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Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer (born December 19, 1974) is an American former professional 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. 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.

Key Information

Since retiring from the field, he launched Umbo, a functional mushroom supplement company alongside former UFC Champion Rashad Evans.[1] 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 "the Snake" Roberts.[2] Coincidentally, Plummer and Roberts each adopted the nickname as a tribute to former Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, who was nicknamed "Snake."[3]

Early life

[edit]

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 Sawtooths (the mountains of the Sawtooth Range).[4]

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.[5] He graduated from 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.[6] 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 until Hue Jackson, then a coach at Arizona State, heavily recruited Plummer and eventually convinced him to recommit to the Sun Devils. He also received scholarship offers from Boise State, Idaho, Montana, Oregon State, Washington State, and Wyoming.[7]

College career

[edit]

Plummer accepted a football scholarship to Arizona State University in Tempe. He did not redshirt and took over as the starting quarterback (from Grady Benton) early in his freshman season in 1993. He had consistent, but not outstanding, statistical output during his career, and never led the Pac-10 in any major statistical category.[8] He threw for an impressive 1,650 yards in his freshman season, but also had seven interceptions to just nine touchdowns.[9] He broke 2,000 yards in 1994 as a sophomore, and upped his touchdowns to 15.[9] As a junior in 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.[10]

His senior season in 1996 was arguably the best in school history. Arizona State attracted national attention on September 21 when they shut out top-ranked Nebraska 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.[11] He led ASU to an undefeated regular season and a Pac-10 championship,[12] aided in no small part by fellow all-conference linebacker and close personal friend Pat Tillman. In the Rose Bowl, he scored a sensational 11-yard go-ahead touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, but Ohio State responded and won 20–17.[13] A victory likely would have meant a national championship as the only undefeated team in the nation, but their final ranking was fourth.[4] Plummer was third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Florida's Danny Wuerffel and Iowa State's Troy Davis,[14] was a first-team All-American, and the Pac-10's Offensive Player of the Year.[15]

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.[16] A dedicated student, Plummer was also a two-time Academic All-Conference player.[15] A 2013 review listed Jake Plummer as the best player to wear number 16 in Sun Devil history.[10]

College statistics

[edit]
Season Team GP Passing
Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Rtg
1993 Arizona State 9 102 199 51.3 1,650 9 7 128.8
1994 Arizona State 11 159 294 54.1 2,179 15 9 127.1
1995 Arizona State 11 173 301 57.5 2,222 17 9 132.1
1996 Arizona State 11 179 313 57.2 2,575 23 9 144.8
College career 42 613 1,107 55.4 8,626 64 34 133.8
School rank[17] — 4th 3rd — 3rd 4th —

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump
6 ft 2+1⁄4 in
(1.89 m)		 195 lb
(88 kg)		 33 in
(0.84 m)		 9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.96 s 1.71 s 2.93 s 4.29 s 7.30 s 30.0 in
(0.76 m)
All values from NFL Combine[18]

Arizona Cardinals (1997–2002)

[edit]

Plummer was selected in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals.[19] He played behind Kent Graham and Stoney Case at the start of his 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."[4] In 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,[20] before losing in the second round to the Minnesota Vikings.

Plummer had a disappointing season in 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."[21] His reputation as a risk-taking "gunslinger" became a liability. In 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 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 attempts 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 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)

[edit]
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, replacing Brian Griese. Though the laid-back Plummer would clash often with the domineering head coach Mike Shanahan,[4] 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.[22] He led the Broncos to a wild card playoff berth, where the Broncos were beaten 41–10 by the Indianapolis Colts.

