This past Saturday was a sad one for NFL fans alike, especially for LA Rams fans. On April 20th, fans learned of the sudden passing of legendary quarterback Roman Gabriel. Roman Gabriel passed away in his home surrounded by family at the age of 83. The news came about Saturday afternoon when Gabriel’s son, Roman Gabriel III announced his father’s passing on X revealing that the cause of death was natural causes. “The entire family asked for your prayers, and to please respect our privacy,” Gabriel’s son wrote.
Roman Gabriel’s career was a profound one in NFL history, with him being the first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL. Gabriel began his professional career after being drafted as the second-overall pick for the Los Angeles Rams in 1962. Gabriel played the majority of his career with the Rams until finishing out with the Philadelphia Eagles, in which he played quarterback for 16 seasons. Standing at a towering six-foot-five and weighing 235 pounds, Gabriel was compared to, “a big telephone pole” by legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi.
Gabriel was able to throw for 2,549 yards and contributed to 29 touchdowns in the year 1969 alone, which earned him the NFL’s MVP title that same year. To this day, Gabriel still holds the LA Rams record for most touchdowns with a total of 154 completed touchdown passes.
During those times the NFL was famous for offenses that ran the ball heavily, which helped Gabriel stand out for his great skills. Gabriel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989, as he originally played for North Carolina State before his professional career.
It is clear that Gabriel broke records on and off the field, but his legacy expands even further than that. After his career in the NFL, Gabriel dived into an acting and media career. Gabriel starred in shows such as “Gilligan’s Island” and was a commentator for CBS.
