View source for Jake Plummer

{{Short description|American football player (born 1974)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Jake Plummer
| image       = Jake Plummer (cropped).jpg
| caption     = Plummer at [[Luke Air Force Base, Arizona|Luke Air Force Base]] in 1998
| position    = [[Quarterback]]
| number      = 16
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1974|12|19|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Boise, Idaho]], U.S.
| death_date  =
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 2
| weight_lbs  = 212
| draftyear   = 1997
| draftround  = 2
| draftpick   = 42
| high_school = [[Capital High School (Boise, Idaho)|Capital]] (Boise)
| college     = [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State]] (1993–1996)
| pastteams   =
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1997}}–{{NFL Year|2002}})
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2006}})
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|2007}})*
| highlights  =
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2006 Pro Bowl|2005]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] (1997)
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1996 College Football All-America Team|1996]])
* [[Pac-12 Conference football individual awards|Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year]] (1996)
* [[Pop Warner Trophy]] (1996)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-Pac-10]] ([[1995 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1995]], [[1996 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1996]])
| statlabel1  = Pass attempts
| statvalue1  = 4,350
| statlabel2  = Pass completions
| statvalue2  = 2,484
| statlabel3  = Percentage
| statvalue3  = 57.1
| statlabel4  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4  = 161–161
| statlabel5  = [[Passing yards]]
| statvalue5  = 29,253
| statlabel6  = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6  = 74.6
| pfr         = PlumJa00
| CollegeHOF  = 2440 
}}

'''Jason Steven''' "'''Jake'''" '''Plummer''' (born December 19, 1974) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[quarterback]] for 10 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State Sun Devils]]. Plummer was selected by the [[Arizona Cardinals]] in the second round of the [[1997 NFL draft]], spending six seasons with the Cardinals and then four with the [[Denver Broncos]].

Since retiring from the field, he launched Umbo, a functional mushroom supplement company alongside former UFC Champion [[Rashad Evans]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabriel |first=Parker |date=2022-07-09 |title=From NFL QB to mushroom farmer: Jake Plummer's life-altering journey into the queendom of fungi |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2022/07/09/jake-plummer-mushroom-farm-mycolove-nfl-quarterback/10009803002/?gnt-cfr=1Career%20transition |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=USA Today}}</ref> He subsequently founded MyCOLove Farm in [[Fort Lupton, Colorado]], to better understand mushrooms and mycology.

His nickname, "Jake the Snake", has no connection to professional wrestler [[Jake Roberts|Jake "the Snake" Roberts]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSw1kvje2pA | title=Jake Plummer on Bo Nix, his real name, Mike Shanahan and his relationship with Pat Tillman | website=[[YouTube]] | date=August 16, 2024 }}</ref> Coincidentally, Plummer and Roberts each adopted the nickname as a tribute to former [[Oakland Raiders]] quarterback [[Ken Stabler]], who was nicknamed "Snake."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://prowrestling.net/artman/publish/InterviewHighlights/article10012178.shtml | title=WWE legend Jake Roberts says "The Snake" nickname was inspired by an NFL great, recalls a WWE wrestler who was cruel to Damien, says Ultimate Warrior was "a blithering idiot" }}</ref>

==Early life==
Plummer was born in [[Boise, Idaho]]; he and his two older brothers grew up in Smiley Creek. They were often at the family lumber mill and warehouse in the town of 50 in the [[Sawtooth Range (Idaho)|Sawtooths]] (the mountains of the Sawtooth Range).<ref name=si.ret>{{cite magazine|first=Chris|last=Ballard|title=What Was He Thinking?: You have to wonder why a red-blooded American male in his prime would walk away from fame and fortune as an NFL quarterback to play handball and hang with his family and his dogs. Don't you?|date=February 14, 2011|publisher=Time Inc|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2011/02/14/106035675/what-was-he-thinking|access-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref>

