.
Taken in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Plummer played 10 years in the NFL for the Cardinals (1997-2002) and Denver Broncos (2003-06). He led the league in passing yards per completion as a rookie, and the following season he led the Cardinals to their first postseason victory since 1947. Plummer’s best season in the NFL came in 2005 when he was named to the Pro Bowl after leading the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game.
Off the field, he established the Jake Plummer Foundation, which is geared toward Alzheimer’s research, caregivers and kids while also giving back to the Family Tree in Denver and Phoenix Children’s Hospital. An avid handball player and promoter, he created the “Plummer Family Helluva Handball Bash” to benefit Campfire USA. He supports and promotes Athletes for Care and the Pat Tillman Foundation, named for College Football Hall of Famer Pat Tillman, who was Plummer’s teammate in college and the NFL. He also co-founded ReadyList Sports, a fully interactive digital playbook tool.
