Former NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Roman Gabriel died Saturday. He was 83 years old.
Gabriel played 11 seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and five for the Philadelphia Eagles during his 16-year NFL career. After playing college football at North Carolina State, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1962 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and the No. 2 overall selection in the NFL Draft that same year. Gabriel opted to sign with the Rams.
He won MVP honors in 1969, throwing for 2,549 yards and 24 touchdowns for an 11–3 Rams team. His 154 career touchdown passes are the most in franchise history.
We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel. We extend our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/NY6y6ddm1x
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 20, 2024
Gabriel’s best season, statistically speaking, was in 1973 when he threw 3,219 yards and 23 touchdowns for an Eagles team that finished 5–8–1. His performance earned him Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time in his career.
Unfortunately, Gabriel didn’t experience much postseason success during his career. His teams lost in the divisional round twice in the playoffs. In 1967, the Rams went 11–1-2 but lost to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round. And during his MVP season for an 11–3 club, Los Angeles was defeated by the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round.
That might be why Gabriel is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite throwing for more career yards and touchdowns than Bob Griese, Bart Starr and Roger Staubach, all of whom won Super Bowl championships and are enshrined in Canton.
RIP Roman Gabriel 🙏🏻#Rams#Eagles
A Tribute to a Colossus of a Quarterback
The 1969 NFL MVP, 1973 PFWA Comeback Player of the Year, and the Rams’ all-time career leader in touchdown passes pic.twitter.com/rFUOABC2P3
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) April 20, 2024
During his 16 NFL seasons, Gabriel passed for 29,444 passing yards and 201 touchdowns with his teams compiling an 86–64–7 record.
After his playing days, Gabriel briefly did broadcasting, calling NFL games for CBS. He then went into coaching, leading the program at Cal Poly Pomona. That was followed by stints as offensive coordinator with the USFL’s Boston Breakers and head coach with the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football.
