View source for Ken Stabler

{{short description|American football player (1945–2015)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Ken Stabler
| image       = Ken Stabler 2007 Alabama Broadcasters Convention.jpg
| image_size  =
| alt         = 
| caption     = Stabler in 2007
| number      = 12, 16
| position    = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1945|12|25}}
| birth_place = [[Foley, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2015|7|8|1945|12|25}} <!-- Family statement has confirmed the death and reads July 8 -->
| death_place = [[Gulfport, Mississippi]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lb   = 215
| high_school = [[Foley High School|Foley]]
| college     = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] (1964–1967)
| draftyear   = 1968
| draftround  = 2
| draftpick   = 52
| pastteams   =
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1968}})
* → [[Spokane Shockers]] (1968)
* Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|1970|1979}})
* [[Houston Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1980|1981}})
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|1982|1984}})
| highlights  =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XI|XI]])
* [[NFL Most Valuable Player]] (1974)
* [[NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Player of the Year]] (1974)
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1974 All-Pro Team|1974]], [[1976 All-Pro Team|1976]])
* 4× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]], [[1975 Pro Bowl|1974]], [[1977 Pro Bowl|1976]], [[1978 Pro Bowl|1977]])
* 2× [[List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders|NFL passing touchdowns leader]] (1974, 1976)
* 2× [[List of National Football League annual pass completion percentage leaders|NFL completion percentage leader]] (1973, 1976)
* [[List of National Football League annual passer rating leaders|NFL passer rating leader]] (1976)
* [[Hickok Belt]] (1976)
* [[Bert Bell Award]] (1976)
* [[NFL 1970s All-Decade Team]]
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1965 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1965]])
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1967 College Football All-America Team|1967]])
* First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1967 All-SEC football team|1967]])
| statlabel1  = Passing attempts
| statvalue1  = 3,793
| statlabel2  = Passing completions
| statvalue2  = 2,270
| statlabel3  = Completion percentage
| statvalue3  = 59.8%
| statlabel4  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4  = 194–222
| statlabel5  = Passing yards
| statvalue5  = 27,938
| statlabel6  = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6  = 75.3
| pfr         = StabKe00
| HOF         = ken-stabler 
}}

'''Kenneth Michael Stabler''' (December 25, 1945 – July 8, 2015) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the [[Oakland Raiders]]. Nicknamed "'''Snake'''", he played [[college football]] for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]] and was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the [[1968 NFL/AFL draft]]. During his 10 seasons in Oakland, Stabler received four [[Pro Bowl]] selections and was named [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] in 1974. Stabler also helped the Raiders win their first [[Super Bowl]] title in [[Super Bowl XI]]. He was posthumously inducted to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Benjamin |date=February 6, 2016 |title=After Revelation He Had C.T.E., Ken Stabler Is a Poignant Hall of Fame Addition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/sports/football/ken-stabler-nfl-hall-of-fame.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Early life==
Stabler was a highly touted football player at [[Foley High School]] in [[Foley, Alabama]]. He led Foley to a win–loss record of 29–1 over his [[high school football]] career—the only loss coming against [[Vigor High School]]. He was an all-around athlete in high school, averaging 29 points a game in basketball and excelling enough as a left-handed pitcher in baseball to receive minor-league contract offers from the [[Houston Astros]] and [[New York Yankees]]. He was an all-American athlete. During his high school career, he earned his nickname "Snake"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ken Stabler |url=http://www.raidersonline.org/ken-stabler.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718145912/http://www.raidersonline.org/ken-stabler.php |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |access-date=September 3, 2008 |publisher=Oakland Raiders |df=mdy-all}}</ref> from his coach following a long, winding touchdown run.

==College career==
Stabler was recruited by head coach [[Bear Bryant]] at the [[University of Alabama]] in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]. Due to [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] regulations at the time, freshmen were ineligible to play on the varsity in the University Division.  Stabler was on the freshman team in [[1964 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1964]], when the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Crimson Tide]] won the [[NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship|National Championship]] with quarterbacks [[Joe Namath]] and [[Steve Sloan]].  Despite being named National Champions, Alabama lost their bowl game, falling to the Texas Longhorns in the 1965 Orange Bowl.

