Jake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer (born December 19, 1974), known as "Jake the Snake" for his scrambling ability, is a former American football quarterback who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1997 to 2007, principally with the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos.[1][2] Plummer starred at Arizona State University as a four-year starter, amassing 8,827 passing yards and 65 touchdowns, achievements that earned him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.[3] Drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft, he spent his first six seasons there, compiling inconsistent results but leading the league in fourth-quarter passing yards in 2001 en route to a career-high 3,749 yards and 18 touchdowns the following year.[1][4] Traded to the Broncos in 2003, Plummer experienced his most successful stretch, throwing for over 4,000 yards in both 2004 and 2005, earning a Pro Bowl selection in the latter, and guiding Denver to consecutive playoff appearances, including an AFC Championship Game loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2005 season.[1][5] Over his NFL career, he recorded 29,253 passing yards, 161 touchdowns, and a 74.5 passer rating while adding mobility with 1,155 rushing yards and 12 rushing scores.[1][3]
Early life
Family background and high school years
Jason Steven Plummer was born on December 19, 1974, in Boise, Idaho.[1] He grew up in the Boise area, with formative years spent in Smiley Creek amid the Sawtooth Mountains, an environment that contributed to his early athletic development.[6] Plummer came from a sports-oriented family; his father, Steve Plummer, was a competitive handball player who won multiple state titles in Idaho and introduced Jake and his older brothers, Eric and Brett, to the sport during childhood.[7] This early involvement in handball, characterized by rapid movements and precise ball control, cultivated Plummer's hand-eye coordination, agility, and endurance—attributes that translated to his quarterbacking prowess.[8] The family's emphasis on athletics extended to other pursuits, fostering a competitive mindset from a young age.[9] At Capital High School in Boise, Plummer starred as a three-sport athlete in football, baseball, and basketball, graduating in 1993.[4] As the quarterback for the Capital High football team, he demonstrated exceptional passing ability and leadership, earning All-American recognition and drawing interest from college programs, ultimately leading to his recruitment by Arizona State University.[10] His high school exploits established him as a local standout, setting the foundation for his collegiate trajectory without overlapping into university-level play.[9]College career
Arizona State University performance
Plummer became a four-year starter at quarterback for the Arizona State Sun Devils from 1993 to 1996, marking the first time in nearly a decade that a true freshman had earned the starting role, which he assumed early in his debut season.[11] [12] His tenure featured a blend of mobility and passing prowess, initially leveraging his athleticism to extend plays and contribute via rushing, before evolving into a more disciplined pocket operator capable of high-efficiency throws under pressure.[13] This development was evident in his school-record 34 games with either a passing or rushing touchdown, reflecting consistent dual-threat impact despite early-season challenges like turnover-prone outings as a young signal-caller.[11] The 1996 senior campaign represented Plummer's pinnacle, guiding Arizona State to an undefeated 11-0 regular season and the Pac-10 championship, capped by a Rose Bowl berth after notable victories including a 19-0 shutout of then-No. 3 Nebraska on September 21.[14] [15] His leadership earned First-Team All-American honors, Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year recognition, and a third-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting, underscoring a season of poised decision-making and clutch performances that elevated the team's co-offensive identity alongside a robust ground attack.[16] Earlier years included building-block successes amid inconsistencies, such as freshman adjustment periods, but culminated in a trajectory of refined mechanics and team-oriented execution.[17]College statistics