In his youth, Plummer attended Pierce Park Elementary and Hillside Junior High. In third grade at Pierce Park, he started going by Jake after being asked by his teacher to use a different name because there were four other students named Jason.<ref>{{cite podcast|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_zNfBgTdfU|title=Not Your Average Duo|publisher=[[Denver Broncos]]|host=[[Brad Williams (comedian)|Brad Williams]]|date=June 1, 2024|access-date=October 17, 2024}}</ref> He graduated from [[Capital High School (Idaho)|Capital High School]] in 1993, where he was a three-sport star in high school, playing baseball and basketball in addition to football; he was also selected all-state as both a quarterback and punter and passed for 6,097 yards and 68 touchdowns in his junior and senior years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nflhs.com/news/playersspotlight/jakeplummer_10012003_sim.asp |title=Player Spotlight: Jake Plummer |access-date=December 15, 2008 |last=Raffel |first=John |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060520174228/http://www.nflhs.com/news/playersspotlight/JakePlummer_10012003_sim.asp |archive-date=May 20, 2006 }}</ref> He originally wanted to play football at [[Stanford]], but they only offered him a preferred walk-on offer; he instead accepted a full ride from [[California Golden Bears football|California]] until [[Hue Jackson]], then a coach at [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State]], heavily recruited Plummer and eventually convinced him to recommit to the Sun Devils. He also received scholarship offers from [[Boise State Broncos football|Boise State]], [[Idaho Vandals football|Idaho]], [[Montana Grizzlies football|Montana]], [[Oregon State Beavers football|Oregon State]], [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]], and [[Wyoming Cowboys football|Wyoming]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Curtis |first1=Jake |title=An Article from 1996 about Jake Plummer in High School |work=SFGATE |date=October 24, 1996 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Sun-Devils-QB-Plummer-Master-of-the-Comeback-3497039.php}}</ref>

==College career==
Plummer accepted a football [[Athletic scholarship|scholarship]] to [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State University]] in [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]]. He did not [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt]] and took over as the starting quarterback (from [[Grady Benton]]) early in his freshman season in [[1993 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|1993]]<!--, where he remained for the rest of his four years from 1993-1996-->. He had consistent, but not outstanding, statistical output during his career, and never led the Pac-10 in any major statistical category.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jake Plummer College Stats|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jake-plummer-1.html|website=[[Sports Reference]]|language=en}}</ref> He threw for an impressive 1,650 yards in his freshman season, but also had seven interceptions to just nine touchdowns.<ref name="collegestats">{{cite web |title=Jake Plummer College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jake-plummer-1.html |website=College Football at Sports Reference |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=May 4, 2024}}</ref> He broke 2,000 yards in [[1994 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|1994]] as a sophomore, and upped his touchdowns to 15.<ref name="collegestats" /> As a junior in [[1995 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|1995]], his 2,222 yards and 17 touchdowns, many coming at pivotal moments in games, earned him a strong fan base and all-conference honors despite a lackluster 6–5 record.<ref name="asu legends">{{cite web|last1=Crowley|first1=Kerry|title='Summer of Legends' No. 16 Jake Plummer|url=http://www.houseofsparky.com/2013/8/16/4628318/asu-football-summer-of-legends-no-16-jake-plummer|website=House of Sparky|date=August 16, 2013}}</ref>

