Roman Gabriel, the 83-year-old Los Angeles Rams quarterback and former MVP, has died.
Roman Gabriel, 83, died Saturday at his home in Little River, South Carolina. He still maintains the Los Angeles Rams club record with 154 touchdown passes. His son, Roman Gabriel III, stated that he died of natural causes.
Gabriel was the Los Angeles Rams’ No. 2 draft pick out of North Carolina State in 1962. He was the NFL’s first Filipino-American quarterback and was named league MVP in 1969.
He appeared in four Pro Bowls, three with the Rams in the late 1960s and another with the Eagles in 1973. But he only made it to the postseason twice, and his Rams were defeated in the first round both times.
“We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel,” the team wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Gabriel won the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year award twice at North Carolina State. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
He spent 11 seasons with the Rams and five with the Philadelphia Eagles, when he was moved after the Rams acquired John Hadl.
“Gabe was an incredible athlete and even greater mentor. “Words cannot express my gratitude for what a great teammate he was,” former quarterback Ron Jaworski, whom Gabriel backed up for the Eagles in his last season, wrote on X. “A special player and a better man!”
From 1967 to 1970, Gabriel led the Rams to a 41-14-4 record and two division victories, although he never made the playoffs. He was named MVP in 1969 after passing for 2,549 yards, 24 touchdown passes, and five running touchdowns.
Gabriel was transferred to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973. He was named NFL comeback player of the year, leading the league with 23 touchdown passes and 3,219 yards.
Following his retirement, Gabriel briefly worked for CBS, announcing NFL games.
He went on to coach at Cal Poly Pomona, the Boston Breakers of the United States Football League, and Raleigh-Durham in the World League of American Football.
Gabriel was also an actress. His film credits include Skidoo (1968), starring Jackie Gleason, and The Undefeated (1969), starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. He appeared in several television programs, including Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason, Ironside, and Wonder Woman. He also accompanied Bob Hope on a USO tour of Vietnam.
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