As a sophomore in [[1965 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1965]], Stabler was used sparingly as a back-up to Sloan at quarterback,<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Alabama official team statistics, 1965 |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/65-m-footbl-stats.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112111423/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/65-m-footbl-stats.pdf |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref> following Namath's departure to the [[American Football League|AFL]]. That year, the Crimson Tide won their second consecutive National Championship, finishing the season with a record of 9–1–1. The team defeated the [[1965 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska Cornhuskers]] in the [[1966 Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]], 39–28.

As a junior in [[1966 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1966]], he took over the starting quarterback position. He led the team to an undefeated, 11–0 season which ended in a 34–7 rout of [[1966 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] in the [[1967 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]]. Despite the unblemished record, Alabama was snubbed by the polls, finishing third behind [[1966 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] and [[1966 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]], neither of which played in a bowl.

Expectations were high in Stabler's senior season, though those expectations would not be completely fulfilled. The offense often struggled in [[1967 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1967]], and the defense's performance slipped. During the season, Bryant kicked Stabler off the team for cutting class and partying, though he was given a second chance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Puma |first=Mike |date=November 19, 2003 |title=Bear Bryant 'simply the best there ever was' |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Bryant_Bear.html |access-date=September 3, 2008 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Tide finished with an 8–2–1 record, including a loss to rival [[1967 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]]. Though the season was lackluster, Stabler would provide a memorable moment in the [[Iron Bowl]]. Trailing 3–0 in a game drenched by rain, Stabler scampered through the mud for a 47-yard, game-winning touchdown which gave the Tide a 7–3 victory over rival [[1967 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] at [[Legion Field]]. The play is commonly referred to as the "Run in the Mud" in Alabama football lore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNair |first=Kirk |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Stabler Remembered for Run In Mud |url=https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Article/Stabler-Remembered-For-Run-In-Mud-105226107/ |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>

===College statistics===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="14" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Alabama Crimson Tide|border=0|color=white}};"| Alabama Crimson Tide
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="7"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! Cmp !! Att !! Yds !! Pct !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1965 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1965]]
| 3 || 11 || 26 || 27.3 || 0 || 0 || 47.1 || 61 || 328 || 5.4 || 1
|-
! [[1966 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1966]]
|  74 || 114 || 956 || 64.9 || 9 || 5 || 152.6 || 93 || 397 || 4.3 || 3
|-
! [[1967 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1967]]
| 103 || 178 || 1,214 || 57.9 || 9 || 13 || 117.2 || 111 || 113 || 1.0 || 5
|-
! Career !! 180 !! 303 !! 2,196 !! 59.4 !! 18 !! 18 !! 128.0 !! 265 !! 838 !! 3.2 !! 9
|}

==Professional career==
===Oakland Raiders===
Stabler was selected in the second round of the [[1968 NFL/AFL draft]] by the [[1968 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]], the reigning AFL champions. He&nbsp;was the fifth quarterback taken, after [[Greg Landry]], [[Eldridge Dickey]], [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Gary Beban]], and [[Mike Livingston]].<ref name="tntznm">{{Cite news |date=January 31, 1968 |title=Tantalizing names available in second day of grid draft |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IalAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XuYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4111%2C3191624 |work=Lawrence Daily Journal-World |location=Kansas |page=21 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was also drafted to play baseball by the [[1966 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] in 1966, the [[1967 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] in 1967, and the [[1968 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] in 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ken Stabler |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=stable000ken |access-date=December 4, 2017 |website=baseball-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC}}</ref>