His senior season in [[1996 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|1996]] was arguably the best in school history. Arizona State attracted national attention on September 21 when they shut out top-ranked [[1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] {{nowrap|19–0}} to snap the Huskers' 26-game winning streak. Plummer evaded a sack to toss a 25-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive, and finished 20 of 36 for 292 yards, setting a new school record for career passing yards in the process.<ref>{{cite news|title=Football: No. 17 Arizona State 19, No. 1 Nebraska 0|url=http://www.thesundevils.com/sports/2013/4/17/208250213.aspx|work=www.thesundevils.com|agency=Associated Press|language=en}}</ref> He led ASU to an undefeated regular season and a [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-10]] championship,<ref>{{cite web |last1=C. |first1=Bill |title=1996 had a classic upset, a classic Rose Bowl, and a terrifying national champion |url=https://www.footballstudyhall.com/2016/4/15/11429570/1996-college-football-florida-arizona-state-ohio-state-florida-state |website=Football Study Hall |date=April 15, 2016 |publisher=SB Nation |access-date=May 4, 2024}}</ref> aided in no small part by fellow all-conference linebacker and close personal friend [[Pat Tillman]]. In the [[1997 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]], he scored a sensational 11-yard go-ahead touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, but [[1996 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] responded and won {{nowrap|20–17.}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Shane |title=ASU football legends remember the 1997 team before Sun DEvils' last game at Rose Bowl |url=https://www.statepress.com/article/2023/11/asu-rose-bowl-retrospective-1997-football-ohio-ucla |access-date=May 4, 2024 |publisher=The Arizona State Press |date=November 9, 2023}}</ref> A victory likely would have meant a [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national championship]] as the only undefeated team in the nation, but their [[1996 NCAA Division I-A football rankings|final ranking]] was fourth.<ref name="si.ret" /> Plummer was third in the [[Heisman Trophy]] [[1996 NCAA Division I-A football season#Heisman Trophy voting|voting]] behind [[1996 Florida Gators football team|Florida's]] [[Danny Wuerffel]] and [[1996 Iowa State Cyclones football team|Iowa State's]] [[Troy Davis (running back)|Troy Davis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 Heisman Trophy Voting |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1996.html |website=[[Sports Reference]] |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525102111/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1996.html |archive-date=May 25, 2012 }}</ref> was a first-team [[1996 College Football All-America Team|All-American]], and the [[Pac-12 Conference football individual awards|Pac-10's Offensive Player of the Year]].<ref name="hof">{{cite web |title=Jake Plummer |url=https://www.cfbhall.com/news-and-happenings/blog/jake-plummer/ |website=College Football Hall of Fame |access-date=May 4, 2024}}</ref>

Plummer ended his career with several school records; most have since been surpassed, but his 34 games with a rushing or passing touchdown remains an ASU record.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fortuna |first1=Matt |title=2019 College Football Hall of Fame Profile |url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2019/11/8/2019-college-football-hall-of-fame-profile-jake-plummer.aspx |access-date=May 4, 2024 |publisher=National Football Foundation |date=November 8, 2019}}</ref> A dedicated student, Plummer was also a two-time Academic All-Conference player.<ref name="hof" /> A 2013 review listed Jake Plummer as the best player to wear number 16 in Sun Devil history.<ref name="asu legends" />

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="7"| Passing
|-
! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Rtg
|-
! [[1993 NCAA Division I-A football season|1993]] !! [[1993 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]]
| 9 || 102 || 199 || 51.3 || 1,650 || 9 || 7 || 128.8
|-
! [[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|1994]] !! [[1994 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]]
| 11 || 159 || 294 || 54.1 || 2,179 || 15 || 9 || 127.1
|-
! [[1995 NCAA Division I-A football season|1995]] !! [[1995 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]]
| 11 || 173 || 301 || 57.5 || 2,222 || 17 || 9 || 132.1
|-
! [[1996 NCAA Division I-A football season|1996]] !! [[1996 Arizona State Sun Devils football team|Arizona State]]
| 11 || 179 || 313 || 57.2 || 2,575 || 23 || 9 || 144.8
|-
! colspan="2"| College career || 42 || 613 || 1,107 || 55.4 || 8,626 || 64 || 34 || 133.8
|-
! colspan="2"| School rank<ref>{{As of|2017}}; see article [[Arizona State Sun Devils football statistical leaders]] or the [http://www.sundevilguides.com/football/#145/z|2016 ASU Media Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025235122/http://www.sundevilguides.com/football/#145/z%7C2016 |date=October 25, 2016 }}</ref> || — || 4th || 3rd || — || 3rd || 4th || —
|}

