Filipino American quarterback passes away at age 83

ROMAN GABRIEL, 1940-2024

National Football Lague legend and quarterback Roman Gabriel  died Saturday. During his career he was one of the few public role models for Filipino Americans. He was 83.

Gabriel was the first Filipino American quarterback to play professional football in the United States. 

His son, Roman Gabriel III, announced his father’s death on social media, saying he died peacefully at home of natural causes.

As the only Filipino American playing pro football during the 60's and 70's, the 6'5" Gabriel was a heroic figure in the Filipino American community. For generations, manyFilipino American  parents named their sons after the football star.

"I like to think, being the first Filipino quarterback, that it impacted a lot of the young people. ... If he could do it, it felt like I could do it," Gabriel told NBC in a 2021 interview.

“We mourn the loss of Rams legend and football pioneer, Roman Gabriel,” the Rams said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Gabriel's father, also named Roman, was a Filipino who emigrated to Alaska, then made his way to Wilmington, N.C., where he became a waiter, then a cook for the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. His mother, Edna Mae Wyatt, was an Irish American, reports the L.A. Times. Roman Gabriel II was born on Aug. 5, 1940 in Wilmington.

In 1962, Gabriel was the first player selected by the then-Oakland Raiders of the American Football League. However, he eventually signed as a second-overall pick in the National Football League Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the first Filipino American quarterback in league history.

Gabriel played his first 11 seasons with the Rams. During his time in Los Angeles, Gabriel was a three-time Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro, and 1969 AP NFL MVP. 

Various injuries in his final few seasons with the Rams led to Gabriel becoming available in trade talks, and that's when the Eagles swooped in before the 1973 season.

Only 33 at the time, Gabriel's move to Philadelphia rejuvenated his stellar career. In 53 games with the Eagles, Gabriel threw for 7,221 yards and 47 touchdowns, made his fourth Pro Bowl, and won PFWA Comeback Player of the Year.

During his Comeback Player of the Year season in 1973, Gabriel, standing at 6-5, threw to a trio of pass catchers known as the Fire High Gang that towered over defenders. Wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael (6-8), tight end Charle Young (6-5), and wide receiver Don Zimmerman (6-4) helped Gabriel establish career highs in completions (270) and passing yards (3,219). While leading the league in those categories, Gabriel also led the league with 24 passing touchdowns.

Even while playing in an era of grinding it out on the ground, he still holds the Rams’ team record with 154 touchdown passes.

"That was a fun year," said Gabriel during a 2019 interview with Philadelphiaeagles.com. "I was pretty much written off after my last year with the Rams. But the Eagles took a chance on me, and I was so grateful. It was a young team that was trying to build something, and they wanted me to be a part of it. I loved Philadelphia. It's a great city with great fans. It's still a great memory.".

Gabriel retired with the Eagles in 1977, his 16th and final season in the NFL. In Eagles history, Gabriel is currently ninth in completion percentage (55.8), 10th in passing attempts (1,185), and 13th in passing yards (7,221).

Despite his imppressive athletic accomplishments  the Rams legend was never inducted into the Footballl Hall of Fame despite being statistically better than other quarterbacks who have been inducted in the HOF.

Despite having asthma as a child Gabriel excelled in athletics. Gabriel was all-state, not only in football but basketball and baseball as well, at New Hanover High in Wilmington, North Carolina. The New York Yankees wanted to sign him up out of high school. 

In 1989, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. At North Carolina State, Gabriel was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1960 and '61, became the first ACC quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in a season, and was a member of NC State's inaugural athletic Hall of Fame class in 2012.

He said he spent his retirement years splittingt time between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Little River, South Carolina. After he left football, he spent some time as a CBS sports analyst and did a bit of acting in the movies.

“I am retired with heart problems and arthritis but happy.” the Gabriel told the L.A. Times in a  2021 interview.

"Going into the Hall of Fame isn't the most impressive thing," he told NBC> "It's being who I am, who I represent. That's more important to me."

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