Plummer compiled 8,626 passing yards, 64 passing touchdowns, and 34 interceptions over four seasons at Arizona State, achieving a 55.4% completion rate and 133.2 passer rating.[18] His rushing output included 5 touchdowns on 289 attempts for a net -113 yards, reflecting mobility offset by sacks absorbed as a pocket passer.[18]| Year | Games | Completions | Attempts | Completion % | Yards | TDs | INTs | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 9 | 102 | 199 | 51.3 | 1,650 | 9 | 7 | 128.8 |
| 1994 | 11 | 159 | 294 | 54.1 | 2,179 | 15 | 9 | 127.1 |
| 1995 | 11 | 173 | 301 | 57.5 | 2,222 | 17 | 9 | 132.1 |
| 1996 | 11 | 179 | 313 | 57.2 | 2,575 | 23 | 9 | 144.8 |
| Career | 42 | 613 | 1,107 | 55.4 | 8,626 | 64 | 34 | 133.2 |
| Year | Games | Attempts | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 9 | 43 | -57 | 0 |
| 1994 | 11 | 75 | -92 | 1 |
| 1995 | 11 | 86 | -27 | 1 |
| 1996 | 11 | 85 | 63 | 3 |
| Career | 42 | 289 | -113 | 5 |
Professional career
Arizona Cardinals tenure (1997–2002)
Plummer was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round (42nd overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft out of Arizona State University.[1] He entered a franchise mired in mediocrity, having relocated from St. Louis in 1988 and posted losing records in most seasons since.[19] As a rookie, Plummer initially served as a backup to quarterbacks Kent Graham and Stoney Case before making his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Tennessee Oilers, where he orchestrated a crucial 98-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter during a 31-27 loss.[9] He secured the starting role later that year, appearing in nine games with five starts, completing 91 of 179 passes for 1,000 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions.[1] The 1998 season marked Plummer's breakout, as he started all 16 games, passing for 3,737 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions while earning his sole Pro Bowl nod.[1][20] Under his leadership, the Cardinals achieved a 9-7 record—their first winning season since 1994—and clinched an NFC Wild Card berth, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 20-7 in the franchise's first playoff victory since 1947 before a 20-44 divisional loss to the Atlanta Falcons.[21] This postseason success, driven by Plummer's late-game comebacks and the contributions of drafted teammate Pat Tillman at safety, temporarily stabilized the franchise amid relocation rumors.[19] From 1999 to 2002, Plummer remained the entrenched starter through 75 additional appearances, but the Cardinals reverted to futility with records of 6-10, 3-13, 7-9, and 5-11, respectively, often finishing near the NFC East basement due to defensive deficiencies, offensive line issues, and coaching turnover.[22] He accumulated 17,622 passing yards and 90 touchdowns over his Cardinals tenure but surrendered 114 interceptions, including NFL-high marks of 24 in 1999 and 21 in 2000, often stemming from forced throws in comeback scenarios against trailing deficits.[23][1] Plummer's overall 31-53 mark as a starter reflected both his mobility—rushing for 1,660 yards and 10 scores—and the systemic instability, including Tillman's amicable departure for military enlistment after 2001, which tested team cohesion without positional overlap.[22][24]Denver Broncos period (2003–2006)
Plummer signed with the Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent on March 5, 2003, agreeing to a seven-year contract worth approximately $40 million, including a substantial signing bonus, to replace quarterback Brian Griese.[25] In his debut season, he started all 16 games, passing for 2,182 yards with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, while adding 404 rushing yards and three scores, helping the Broncos achieve a 10–6 record and qualify for the playoffs as the AFC's No. 6 seed.[26][27] The team lost in the wild-card round to the Indianapolis Colts, 41–10.[1] Over the next two seasons, Plummer elevated his performance under head coach Mike Shanahan, benefiting from a strong running game led by backs like Tatum Bell and Mike Anderson. In 2004, he threw for a career-high 4,089 yards and 27 touchdowns against 20 interceptions, contributing to a 10–6 record and another wild-card berth, though the Broncos fell to the New England Patriots, 27–13.