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 2 1/4
|       weight = 195
|         dash = 4.96
|    ten split = 1.71
| twenty split = 2.93
|      shuttle = 4.29
|   cone drill = 7.30
|     vertical = 30.0
|     broad ft =
|     broad in =
|        bench =
|     arm span = 33
|    hand span = 9 1/4
|    wonderlic =
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=23051 |title=Jake Plummer, Combine Results, QB - Arizona State |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=January 28, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===Arizona Cardinals (1997–2002)===
Plummer was selected in the second round of the [[1997 NFL draft]] by the [[Arizona Cardinals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1997/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He played behind [[Kent Graham]] and [[Stoney Case]] at the start of his [[1997 Arizona Cardinals season|rookie season]]. He took his first snap late in the 4th quarter of the seventh game, and promptly led the Cardinals on a 98-yard drive, going 4-of-6 for 87 yards and capping it with a 31-yard go-ahead touchdown. He led the Cardinals to three of their four victories that year. Already locally popular from his days at ASU, according to teammate Chad Carpenter he was now treated "like a god. We go to a restaurant and people stand up and clap when he walks by."<ref name=si.ret /> In [[1998 Arizona Cardinals season|1998]], the Cardinals drafted Plummer's friend Pat Tillman, and the two started all sixteen games en route to a 9–7 regular season record. In the tenth game against [[Dallas Cowboys]], he threw for a stellar 465 yards and three touchdowns. In the playoffs, he led the Cardinals to an upset of the same Cowboys for the franchise's first postseason victory since 1947,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/playoffs.htm|title=Arizona Cardinals Playoff History|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> before losing in the second round to the [[Minnesota Vikings]].

Plummer had a disappointing season in [[1999 Arizona Cardinals season|1999]]; he went 3–8 as a starter, threw nine touchdowns to 24 interceptions, and the Cardinals finished 6–10. Regarding Plummer's season, the [[Football Outsiders]] commented: "At the start of the 1999 season, Jake Plummer was being celebrated as one of the NFL's best young quarterbacks, the man who would make the Cardinals respectable again. By the end of the 1999 season, Plummer ranked as the league's worst quarterback."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2005/1999-dvoa-ratings-and-commentary|title=Football Outsiders: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis – 1999 DVOA Ratings and Commentary|work=footballoutsiders.com|access-date=June 7, 2011|archive-date=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816110655/http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2005/1999-dvoa-ratings-and-commentary|url-status=dead}}</ref> His reputation as a risk-taking "gunslinger" became a liability. In [[2000 Arizona Cardinals season|2000]] Plummer threw for 2,946 yards, 21 interceptions, and had a 66.0 quarterback rating. Although he reached 10,000 career passing yards (in 47 starts), Plummer compiled a 3–11 record and the Cardinals finished last in the NFC East.

Plummer bounced back in [[2001 Arizona Cardinals season|2001]] with his best statistical season with the Cardinals. He was one of only two NFL quarterbacks to take every snap for his team ([[Kerry Collins]] was the other), and he passed for 3,653 yards, eighteen touchdowns, and fourteen interceptions. During the season, he had a stretch of 142 consecutive [[pass attempt]]s without throwing an interception. Plummer also led the NFL in fourth-quarter passing yards (1,227) and the Cardinals to a 7–9 record.

Plummer's last season with the Cardinals was [[2002 Arizona Cardinals season|2002]] and again his statistics were down (65.7 passer rating, 2,972 yards, eighteen touchdowns and twenty interceptions). On September 22 against the [[San Diego Chargers]], he eclipsed 15,000 career passing yards.

{{As of|2017}}'s NFL off-season, Jake Plummer held at least nine Cardinals franchise records, including:
* Passing TDs: rookie season (fifteen in 1997), rookie game (four on 1997-12-07 WAS)
* Passer Rating: rookie game (119.1 on 1997-11-30 PIT)
* Sacked: game (ten on 1997-11-30 PIT), rookie season (52 in 1997)
* Yds/Pass Att: rookie season (7.44 in 1997)
* Pass Yds/Game: rookie season (220.3 in 1997)
* 300-yard passing games: playoffs (two)

===Denver Broncos (2003–2006)===
[[File:Jake Plummer.jpg|thumb|240px|left|Plummer signs a football at Broncos training camp in 2006]]
After spending 5 seasons in [[Arizona]], Plummer signed as a free agent with the [[Denver Broncos]] in [[2003 Denver Broncos season|2003]], replacing [[Brian Griese]]. Though the laid-back Plummer would clash often with the domineering head coach [[Mike Shanahan]],<ref name=si.ret /> his guidance helped Plummer finish with a career-high 91.2 quarterback rating. On September 22, he had the longest run by a Broncos QB on [[Monday Night Football]], a 40-yard scramble in a 31–10 win over the [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200309220den.htm|title=Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – September 22nd, 2003 – Pro-Football-Reference.com|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> He led the Broncos to a wild card playoff berth, where the Broncos were beaten 41–10 by the [[Indianapolis Colts]].

