Former QB Jake Plummer’s new position as ‘Mushroom Man’ farmer
FORT LUPTON, Colo. (BVM) – Former starting NFL QB Jake Plummer, or Jake “The Snake,” is deserving of a new nickname – possibly Jake “The Fun-gi” – considering where he is now with his relatively new business venture as a mushroom farmer.
Plummer recently posted a status update on his LinkedIn that reads, “I’m happy to share that I’ve started a new position as Mushroom Man at www.getUMBO.com and MyCOLove.Farm!” The post shows dozens of congratulatory comments for Plummer who’s in the business of selling “functional mushrooms” that have the potential power to support health for the “mind, body and soul.”
The 47-year-old has been 16 years removed since playing as a quarterback in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals. So where is Jake Plummer now and how did he end up here?
Jake Plummer’s NFL career highlights
Jake Plummer was an NFL quarterback for 10 years; six of those years were spent with the Arizona Cardinals and the other four were with the Denver Broncos.
Plummer played college football at Arizona State University where he broke multiple records. He wore jersey number 16 at ASU and continued to do so all throughout his football career.
Staying in Arizona for his rookie NFL season in 1997, Plummer threw 15 touchdowns and for over 2,200 yards. The following season, he led the league in game-winning drives by a quarterback with seven. But in 1999, he threw a league-high 24 interceptions and threw just nine touchdowns. The only time he threw more touchdowns than interceptions during his time in Arizona was in 2001.
Plummer is mostly known for his time in Denver from 2003-06. He led the Broncos to the 2005 AFC Championship Game which was also the same season he was selected to the Pro Bowl. After starting in nearly every game since his college years, he lost his starting job to Jay Cutler in 2006. He had the opportunity to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007 but chose to retire instead.
After 143 total career games, he amassed 29,253 passing yards and ended with an equal ratio of touchdowns to interceptions, 161:161. During his career, Plummer held nine Cardinals franchise records. He also broke two Broncos franchise records for passing yards and passer rating. After such a career, no one could have predicted Plummer’s next moves from the bright lights to the dark, fungus-filled rooms.
How did Jake Plummer get involved with mushroom farming?
In the years after his retirement, Plummer started playing in professional handball tournaments. But overall, he kept as a private man. In terms of Plummer’s family, he has three kids with his wife and former Broncos cheerleader Kollette Klassen, according to Players Bio.
It was during this post-NFL life that led him to his mushroom start-up. Plummer became a frequent advocate for athletes and their brain health. He was outspoken about using medical cannabis to treat the pain that so many players develop from contact sports. So much so, that he even took a job at a CBD and hemp company with a man named Del Jolly. It was Jolly who introduced him to mushroom extract supplements and now they work together at their “functional mushroom company” (functional, instead of medicinal, to avoid legal complications surrounding this lesser-known industry). Jolly even jokingly commented, “Glad you’re finally employed,” under Plummer’s recent LinkedIn job status update.
Where is Jake Plummer now?
Plummer is one of three co-founders alongside Jolly at Umbo Mushrooms, which sells “functional mushrooms” in the form of food and capsules. Plummer is also one of four co-founders at MyCoLove Farm. Founded in 2021 and located in Fort Lupton, Colo., the farm grows several species used to sell its mushroom extracts.
All the products claim to do different things, such as to “protect and restore neurons.” There’s a warning that displays under each product: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
Although Plummer and the team are in their earlier stages, the global medicinal mushrooms market will supposedly be more than a $4 billion industry by 2025, according to Absolute Reports.
Jake Plummer’s net worth
Plummer’s earnings as an NFL player from 1997-2007 were north of $58 million (salary and bonuses), according to Spotrac. Today, Celebrity Net Worth reports that Plummer’s net worth is $30 million. But, take that number with a grain of salt.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates net worth based on “known salaries, real estate holdings, divorce records, royalties, lawsuits, and endorsements.” On top of the farming, his LinkedIn states that he’s the VP at ReadyList Sports and does what he can to teach kids life sports. He hasn’t earned wealth in the high millions since his long-gone days playing in the NFL. He’s also not paying himself much right now, considering that USA Today reported earlier this month that MyCoLove Farm brings in about $8,000 in monthly revenue – not profit.
But, Plummer has been receiving a lot of press since USA Today’s article, so business must be booming now with the recent headlines of this former Pro Bowler who now farms fungi for a living. Maybe in the future, Plummer could make an appearance on “Shark Tank” and maybe then his business will mushroom in popularity.