[26] His mobility remained a key asset, as he rushed for 503 yards across 2004 and 2005 combined.[1] The 2005 season marked Plummer's peak, with a 91.2 passer rating, 3,366 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions—including a franchise-record streak of 229 consecutive passes without an interception—en route to a 13–3 regular-season record, the AFC's No. 2 seed, and a first-round bye.[26][4] He earned his sole Pro Bowl selection that year.[1] However, Denver lost in the divisional playoffs to New England, 27–13.[28] Plummer's tenure ended amid declining efficiency in 2006, as the Broncos started 7–4 but struggled offensively, averaging under 18 points per game during that stretch.[29] On November 27, following a Thanksgiving loss to Kansas City, Shanahan benched him in favor of rookie Jay Cutler, citing the need for a spark despite Plummer's prior success in starting 46 consecutive games including playoffs.[30] Plummer appeared in only six games that year, throwing three touchdowns against seven interceptions before being released at season's end.[26] Overall, he compiled a 39–15 record as Denver's starter, with 11,631 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.[28]Tampa Bay Buccaneers stint and retirement (2007)
On March 2, 2007, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired the contractual rights to quarterback Jake Plummer from the Denver Broncos in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.[31] Plummer, who had three years remaining on a contract carrying a $5.3 million base salary for 2007, had already signaled reluctance to relocate, preferring retirement over competing for playing time behind established options such as Jeff Garcia and Bruce Gradkowski.[32][33] Plummer confirmed his retirement on March 9, 2007, during a news conference at the Denver Athletic Club, effectively forgoing any obligation to report to Tampa Bay.[33] At age 32, following 10 NFL seasons, he described the decision as a proactive step to maintain long-term health and happiness after the physically demanding role, stating he was retiring "with his health intact" rather than from fear or acute injury.[34][35] The Buccaneers completed the trade despite Plummer's stance, but he never joined the team or participated in training camp, concluding his professional career without a single appearance in Tampa Bay uniform.[31] Plummer later reflected that the cumulative wear of the position influenced his timing, though he prioritized leaving on his own terms to focus on family and personal pursuits beyond football.[35]Career statistics
NFL passing and rushing statistics
Jake Plummer compiled 2,484 completions on 4,350 attempts for 29,253 passing yards, 161 touchdowns, and 161 interceptions across 143 games (136 starts), yielding a 57.1% completion percentage and 74.6 passer rating in his NFL career.[1] [26] The majority of these statistics occurred during his tenure with the Arizona Cardinals (1997–2002), where he accounted for 15,622 passing yards, 90 touchdowns, and 114 interceptions over 84 starts.[1]| Year | Team | G | GS | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | ARI | 10 | 9 | 157 | 296 | 53.0 | 2203 | 15 | 15 | 73.1 |
| 1998 | ARI | 16 | 16 | 324 | 547 | 59.2 | 3737 | 17 | 20 | 75.0 |
| 1999 | ARI | 12 | 11 | 201 | 381 | 52.8 | 2111 | 9 | 24 | 50.8 |
| 2000 | ARI | 14 | 14 | 270 | 475 | 56.8 | 2946 | 13 | 21 | 66.0 |
| 2001 | ARI | 16 | 16 | 304 | 525 | 57.9 | 3653 | 18 | 14 | 79.6 |
| 2002 | ARI | 16 | 16 | 284 | 530 | 53.6 | 2972 | 18 | 20 | 65.7 |
| 2003 | DEN | 11 | 11 | 189 | 302 | 62.6 | 2182 | 15 | 7 | 91.2 |
| 2004 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 303 | 521 | 58.2 | 4089 | 27 | 20 | 84.5 |
| 2005 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 277 | 456 | 60.7 | 3366 | 18 | 7 | 90.2 |
| 2006 | DEN | 16 | 11 | 175 | 317 | 55.2 | 1994 | 11 | 13 | 68.8 |
| Career | 143 | 136 | 2484 | 4350 | 57.1 | 29253 | 161 | 161 | 74.6 |
| Year | Team | G | Att | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | ARI | 10 | 39 | 216 | 2 |
| 1998 | ARI | 16 | 51 | 217 | 4 |
| 1999 | ARI | 12 | 39 | 121 | 2 |
| 2000 | ARI | 14 | 37 | 183 | 0 |
| 2001 | ARI | 16 | 35 | 163 | 0 |
| 2002 | ARI | 16 | 46 | 283 | 2 |
| 2003 | DEN | 11 | 37 | 205 | 3 |
| 2004 | DEN | 16 | 62 | 202 | 1 |
| 2005 | DEN | 16 | 46 | 151 | 2 |
| 2006 | DEN | 16 | 36 | 112 | 1 |
| Career | 143 | 428 | 1853 | 17 |