In 2004 he matched or surpassed several of Broncos 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, he reached 20,000 career passing yards. In the eighth game, he threw for a spectacular 499 yards and four touchdowns against 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, 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.[23][4] Those who viewed Plummer as inconsistent heralded the change as one that would revive the Broncos' struggling offense;[24] 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)

[edit]

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).[25] On March 9, Plummer ended the speculation by announcing his decision to retire.[4] Plummer also confirmed his retirement through the Jake Plummer Foundation's website.[26]

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.[4][27] 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.[28]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
1997 ARI 10 9 3–6 157 296 53.0 2,203 7.4 15 15 73.1 39 216 5.5 2
1998 ARI 16 16 9–7 324 547 59.2 3,737 6.8 17 20 75.0 51 217 4.3 4
1999 ARI 12 11 3–8 201 381 52.8 2,111 5.5 9 24 50.8 39 121 3.1 2
2000 ARI 14 14 3–11 270 475 56.8 2,946 6.2 13 21 66.0 37 183 4.9 0
2001 ARI 16 16 7–9 304 525 57.9 3,653 7.0 18 14 79.6 35 163 4.7 0
2002 ARI 16 16 5–11 284 530 53.6 2,972 5.6 18 20 65.7 46 283 6.2 2
2003 DEN 11 11 9–2 189 302 62.6 2,182 7.2 15 7 91.2 37 205 5.5 3
2004 DEN 16 16 10–6 303 521 58.2 4,089 7.8 27 20 84.5 62 202 3.3 1
2005 DEN 16 16 13–3 277 456 60.7 3,366 7.4 18 7 90.2 46 151 3.3 2
2006 DEN 16 11 7–4 175 317 55.2 1,994 6.3 11 13 68.8 36 112 3.1 1
Total[29] 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

[edit]

Since his retirement from the NFL, Plummer has been an avid player of four-wall handball.[4] 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 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).[30][31]

Personal life

[edit]

Plummer married former 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.[4] 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.[4]

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.[4] Plummer has also stirred controversy with his support of medical marijuana, which he claims to use regularly to deal with lingering post-football injuries,[32] and hostile reaction to Jerry Jones' dismissal of NFL players with brain injuries.[33] Plummer also started an 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 9/11.[4]

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.[34] 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."[35]

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.[36] Plummer has been an assistant football coach at Sandpoint High School since 2009.[37]

Relationship with Pat Tillman

[edit]

Plummer was a teammate of Pat Tillman, a safety, at both Arizona State and the Arizona Cardinals and the two were close friends.[4] After the 2001 season, while Plummer was still with the Cardinals, Tillman joined the U.S. Army Rangers in response to 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.[4]

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 season. Plummer by this point was with the 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 season Plummer grew an untrimmed, full beard and wore his hair long in honor of Tillman,[4] 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.[4]

Medical cannabis advocacy

[edit]
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.[38] 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.[39] He has served as a spokesperson for CW Botanicals, a company which manufactures CBD products.[38] He has also helped raise funds for cannabinoid research.[40]

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.[41] Doctors for Cannabis Regulation wrote the letter and it was signed by several NFL players.[42] He is also a member of the Doctors for Cannabis Regulation NFL steering committee.[43]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jake Plummer

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Early life

Family background and high school years

Jason Steven Plummer was born on December 19, 1974, in . 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. Plummer came from a sports-oriented ; his , Steve Plummer, was a competitive player who won multiple state titles in and introduced Jake and his older brothers, and , to the sport during childhood. This early involvement in , characterized by rapid movements and precise ball control, cultivated Plummer's hand-eye coordination, , and —attributes that translated to his quarterbacking prowess. The family's emphasis on athletics extended to other pursuits, fostering a competitive mindset from a young age. At Capital High School in Boise, Plummer starred as a three-sport in football, , and , graduating in 1993. As the 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 . His high school exploits established him as a local standout, setting the foundation for his collegiate trajectory without overlapping into university-level play.

College career

Arizona State University performance

Plummer became a four-year starter at for the from 1993 to 1996, marking the first time in nearly a decade that a true had earned the starting role, which he assumed early in his debut season. 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. This development was evident in his school-record 34 games with either a passing or rushing , reflecting consistent dual-threat impact despite early-season challenges like turnover-prone outings as a young signal-caller. 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 of then-No. 3 on September 21. His leadership earned First-Team All-American honors, Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year recognition, and a third-place finish in voting, underscoring a season of poised decision-making and clutch performances that elevated the team's co-offensive identity alongside a robust ground attack. 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.

