Roman Gabriel, first Fil-Am quarterback in NFL, dies at 83

North Carolina State quarterback Roman Gabriel is in the clutches of a UCLA player as another is driving in at left as he was stopped after an end sweep during an NCAA college football game Oct. 29, 1960, in Los Angeles. Gabriel, the former North Carolina State quarterback who was the 1969 NFL MVP with the Los Angeles Rams, died Saturday, April 20, 2024. He was 83. (AP Photo/Harold P. Matosian)

LOS ANGELES – Roman Gabriel, the first Filipino American quarterback in the NFL and the league MVP in 1969, died Saturday. He was 83.

Gabriel’s death at his home in Little River, South Carolina was announced by his son, Roman Gabriel III. A cause was not specified.

Following a college career at North Carolina State that would lead to his election to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989, the Rams made Gabriel the second pick of the 1962 NFL draft, behind Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ernie Davis, and he signed with them, choosing them over the Oakland Raiders, who made Gabriel the first choice in the American Football League draft. He was the Rams’ starting quarterback from 1966 through 1972.

After splitting time as the starter with Zeke Bratkowski and Bill Munson, first-year coach George Allen made Gabriel the starter in 1966, who guided the team to an 8-6 record, its first winning season since 1958.

The Rams won the Coastal Division title in 1967, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1955.

Gabriel led the NFL with 24 touchdown passes in 1969, as the Rams won their first 11 games, but lost their final three regular-season games and first-round playoff game.

The Rams acquired John Hadl from the San Diego Chargers in 1973, with the intention of making him their number-one quarterback. Gabriel requested a trade and was shipped off to a struggling Philadelphia team, where he would spend his final five seasons.

Gabriel played 11 seasons with the Rams, was selected for the Pro Bowl three times.

In his first year with the Eagles, Gabriel was voted Comeback Player of the Year by sports writers after he tied for the league-lead in touchdown passes, and led in passing yards and completions.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl once with his new team before retiring after the 1977 season, having accumulated 29,444 yards passing and 201 touchdowns.

After his playing days were over, Gabriel went into broadcasting. He also coached at Cal Poly Pomona, from 1980-82, was the offensive coordinator for the Boston Breakers of the United States Football League in 1983 and coach of the Raleigh*Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football in 1991.

Born Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Jr., Aug. 5, 1940 in Wilmington, North Carolina, Gabriel was the son of a Filipino father, Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Sr., and an Irish American mother, Edna Mae Wyatt.

Gabriel was a three-sport star in high school, also excelling in basketball and baseball. He was offered a contract by the New York Yankees, which he turned down to accept a football scholarship from North Carolina State, earning All-America honors twice. (CNS)