In [[2004 Denver Broncos season|2004]] he matched or surpassed several of Broncos [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] QB [[John Elway]]'s passing records (including passing yardage and passing touchdowns in a single season). In the opening game victory against [[Kansas City Chiefs|Kansas City]], he reached 20,000 career passing yards. In the eighth game, he threw for a spectacular 499 yards and four touchdowns against [[Atlanta Falcons|Atlanta]]. However, continuing a career-long shortcoming, he also threw three interceptions in the loss, and led the league that season with twenty. He led the Broncos to a second straight wild card playoff berth, but the Broncos were again beaten by the Colts 49–24, despite Plummer's 103.1 [[passer rating]] in the contest.

In [[2005 Denver Broncos season|2005]],  Plummer experienced arguably his best season as a professional. He threw 229 passes without an interception, the longest such streak of his career. He also began serving as Denver's holder, which he would continue to do through the 2006 season, as well. Along the way, Plummer helped the Broncos compile a 13–3 record, a #2 seed, and a first round bye in the AFC playoffs (behind the Colts). He also earned a Pro Bowl selection. The Broncos' first game was against the [[New England Patriots]] in the AFC Divisional Game at Invesco Field. Although not outstanding, Plummer's performance (15-for-26 for 197 yards, one touchdown, one interception) helped the Broncos break the Patriots' winning streak of eleven postseason games and gain their first postseason victory since [[Super Bowl XXXIII]]. However, Plummer accounted for four turnovers in the AFC Championship game and the Broncos were defeated 34–17 by the eventual Super Bowl champion [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].

On November 27, 2006, after a lackluster performance in the first eleven games, and following back-to-back losses to the [[San Diego Chargers]] and [[Kansas City Chiefs]], head coach Mike Shanahan announced that Plummer would be replaced at starting quarterback by rookie [[Jay Cutler]]. The decision to hand a 7–4 team over to a rookie quarterback was met by fans and media with mixed reactions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=6292 |title=Cutler to Start |access-date=November 29, 2006 |last=Mason |first=Andrew |date=November 27, 2006 |publisher=DenverBroncos.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129040145/http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=6292 |archive-date=November 29, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=si.ret /> Those who viewed Plummer as inconsistent heralded the change as one that would revive the Broncos' struggling offense;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4722797 |title=Start the Cutler era |access-date=August 23, 2008 |last=Klis |first=Mike |date=November 26, 2006 |publisher=denverpost.com }}</ref> others claimed such a move was ill-advised, especially given that Plummer had guided the Broncos to the AFC Championship game the year before; Plummer had also been 40–18 with Denver in both regular season and playoff games, while leading his teams to thirty game-tying/winning drives in his career, a league high. In the last game of the season, Plummer came off the bench against the [[San Francisco 49ers]] after Cutler suffered a concussion. He played the remainder of the first half before Cutler played the second half.

As of the 2017 NFL off-season, Plummer holds at least two Broncos franchise records, including:
* Passing Yards: game (499 on 2004-10-31 ATL)
* Passer Rating: playoff season (103.1 in 2004)

===Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007)===
On March 3, 2007, Plummer was traded to the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] for a 2008 conditional draft pick. However, rumors began to surface that Plummer was going to choose retirement over competition with the Buccaneers' four other quarterbacks on the roster ([[Bruce Gradkowski]], [[Tim Rattay]], [[Jeff Garcia]], and [[Luke McCown]]).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5340491 | title=Plummer refuses to take trade | publisher=DenverPost.com | date=March 2, 2007 | access-date=March 2, 2007 | author=Bill Williamson}}</ref> On March 9, Plummer ended the speculation by announcing his decision to retire.<ref name=si.ret/> Plummer also confirmed his retirement through the Jake Plummer Foundation's website.<ref>{{cite news| title= Plummer: I'm really retiring | date= March 3, 2007 | publisher=DenverPost.com | url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5351843  | first=Mike | last=Klis | access-date=March 13, 2015}}</ref>