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. His rushing output included 5 touchdowns on 289 attempts for a net -113 yards, reflecting mobility offset by sacks absorbed as a pocket passer.
YearGamesCompletionsAttemptsCompletion %YardsTDsINTsPasser Rating
1993910219951.31,65097128.8
19941115929454.12,179159127.1
19951117330157.52,222179132.1
19961117931357.22,575239144.8
Career426131,10755.48,6266434133.2
YearGamesAttemptsYardsTDs
1993943-570
19941175-921
19951186-271
19961185633
Career42289-1135

Professional career

Arizona Cardinals tenure (1997–2002)

Plummer was selected by the in the second round (42nd overall) of the out of . He entered a franchise mired in mediocrity, having relocated from in 1988 and posted losing records in most seasons since. As a , Plummer initially served as a backup to quarterbacks and before making his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Tennessee Oilers, where he orchestrated a crucial 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter during a 31-27 loss. 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. 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 nod. 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 20-7 in the franchise's first playoff victory since 1947 before a 20-44 divisional loss to the . This postseason success, driven by Plummer's late-game comebacks and the contributions of drafted teammate at safety, temporarily stabilized the franchise amid relocation rumors. 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 basement due to defensive deficiencies, offensive line issues, and coaching turnover. 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. 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 enlistment after 2001, which tested team cohesion without positional overlap.

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. 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. The team lost in the wild-card round to the Indianapolis Colts, 41–10. Over the next two seasons, Plummer elevated his performance under head coach , benefiting from a strong running game led by backs like and Mike Anderson. In 2004, he threw for a career-high 4,089 yards and 27 touchdowns against 20 s, contributing to a 10–6 record and another wild-card berth, though the Broncos fell to the , 27–13. His mobility remained a key asset, as he rushed for 503 yards across 2004 and 2005 combined. The 2005 season marked Plummer's peak, with a 91.2 , 3,366 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just seven s—including a franchise-record streak of 229 consecutive passes without an —en route to a 13–3 regular-season record, the AFC's No. 2 seed, and a first-round bye. He earned his sole selection that year. However, Denver lost in the divisional to , 27–13. 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. On November 27, following a loss to Kansas City, Shanahan benched him in favor of rookie , citing the need for a spark despite Plummer's prior success in starting 46 consecutive games including . Plummer appeared in only six games that year, throwing three touchdowns against seven interceptions before being released at season's end. Overall, he compiled a 39–15 record as Denver's starter, with 11,631 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers stint and retirement (2007)

On March 2, 2007, the acquired the contractual rights to Jake Plummer from the in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the . Plummer, who had three years remaining on a 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 and . Plummer confirmed his retirement on March 9, 2007, during a news conference at the Athletic Club, effectively forgoing any obligation to report to . At age 32, following 10 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. The completed the trade despite Plummer's stance, but he never joined the team or participated in , concluding his professional career without a single appearance in uniform. 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.

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 in his career. The majority of these statistics occurred during his tenure with the (1997–2002), where he accounted for 15,622 passing yards, 90 touchdowns, and 114 interceptions over 84 starts.
YearTeamGGSCmpAttCmp%YdsTDIntRate
1997ARI10915729653.02203151573.1
1998ARI161632454759.23737172075.0
1999ARI121120138152.8211192450.8
2000ARI141427047556.82946132166.0
2001ARI161630452557.93653181479.6
2002ARI161628453053.62972182065.7
2003111118930262.6218215791.2
2004161630352158.24089272084.5
2005161627745660.7336618790.2
2006161117531755.21994111368.8
Career1431362484435057.12925316116174.6
Plummer also contributed as a rusher, accumulating 1,853 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns on 428 carries over his career, highlighting his mobility as a .
YearTeamGAttYdsTD
1997ARI10392162
1998ARI16512174
1999ARI12391212
2000ARI14371830
2001ARI16351630
2002ARI16462832
200311372053
200416622021
200516461512
200616361121
Career143428185317

