Former NFL MVP and four-time Professional Bowl quarterback Roman Gabriel died Saturday. He was 83 years outdated.
Gabriel performed 11 seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and 5 for the Philadelphia Eagles throughout his 16-year NFL profession. After enjoying school soccer at North Carolina State, he was the No. 1 general decide within the 1962 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and the No. 2 general choice within the NFL Draft that very same yr. Gabriel opted to signal with the Rams.
He received MVP honors in 1969, throwing for two,549 yards and 24 touchdowns for an 11–3 Rams staff. His 154 profession landing passes are essentially the most in franchise historical past.
We mourn the lack of Rams legend and soccer pioneer, Roman Gabriel. We lengthen our condolences to his household and mates throughout this troublesome time. pic.twitter.com/NY6y6ddm1x
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 20, 2024
Gabriel’s finest season, statistically talking, was in 1973 when he threw 3,219 yards and 23 touchdowns for an Eagles staff that completed 5–8–1. His efficiency earned him Professional Bowl honors for the fourth time in his profession.
Sadly, Gabriel did not expertise a lot postseason success throughout his profession. His groups misplaced within the divisional spherical twice within the playoffs. In 1967, the Rams went 11–1-2 however misplaced to the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the divisional spherical. And through his MVP season for an 11–3 membership, Los Angeles was defeated by the Minnesota Vikings within the divisional spherical.
That may be why Gabriel isn’t within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame regardless of throwing for extra profession yards and touchdowns than Bob Griese, Bart Starr and Roger Staubach, all of whom received Tremendous 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 Participant of the Yr, and the Rams’ all-time profession chief in landing passes pic.twitter.com/rFUOABC2P3
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) April 20, 2024
Throughout his 16 NFL seasons, Gabriel handed for 29,444 passing yards and 201 touchdowns together with his groups compiling an 86–64–7 file.
After his enjoying days, Gabriel briefly did broadcasting, calling NFL video games for CBS. He then went into teaching, main this system at Cal Poly Pomona. That was adopted 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 Soccer.