Since he was still under contract to the Buccaneers and had already been given his contract signing bonus, Tampa Bay coach [[Jon Gruden]] met with Plummer in July to try to convince him to reconsider and report for training camp.<ref name=si.ret/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/3143 |title=Bucs News & Notes July 26, 2007 |publisher=PewterReport.com |date=July 26, 2007 |access-date=July 26, 2007 |author=Jim Flynn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211029/http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/3143 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, the attempt was unsuccessful and the team sued for recovery of the bonus. A settlement was finally reached on June 10, 2008, in which Plummer was required to pay back $3.5 million to the Buccaneers.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9534656 | work=Denver Post | first=Mike | last=Klis | title=Plummer, Bucs reach settlement | date=June 10, 2008}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-

| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="5"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] || [[1997 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 10 || 9 || 3–6 || 157 || 296 || 53.0 || 2,203 || 7.4 || 15 || 15 || 73.1 || 39 || 216 || 5.5 || 2
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] || [[1998 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 9–7 || '''324''' || '''547''' || 59.2 || 3,737 || 6.8 || 17 || 20 || 75.0 || 51 || 217 || 4.3 || '''4'''
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] || [[1999 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 12 || 11 || 3–8 || 201 || 381 || 52.8 || 2,111 || 5.5 || 9 || style="background:#cfecec;"|  '''24''' || 50.8 || 39 || 121 || 3.1 || 2
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 14 || 14 || 3–11 || 270 || 475 || 56.8 || 2,946 || 6.2 || 13 || 21 || 66.0 || 37 || 183 || 4.9 || 0
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 7–9 || 304 || 525 || 57.9|| 3,653 || 7.0 || 18 || 14 || 79.6 || 35 || 163 || 4.7 || 0
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 5–11 || 284 || 530 || 53.6 || 2,972 || 5.6 || 18 || 20 || 65.7 || 46 || '''283''' || '''6.2''' || 2
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 11 || 11 || 9–2 || 189 || 302 || '''62.6''' || 2,182 || 7.2 || 15 || 7 || '''91.2''' || 37 || 205 || 5.5 || 3
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 10–6 || 303 || 521 || 58.2 || '''4,089''' || '''7.8''' || '''27''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| 20 || 84.5 || '''62''' || 202 || 3.3 || 1
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''13–3''' || 277 || 456 || 60.7 || 3,366 || 7.4 || 18 || 7 || 90.2 || 46 || 151 || 3.3 || 2
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 11 || 7–4 || 175 || 317 || 55.2 || 1,994 || 6.3 || 11 || 13 || 68.8 || 36 || 112 || 3.1 || 1
|-
! colspan="2"| Total<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/player/jakeplummer/2502499/profile Jake Plummer NFL Profile]. ''NFL.com''. Retrieved March 19, 2013.</ref> || 143 || 136 || 69–67 || 2,484 || 4,350 || 57.1 || 29,253 || 6.7 || 161 || 161 || 74.6 || 428 || 1,853 || 4.3 || 17
|}

==Handball==
Since his retirement from the NFL, Plummer has been an avid player of four-wall [[American handball|handball]].<ref name=si.ret/> He attended his first professional handball tournament in 2007 when he entered the Simple Green US Open of Handball (with brother Eric) in the pro doubles division where the pair lost to future Hall of Fame members John Bike and Danny Bell. In 2008, Plummer hosted [[Plummer Family Helluva Handball Bash|his own pro invitational]] and lost in the finals of the pro consolation bracket to #37 ranked, Jeff Kastner. Also in 2008, Plummer lost in the semifinals of the 2008's Idaho State Singles Championships to his brother (the eventual champion).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_7220039 |title=Plummer's handball odyssey |access-date=October 22, 2007 |last=Hammond |first=Rich |date=October 19, 2007 |publisher=denverpost.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=clemmons/081112&sportCat=nfl |title=Where in the world is Jake Plummer? Playing handball |access-date=November 17, 2008 |last=Clemmons |first=Anna Katherine |date=November 17, 2008 |work=espn.com }}</ref>