Post-NFL pursuits

Handball involvement

Plummer was introduced to by his father, Steve Plummer, who taught the sport to him and his brothers as toddlers and won the state open championship in 1976. He engaged in recreational during high school and , using it to develop , hand-eye coordination, and quick reflexes—attributes that demand rapid and precise ball control in confined spaces. Plummer has attributed these physical and mental benefits to enhancing his performance, citing improved accuracy and toughness from the sport's demands for backpedaling under pressure and sustained rallies, though such transfers remain anecdotal without controlled empirical studies. Following his NFL retirement in June 2007, Plummer intensified his involvement, playing several times weekly in and resuming after a roughly 12-year partial hiatus during his football career. He organized the inaugural Plummer Family Helluva Bash in 2008, an annual pro-am tournament in , that attracts players and raises funds for charities like Camp Fire USA. Plummer featured prominently in the 2011 U-Verse documentary on World Players of , highlighting his competitive play and advocacy for the sport's role in building mental resilience through its high-intensity, error-minimizing format. While ranking among the world's top 200 players by competing in doubles events alongside professionals, he has maintained an status, emphasizing enjoyment and fitness over aspirations.

Pickleball and fitness transformation

Plummer adopted in his forties as a low-impact alternative to high-contact sports, drawn to its accessibility for aging athletes managing NFL-induced wear. He participated in the Dinks for a Difference Match at the 2024 Biofreeze National Championships in , competing alongside other former professional athletes. In April 2025, he hosted the inaugural Jake Plummer Bash at The Picklr in , featuring celebrity teams in a pro-am format to promote the sport. This shift aligned with his broader post-retirement fitness overhaul, initiated around 2022, where he prioritized self-directed regimens over pharmaceutical interventions like opioids to address , headaches, and mobility issues from 10 NFL seasons. By age 47, Plummer reported feeling physically superior to his forties, crediting consistent movement and avoidance of sedentary decline, though specific metrics such as weight or changes remain undocumented publicly. Pickleball's role extended to cognitive preservation, with Plummer advocating its strategic demands and rapid reactions as countermeasures to brain health risks, including those associated with (CTE). The 2012 suicide of , a former teammate diagnosed posthumously with CTE, profoundly shaped his outlook, prompting emphasis on proactive, non-pharmacological recovery to avert deterioration observed in peers. In July 2025, he led youth clinics in Springs with alumni, teaching over 100 participants and underscoring pickleball's intergenerational competitiveness as a sustainable passion replacing football's physical demands. In a June 2025 podcast, Plummer noted that regular play alleviates soreness while enhancing and neural activity, countering depression risks without exacerbating joint strain.

Personal life

Family and residences

Plummer married Kollette Kahl, a former cheerleader, and the couple has two children born after his retirement. Their family life has remained private, prioritizing stability during and after Plummer's frequent team relocations from to and . Originally from —near Boise where his father coached college football—Plummer returned to the state post-retirement, initially residing in Sandpoint. He later shifted primary residence to the area in , where the family maintains a home east of the city, while occasionally splitting time with Idaho properties reflective of his roots. Plummer has owned multiple properties, including a former mansion in Cherry Hills Village sold in recent years.

Relationship with Pat Tillman

Jake Plummer and first became teammates at from 1994 to 1997, where Plummer played quarterback and Tillman started as a after walking on to the team. Their professional paths converged again with the from 1998 to 2001, fostering a bond marked by mutual respect amid the team's struggles. Plummer has described Tillman as a "badass in all facets of life," emphasizing his relentless drive and intellectual curiosity that extended beyond football. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Tillman enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2002, forgoing a three-year, $3.6 million extension with the Cardinals to serve as an Army Ranger. Plummer, who had established himself as the Cardinals' starting , maintained their friendship without reported tension over Tillman's departure, as their positions on the field differed and Tillman had transitioned from linebacker to . Tillman deployed to in 2003 and in 2004, where he was killed on April 22, 2004, in eastern by during a combat operation. In the wake of Tillman's death, Plummer honored him by affixing a No. 40 sticker—Tillman's Cardinals jersey number—to his helmet during the with the , initially defying league uniform rules until agreeing to remove it after negotiations. Plummer has consistently focused tributes on Tillman's life rather than his death, praising his patriotism, selflessness, and ability to challenge others toward personal improvement. In a May 2020 , Plummer stated that Tillman "keeps pushing me to be a better man even in death," highlighting lessons in resilience and curiosity drawn from their shared experiences. Plummer's reflections have continued into recent years, including 2024 discussions on Tillman's legacy of service and intellectual pursuit, as shared in podcasts and foundation events. While Tillman later expressed private criticisms of the and aspects of military policy in letters to family, Plummer's accounts underscore Tillman's character—defined by voluntary enlistment post-9/11, physical toughness, and inspirational influence—as a model of principled action unbound by conventional paths. This enduring friendship has shaped Plummer's views on growth, with Tillman's example serving as a benchmark for confronting life's challenges directly.

