Roman Gabriel, who nonetheless holds the Los Angeles Rams workforce report with 154 landing passes, died Saturday at his residence in Little River, South Carolina, at 83. His dying got here from pure causes, based on his son, Roman Gabriel III.
Gabriel was the No. 2 draft decide of the Los Angeles Rams in 1962 out of North Carolina State. He was the primary Filipino-American quarterback within the NFL and the league MVP in 1969.
He performed in 4 Professional Bowl video games, three with the Rams within the late Sixties and one other with the Eagles in 1973. However he reached the postseason solely twice, and his Rams have been eradicated within the first spherical each occasions.
“We mourn the lack of Rams legend and soccer pioneer, Roman Gabriel,” the Rams mentioned on X, previously referred to as Twitter.
Gabriel was a two-time participant of the 12 months within the Atlantic Coast Convention for North Carolina State. He was inducted into the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1989.
He performed 11 years for the Rams and 5 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, the place he was traded after the Rams acquired John Hadl.
“Gabe was an incredible participant and a good higher mentor. Phrases can’t clarify my thanks for what an ideal teammate he was,” retired quarterback Ron Jaworski, whom Gabriel backed up on the Eagles in his closing season, posted on X. “A particular participant and a greater man!”
From 1967 to 1970, Gabriel led the Rams to a 41-14-4 report and two division titles, although by no means a playoff recreation. He was voted MVP in 1969 after throwing for two,549 yards with 24 landing passes and 5 speeding scores.
Gabriel was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973. There he was the NFL comeback participant of the 12 months, main the league with 23 landing passes and three,219 yards.
After retiring, Gabriel labored briefly for CBS, calling NFL video games.
He went into teaching, with stints at Cal Poly Pomona, the Boston Breakers of the USFL, and Raleigh-Durham within the World League of American Soccer.
Gabriel additionally was an actor. His film credit included Skidoo, starring Jackie Gleason in 1968, and 1969’s The Undefeated, starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. He appeared in such TV exhibits as Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason, Ironside and Surprise Girl. He additionally joined Bob Hope on a USO tour of Vietnam.