Roman Gabriel, a revered quarterback of the 1960s and ’70s, passed away on Saturday, as announced by his son on social media. He was 83 years old.
“My father Roman Gabriel peacefully passed away this morning at his home due to natural causes. The family appreciates your prayers and requests privacy during this time,” shared Gabriel’s son.
Gabriel’s legacy is deeply intertwined with his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, where he played from 1962 to 1972. His standout performance in 1969 earned him the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, thanks to his impressive 24 touchdowns and minimal seven interceptions.
Throughout his career, Gabriel maintained an outstanding touchdown-to-interception ratio, totaling 201 touchdowns against 149 interceptions. He earned Pro Bowl honors four times, in 1967, ’68, ’69, and ’73, the latter occurring during his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973 to 1977.
In college, Gabriel showcased his talent during a remarkable three-year tenure with NC State. He received two ACC Player of the Year awards and finished ninth in Heisman voting in 1961.
Gabriel made history as the NFL’s first Filipino American quarterback, reflecting his heritage and breaking barriers in the sport.