{{update|date=August 2021}}

==Personal life==
Plummer married former [[Denver Broncos Cheerleaders|Broncos cheerleader]] Kollette Klassen on August 26, 2007, whom he met in 2005. In June 2010, Kollette gave birth to the couple's first child. After retiring from the NFL, Plummer moved to [[Sandpoint, Idaho]] (though the couple also has a house in [[Boulder, Colorado]]) where he lives in relative anonymity.<ref name="si.ret" /> His former agent Leigh Steinberg said he is "one of the minuscule few that I could see living a completely fulfilled life away from sport... he was as close to an egoless major star as I've seen." When a concerned [[Meals on Wheels]] supervisor in Sandpoint insisted that a jobless, "scruffy", long-time volunteer who worked for her, keep track of the miles he drove for the organization for reimbursement, she was "dumbstruck" to discover he was a former NFL star.<ref name="si.ret" />

The lifestyle contrasted with the somewhat rocky moments during his playing days with much attention devoted to flipping off a fan, a loud traffic dispute, and a feud with a Denver gossip columnist.<ref name="si.ret" /> Plummer has also stirred controversy with his support of medical marijuana, which he claims to use regularly to deal with lingering post-football injuries,<ref>{{cite news |last=Cook |first=Brandon |date=December 8, 2014 |title=A Personal Look At Marijuana Policy |publisher=Whaxy |url=https://www.whaxy.com/news/nfl-marijuana-policy-interview |url-status=dead |access-date=March 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402192342/https://www.whaxy.com/news/nfl-marijuana-policy-interview |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> and hostile reaction to [[Jerry Jones]]' dismissal of NFL players with brain injuries.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Petchesky |first1=Barry |date=June 29, 2016 |title=Jake Plummer Has Some Thoughts For "Billionaire Asshole" Jerry Jones |url=http://deadspin.com/jake-plummer-has-some-thoughts-for-billionaire-asshole-1782807494 |website=Deadspin}}</ref> Plummer also started an [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's]] foundation, made time during his career to walk dogs at a shelter he donated $10,000 to on retirement, and developed personal connections with children affected by [[September 11 attacks|9/11]].<ref name="si.ret" />

On June 27, 1997, he struck a plea agreement rather than fight charges alleging that he grabbed four women at a nightclub in [[Tempe, Arizona]]. He received two years probation, was fined $1,020, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tribune |first1=Chicago |title=Plummer Gets Probation in Sex-Abuse Case |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/06/28/plummer-gets-probation-in-sex-abuse-case/#:~:text=Quarterback%20Jake%20Plummer%20struck%20a,100%20hours%20of%20community%20service. |access-date=May 4, 2024 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=June 28, 1997}}</ref>  Probation ended after only 9 months due to exemplary behavior with a court spokeswoman stating, "He has done everything we have asked of him, more in fact, significantly more."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jake Plummer Gets Off Probation |url=https://apnews.com/article/d1a6220127343fbbaf03b9df2550ba94 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2007, Plummer was inducted into the Arizona State Hall of Fame. Later that year, he made a brief appearance in the [[2007 Holiday Bowl]], when he introduced the ASU players prior to the team playing game. On October 29, 2010, Plummer was honored, along with all Sun Devil Quarterbacks, at a Legends Luncheon hosted by the Arizona State University Alumni Association and Sun Devil Club. Other honorees included [[Danny White]], [[Andrew Walter]], [[John F. Goodman]], and [[Jeff Van Raaphorst]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alumni.asu.edu/news/asu-alumni-association-honor-sun-devil-quarterbacks-oct-29-luncheon |title=News |work=ASU Alumni Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922105058/http://alumni.asu.edu/news/asu-alumni-association-honor-sun-devil-quarterbacks-oct-29-luncheon |archive-date=September 22, 2010 }}</ref> Plummer has been an assistant football coach at [[Sandpoint High School]] since 2009.<ref name=apr09>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/more/wires/04/17/2080.ap.fbh.plummer.high.school.0201/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023045107/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/more/wires/04/17/2080.ap.fbh.plummer.high.school.0201/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2011|publisher=Sports Illustrated.com|agency=Associated Press|title=Jake Plummer coaching at Sandpoint High|date=April 17, 2009}}</ref>

