Filipino American quarterback makes history in the NFL

 

BROWNS

The Cleveland Browns gave Dillon Gabriel his first NFL start Sunday.

Dillon Gabriel finished his first professional football game completing 19 of 33 passing attempts for 190 yards and two Cleveland Browns' touchdowns, with his longest completion of the day for 22 yards.

Despite a respectable performance for the highly touted rookie out of Hawaii via the University of Oregon, the Browns lost to the tough defense of the Minnesota Vikings in London, 21-17.

"A lot of positives," said head coach Kevin Stefanski of Gabriel's performance. 
"Obviously, he can always better, and certainly we as an offense have to get better and score more to help this football team." 

Gabriel, 24, made his first pro-start during Filipino American History Month as he became only the second Filiipino American starting quarterback in the National Football League. The late Roman Gabriel, no relation, of the Los Angeles Rams and who was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1969.

Dillon Gabriel, whose mixed racial heritage includes Native Hawaiian and Filipino, was starting because of the declining performance of Joe Flacco, the Brown's starting quarterback, who led the team to a disappointing 1-3 record before the Brown's gave the ball to Gabriel.

Despite the loss, Gabriel's first game in his position highlighted positives in which they can build on moving forward.

What impressed the coaches and onlookers was his composure and he didn't turn the ball over despite the Vikings blitz-heavy defense.

"For a young player in that environment versus that defense to take care of the ball, make the plays he made, I thought was a lot of positives with plenty to clean up," said Stefanski. "And that's what he will do. And that's the mentality he has, certainly to be a player that continues to get better week in and week out."

As he prepares the Pittsburgh Steelers next week on the road, Gabriel is taking the lessons he learned from his first start with him.

"I think there's always something to build on," Gabriel said. "No moral victories whatsoever, but I think regardless of result, week to week, there's a process. And the more time you spend around anyone, you're going to get more continuity. That's key with your receiver, that's key with your running back, that's key as a whole unit coming together really and getting comfortable with our unit."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

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Filipino Hawaiian quarterback is in the running for Heisman Trophy

UNIVERSITIY OF OREGON

Dillon Gabriel (No. 8) scores a touchdown against Ohio State.

East Coast football pundits had to swallow their anti-West Coast bias after Oregon Ducks quarterbak Dillon Gabriel led his team against the highly regarded Ohio State in a thriller, 32-31.

It was the first game this college football season where two top-5 teams met, the No. 2 Buckeyes vs. the No. 3 Ducks.

Dillon, who is of Hawaiian and Filipino heritage, completed 23 of 34 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while also adding 32 yards and a score on the ground in the win in Eugene, Oregon.

“I just know how much time and effort everyone puts into this, and that goes for the coaches, the players, the support staff within this building to make the whole show go,” Gabriel said after the hard-fought victory. “There’s joy in winning, and you love to see your team succeed.”

Before this weekend, he was in fourth place, among the players being considered for the coveted Heisman Trophy, given to the best college football player each year. After the Ohio game, he should zoom up to second or first among the sports journalists who pick the winner.

Dillon Gabriel

Dillon transferred to Oregon after two year at the University of Oklahoma where ne began to attract attention for the Heisman. Before Oklahoma, he was lightly recruited out of Mililani High School on Oahu and ended by Centra Florida for his first three seasons.

His decision to transfer to Oregon was a matter of making it easier for his island family to attend his games. His close family ties is a product of his mixed cultrual from Hawaii and the Philippines, both of which emphasize family and community.

Oregon has a strong connection with Hawaii's high school football players, several who have used the uniersity as a pippeline to the NFL. Perhaps, Marcus Mariota who as a quarterback is the most notable after leading the Ducks to a national championship in 2014. Ironically, Mariota's Ducks faced Ohio State in the National Championship and lost by a score of 42–20. Mariota is currently the backup quarterback for the Washington Commanders.

Oregon's next opponent is Purdue on Oct. 19 at the Boilermakers' stadium. The Ducks are now 6-0 and have a chance to go undefeated for the season which would put them in contention to play for the national championshp.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.