Jake Plummer

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Plummer's arrival in Denver marked the start of a high-stakes era defined by clashes with coach Mike Shanahan yet bolstered by personal statistical peaks. In his first season, he posted a career-high 91.2 quarterback rating and recorded a 40-yard scramble against the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football. The following year, he matched or surpassed several John Elway records, including reaching 20,000 career passing yards in a single opening-game victory against Kansas City. His most memorable performance came in 2005 when he threw 229 passes without an interception, a streak that helped the Broncos secure a #2 seed and their first postseason victory since Super Bowl XXXIII by defeating the New England Patriots.

In Their Own Story

The 2005 season stands as Plummer's professional peak. He led Denver to a 13–3 record, earning a Pro Bowl selection while serving as the team's holder through 2006. In the AFC Divisional Game against the New England Patriots at Invesco Field, Plummer threw for 197 yards and one touchdown, helping the Broncos break an eleven-game postseason winning streak held by their rivals. Although he accounted for four turnovers in the subsequent AFC Championship game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, his regular-season consistency was undeniable. By November 2006, after back-to-back losses to the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, Shanahan replaced Plummer with rookie Jay Cutler on a team that held a 7–4 record.

Reader's Guide

Jake Plummer played for the Denver Broncos from 2003 through 2006. In 2004, he threw for 499 yards and four touchdowns against Atlanta while leading the league with twenty interceptions. His career-high passer rating of 91.2 was achieved during his first season in Denver. Plummer led the Broncos to playoff appearances in both 2003 and 2004 as a wild card team, losing both times to the Indianapolis Colts (41–10 and 49–24 respectively). His final two seasons saw him take over for Brian Griese before ultimately being benched for Jay Cutler. Throughout his time in Denver, he maintained a reputation for risk-taking, highlighted by his 229-pass interception-free streak in 2005.

Did You Know?

• Plummer replaced Brian Griese as the starting quarterback for the Broncos in 2003.
• In 2004, Plummer reached 20,000 career passing yards during an opening game victory against Kansas City.
• He threw 229 passes without an interception during the 2005 season, a personal best streak.
• Plummer was replaced by rookie Jay Cutler on November 27, 2006, after back-to-back losses to the Chargers and Chiefs.
• During his time with the Broncos, Plummer also served as the team's holder for field goals through the 2006 season.