Roman Gabriel, who was a pioneering former football player and became the first Filipino American quarterback in the NFL, has passed away at the age of 83.
Key points:
- Roman Gabriel III, Gabriel’s son, announced the former NFL star’s passing in a Facebook post. on SundayHis son, Roman Gabriel III, shared on Facebook that his father passed away peacefully this morning at his home due to natural causes.
- The Los Angeles Rams, Gabriel’s first NFL team, expressed their condolences to his family in a post on X, saying, “We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel.”
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
The details:
- Gabriel had a distinguished career which lasted for 16 yearswith 11 years spent playing for the Los Angeles Rams. He was chosen as the No. 2 pick of the Rams during the NFL draft in 1962.
- Gabriel led the Rams to two division titles and achieved a record of 41-14-4 during his time with the team from 1967 to 1970. He was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973, where he played for five years.
- In his career, Gabriel participated in 183 games, making 157 starts. He accumulated
- 29,444 passing yards, 201 touchdowns and 149 interceptions.
- As a standout player, Gabriel earned several awards such as the NFL MVP in 1969 with the Rams. He was also named the NFL comeback player of the year for his performance with the Eagles.
- Before joining the NFL, Gabriel competed at NC State University, where he was a two-time player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. the first Apart from being the first Filipino American quarterback in the NFL, Gabriel also set various records during his college football career, including being the first ACC quarterback to pass for more than 1,000 yards in a single season.
About the star:
- He was born in Wilmington, North Carolinaon August 5, 1940. After his NFL career, Gabriel pursued different ventures including coaching, working as a commentator for NFL games, and being involved with the Carolina Panthers Radio Network for seven seasons.
- He also appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as the 1969 Western war film “The Undefeated” with John Wayne and the sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.”
- In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in December 2021, Gabriel mentioned that he had been living in Wilmington and Little River in South Carolina during his retirement, and added, “I am retired with heart problems and arthritis but happy.”
