The son of former NFL MVP Roman Gabriel has announced that his father has passed away at the age of 83.
Roman Gabriel, the revered quarterback who claimed the 1969 AP MVP title and holds the distinction of being the Rams’ all-time leader in touchdown passes and passing attempts, passed away at the age of 83 on Saturday, as reported by his son, Roman Gabriel III, and confirmed by his alma mater, NC State.
Gabriel’s legacy extends beyond his alma mater, as he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
NC State fondly reflected on his remarkable career with the Wolfpack:
“Gabriel, who was inducted into the inaugural class of the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012, was the ACC Player of the Yer in 1960 and ‘61, setting 22 school and nine ACC records during his career. He was the first ACC quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in a season.
A two-time All-American on the playing field, Gabriel was also an Academic All-American in 1961 before being selected as the No 1 pick in that year’s American Football League draft and the No. 2 pick of the National Football League. He would go on to play 16 seasons in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles and was the all-time leading passer in Rams franchise history.”
Though Gabriel has yet to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his impact on the game remains undeniable, particularly during his tenure with the Rams in the mid-to-late 1960s, endearing him to fans.
In recent discussions with Rams faithful about their favorite players of all time, Gabriel’s name emerged as frequently as other luminaries like Deacon Jones and Aaron Donald.
Selected as the second overall pick in the 1962 draft, Gabriel didn’t assume the role of full-time starting quarterback for the Rams until 1966, a season where the team finished 8-6.
The following year saw the Rams soar to an impressive 11-1-2 record, with Gabriel’s 25 touchdowns earning him the first of his four Pro Bowl selections.
In 1969, Gabriel secured NFL MVP honors with 24 touchdowns, outpacing his competitors with a resounding 44.4% voting share, a significant lead over Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp’s 17.3%.
Gabriel remained a stalwart for the Rams until 1972 before concluding his illustrious career with the Eagles over the subsequent five years.