Advocacy and health initiatives

Medical cannabis and CBD promotion

Following his NFL retirement, Jake Plummer underwent surgeries in 2013 and 2014 to repair torn labrums in both hips, injuries accumulated from years of playing quarterback. These procedures left him with chronic pain and inflammation, prompting him to seek alternatives to pharmaceutical painkillers, which he viewed as addictive and insufficient for long-term management. After relocating to Colorado, Plummer obtained a medical marijuana card and initially used THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, to alleviate post-surgical discomfort during recovery periods that immobilized him for weeks. He later incorporated cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive hemp-derived compound, reporting reduced inflammation and pain without the high associated with THC. Plummer publicly endorsed CBD products, notably collaborating with , a strain of hemp extract high in CBD developed for treatment and marketed for effects. He credited daily CBD use with enabling his active lifestyle, including handball play, while avoiding opioids that he observed contributed to dependency issues among former players. In a 2016 Sports Illustrated op-ed, Plummer advocated for NFL-funded research into cannabinoids as safer alternatives to potent painkillers, citing preliminary studies on CBD's potential to mitigate chronic aches, joint issues, and even symptoms like those from concussions, though he acknowledged the need for rigorous trials. That year, he urged in interviews to explore CBD's efficacy, drawing from his experience and reports of reduced seizures in pediatric cases that popularized . Plummer's efforts highlighted CBD's appeal amid the NFL's opioid crisis, where players faced high prescription rates for pain management, but faced resistance due to the league's strict anti-marijuana policies, including suspensions for positive tests regardless of medical intent. While proponents like Plummer pointed to anecdotal benefits and early research suggesting CBD's anti-inflammatory properties via endocannabinoid system interaction, skeptics noted inconsistent clinical evidence for athletic injuries, with many studies limited to animal models or small human trials lacking NFL-specific applicability. The FDA has approved CBD only for certain epilepsy treatments as of 2018, deeming most over-the-counter claims unverified and raising concerns over product purity, potential drug interactions, and unproven long-term safety compared to regulated pharmaceuticals. Plummer maintained that personal testimonies from athletes outweighed regulatory hurdles, positioning CBD as a bridge to evidence-based reform rather than a panacea.

Functional mushrooms and alternative therapies

Following his post-NFL fitness transformation in 2022, former Jake Plummer co-founded Mycolove Farm in , to cultivate and extract organic functional mushrooms at the fruiting body stage for maximum potency. The farm produces tinctures and extracts from species including Lion's Mane (), Reishi (), , and Turkey Tail (), which Plummer promotes for reducing and supporting recovery from athletic wear. Plummer extended this into consumer products by co-founding Umbo in the early , offering fruiting-body-only supplements, bars, drinks, and capsules without fillers, formulated for cognitive clarity, physical resilience, and anti-aging effects. He credits these mushrooms with personal benefits in mitigating post-career inflammation and potential (CTE) risks, claiming they enable bodily repair superior to some pharmaceuticals. Preclinical studies substantiate potential in Reishi, with triterpenes inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines in cell models and animal trials. Lion's Mane extracts have demonstrated neuroprotective effects by stimulating synthesis, improving cognitive function in rodent models of brain injury, though human evidence remains preliminary and indirect for CTE pathology like accumulation. Plummer's assertions rely heavily on such emerging data alongside his anecdotes, as large-scale clinical trials for athlete-specific outcomes are absent. As dietary supplements under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), functional mushroom products evade pre-market FDA approval but cannot legally claim disease treatment, exposing them to variability in potency and contamination risks absent in synthetic drugs' standardized trials. Natural options like these offer potential advantages in bioavailability and fewer acute side effects over pharmaceuticals, yet their efficacy hinges on dosage consistency and individual response, underscoring the need for causal verification beyond promotional narratives.

References

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