==Relationship with Pat Tillman==
Plummer was a teammate of [[Pat Tillman]], a [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]], at both Arizona State and the Arizona Cardinals and the two were close friends.<ref name=si.ret/> After the [[2001 NFL season|2001]] season, while Plummer was still with the Cardinals, Tillman joined the [[United States Army Rangers|U.S. Army Rangers]] in response to [[September 11 attacks|9/11]]. During leave in January 2004, the two showed up unannounced at a handball tournament in Seattle in support of Jake's brother, Eric.<ref name=si.ret />

After Tillman's death in [[Afghanistan]] on April 22, 2004, all NFL players wore a memorial decal on their helmets on September 24 in honor of Tillman and the Cardinals continued to wear this decal throughout the [[2004 NFL season|2004]] season. Plummer by this point was with the [[Denver Broncos|Broncos]], requested to wear the decal for the entire season, but the NFL turned him down because his helmet would not be the same as the rest of his team. For the [[2005 NFL season|2005]] season Plummer grew an untrimmed, full beard and wore his hair long in honor of Tillman,<ref name=si.ret/> who had worn that style in the NFL before he cut his hair and shaved off his beard in accordance with military uniform regulations. Plummer gave Tillman's funeral eulogy in a suit and flip-flops in honor of his friend's trademark style.<ref name=si.ret />

==Medical cannabis advocacy==
{{See also|Cannabis and sports}}
Plummer uses [[cannabidiol]] (CBD) to treat the pain, inflammation, and headaches that he has experienced as a result of his years playing football.<ref name="SI CBD">{{cite magazine|last1=Plummer|first1=Jake|title=Jake Plummer's Plan to Alleviate Pain for Players|url=https://www.si.com/mmqb/2016/07/03/jake-plummer-monday-morning-qb-pat-tillman-cannabinoids-pain-nfl|access-date=February 19, 2018|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=July 4, 2016}}</ref> He says that his condition improved so much after he started taking CBD that he considered a return to the NFL, almost a decade after retiring.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jake Plummer pushes NFL to research possible marijuana benefits|url=https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/jake-plummer-denver-broncos-marijuana-cbd-oil-benefits-cte-concussions-031616|access-date=February 19, 2018|work=Fox Sports|date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519210615/https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/jake-plummer-denver-broncos-marijuana-cbd-oil-benefits-cte-concussions-031616|archive-date=May 19, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has served as a spokesperson for CW Botanicals, a company which manufactures CBD products.<ref name="SI CBD" /> He has also helped raise funds for [[cannabinoid]] research.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jhabvala|first1=Nicki|title=Jake Plummer, Realm of Caring team up for another Broncos game-day experience to benefit cannabinoid research|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/10/26/jake-plummer-realm-of-caring-cannabinoid-research/|access-date=February 18, 2018|work=The Denver Post|date=October 26, 2017}}</ref>

In November 2016, Plummer was one of the signatories of an [[open letter]] addressed to the NFL, urging a change in the league's policy towards [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jhabvala|first1=Nicki|title=Players, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation pen letter to NFL urging policy reform|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/11/players-doctors-for-cannabis-regulation-pen-letter-nfl/|access-date=February 18, 2018|work=The Denver Post|date=November 11, 2016}}</ref> [[Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]] wrote the letter and it was signed by several NFL players.<ref>{{citation |title=An Open Letter to the National Football League |url=https://dfcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/NFL-open-letter.pdf |publisher=Doctors for Cannabis Regulation |date=November 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113230751/https://dfcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/NFL-open-letter.pdf |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  He is also a member of the Doctors for Cannabis Regulation NFL steering committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Campaign |url=https://dfcr.org/nfl-campaign/ |website=Doctors for Cannabis Regulation |access-date=October 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028061541/https://dfcr.org/nfl-campaign/ |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080109020657/http://www.buccaneers.com/team/playerdetail.aspx?player=Plummer%2CJake%2C16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio (2007)]
* {{Footballstats |nfl=Jake-Plummer
|cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=PlumJa00 |dbf=PLUMMJAK01 |rotoworld=}}
* {{IMDb name|1833398}}

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