Gary Plummer
A reliable lineman who kept the finish line honest for Sid Brooks.
Gary Plummer was not a legendary star quarterback or a Hall of Fame coach in San Diego Chargers history, but he played a vital role as a trusted teammate and colleague to equipment manager Sid Brooks. While the franchise is often celebrated for its aerial attacks under Dan Fouts, Plummer was one of the key linemen who helped maintain the team's physical integrity during the 1980s and 1990s. His presence is immortalized in a specific anecdote involving Brooks' annual 40-yard dash tradition, where he served as an official holding the finish line tape alongside his fellow lineman Billy Ray Smith.
- Role in Source Storyline
- Linebacker/Lineman holding finish line tape
Lore & Background
The most memorable moment recorded for Gary Plummer involves a friendly rivalry with equipment manager Sid Brooks. For years, Brooks raced a designated rookie in a 40-yard dash annually to prove he was still fast enough to keep up with the players. By 1989, at age 54, Brooks held an undefeated record of 16–0–1. That year, he chose to race quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver instead of his usual lineman opponent. During the race, Plummer and Billy Ray Smith were tasked with holding the tape at the finish line. According to Brooks' own account, the two linemen kept moving the finish line as Tolliver recovered from a slow start to win. Brooks later wrote that while Tolliver might not have been faster than him, he 'would last longer.' This incident highlights Plummer's role not just as a player, but as an active participant in the team's internal culture and traditions.
In Their Own Story
Gary Plummer's connection to the Chargers' history is defined by his camaraderie with Sid Brooks during the team's time at San Diego. In a road game against the New York Giants in 1995, while fans threw snowballs throughout the match, Brooks was struck near his left eye by an ice ball in the fourth quarter. He collapsed and was unconscious for 30 seconds before being stretchered off. Although Plummer is not mentioned as a direct witness to this specific injury, he was part of the team environment during that era. His name appears distinctly in the historical record only through his participation in Brooks' famous 1989 race. In that event, standing alongside Billy Ray Smith, Plummer helped facilitate the finish line, even if Brooks suspected they moved it to let the quarterback win. This small act of team bonding illustrates the unique atmosphere where equipment managers and players competed and laughed together for decades.
Reader's Guide
To understand Gary Plummer's place in Chargers lore, one must look past traditional statistics and focus on the human moments preserved by Sid Brooks' memoirs. Fans interested in this era should look for references to the 1989 race where Plummer and Billy Ray Smith held the tape against quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver.
Did You Know?
- Gary Plummer held the finish line tape alongside Billy Ray Smith during Sid Brooks' final 40-yard dash race in 1989.
- In the 1989 race, Plummer and Smith allegedly moved the finish line to help quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver win against the 54-year-old Brooks.
- Brooks described his opponent that year as someone who 'might not have been as fast' but 'would last longer'.
- Plummer was part of the Chargers roster during the era when Sid Brooks co-invented colored face masks and three-color jersey numbers.