Eric Sorenson
Always known for his elusiveness Jake “The Snake” Plummer never needed much time in the pocket during his four years at Arizona State or ten-year NFL career with the Cardinals and Denver Broncos.
After retiring following the 2006 season he craved for time away from the pressure, the grind, and the life of an NFL quarterback. Plummer went back to his roots in his home state of Idaho. He bought a ranch, played plenty of handball, got married and shortly thereafter started a family.
Now the football itch is back.
“I think a little bit of what lit my fire this year was working with Collin Klein the quarterback from [Kansas] State,” Plummer explained to Brad Cesmat during an in-studio interview Wednesday. “A great kid, a great talent who’s being overlooked by the so-called [NFL draft] guru’s and experts…that was a lot of fun…it wasn’t coaching for an NFL or college team where you have to be there at six and you don’t leave until ten or twelve or one [AM] because the pressure to win is so grand. I’ve had that pressure on me and I didn’t respond well. I’m done having to live under that pressure.”
He said stepping away from the game the past several years has in many ways has re-energized his love for it. He’s had conversations with FOX about doing work, in some capacity, on their college football broadcasts.
Since moving his family to Boulder, Colorado he’s attended several Broncos games as simply a fan. He’s “seeing how the other half lives” so to speak enjoying beers and chili during pre-game tailgating and gaining a different understanding of football watching it from the stands.
“That excitement, the smells, the sounds,” he told Cesmat. “That hope that every person coming in, rather you’re rooting for the home team or the visiting team, that your team is going to win that day. That is a very powerful energy. To get back around that in some form is what I’m looking to possibly do.”
Through the years Plummer has kept a close eye on his alma mater who he led to the Rose Bowl in 1997. He likes what he sees and hears about Todd Graham who resurrected ASU to an eight-win team last fall. He believes Graham and his hard-working staff are laying a solid foundation and building the program correctly for long-term success.
The always modest 38-year old was a little less direct when asked about his number 16 jersey one day being retired by the school.
“They shouldn’t,” he said. “I don’t believe in retiring [numbers]. You gotta see numbers on the field and that makes you remember a guy when you see some kid wearing it. I had one good year. Just one good year, really [laughing].”
Jake Plummer and football are good for one another.
Here’s hoping for a happy reunion in the near future.