Stabler signed a two-year contract with the Raiders in March 1968.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 21, 1968 |title=Ken Stabler Signs Raider Contract |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15572447/the_pensacola_news/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=The Pensacola News |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> However, he later underwent knee surgery and spent the [[1968 AFL season]] on [[injured reserve]] (IR).<ref name="knocks">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald/181738105/ | title=Snake Is Getting His Knocks | work=[[Birmingham Post-Herald]] | date=November 13, 1968 | accessdate=25 September 2025 | author=McNair, Kirk | pages=17}}</ref> He worked out with the [[taxi squad]] while on IR.<ref name="knocks"/> In November 1968, the Raiders sent Stabler to [[Spokane, Washington]], to play for the [[Spokane Shockers]] of the [[Continental Football League]].<ref name="splram">{{Cite news |date=November 9, 1968 |title=Shockers play Ramblers today |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YjpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4229%2C3146908 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |page=12}}</ref><ref name="sdqubsmt">{{Cite news |date=November 11, 1968 |title=Shocks try again to quit basement |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mo9YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7065%2C3012684 |work=Spokane Daily News |location=Washington |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1968 |title=Stabler Joins Spokane Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15572523/idaho_state_journal/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=[[Idaho State Journal]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> He played in two games for the Shockers before being recalled by the Raiders in late November.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spokane Shockers (1969) |url=http://www.gnfafootball.org/spokaneshockers.htm |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204232113/http://www.gnfafootball.org/spokaneshockers.htm |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=December 4, 2017 |publisher=gnfafootball.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tinley, Scott |date=October 13, 2010 |title=The legend of Kenny Stabler |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/10/13/stabler |access-date=December 4, 2017 |publisher=si.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hayes, Ed |date=November 30, 1968 |title=It's Buddy-Buddy In T-Bowl Title Tilt at 8 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15572587/orlando_evening_star/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=[[Orlando Evening Star]]}}</ref> In July 1969, Stabler left the Raiders, stating "there's not much sense in staying in it if I wasn't enjoying it."<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 30, 1969 |title=Stabler Quits Because of Attitude |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4511103/the_anniston_star/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=[[The Anniston Star]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> However, later in November 1969, Stabler said "I'll be back in pro football come June."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith, George |date=November 19, 1969 |title=Remember Snake? He's On His Way Back |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15573332/the_anniston_star/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=[[The Anniston Star]]}}</ref><ref name="eyeretrn">{{Cite news |last=Land |first=Charles |date=November 19, 1969 |title=Stabler eyeing return to pro football |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ykUgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7050%2C3709545 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=9}}</ref> In January 1970, it was reported that Stabler and Raiders head coach [[John Madden]] agreed that Stabler would return to the Raiders for [[Training camp (NFL)|training camp]] in July.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 1970 |title=Stabler Plans Grid Return |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15573720/the_cincinnati_enquirer/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |pages=22 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Stabler made his first regular season appearance as a Raider in 1970. He first attracted attention in the NFL in a [[1972 Oakland Raiders season|1972]] [[1972–73 NFL playoffs|playoff game]] against the [[1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]. After entering the game in relief of a flu-ridden [[Daryle Lamonica]], he scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard scramble. The Steelers, however, came back to win on a controversial, deflected pass from [[Terry Bradshaw]] to [[Franco Harris]], later known in football lore as the [[Immaculate Reception]].<!--<ref name="sgswn">{{Cite news |last=Mizell |first=Hubert |date=December 24, 1972 |title='Santa' gives Steelers win |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fRgfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LJwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7067%2C4425509 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |page=4B |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>--><ref name="mgsvi">{{Cite news |last=Mizell |first=Hubert |date=December 24, 1972 |title='Miracle' gives Steelers 13–7 victory |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xIJhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j5oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6376%2C1507433 |work=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |page=33 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> After Lamonica was unable to lead the Raiders to an offensive touchdown in the first three games of the 1973 season, Stabler took over as starter.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hanford-sentinel/164780213/ | title=Stabler Leads Raiders | work=[[The Hanford Sentinel]] | date=October 8, 1973 | agency=[[United Press International]] | accessdate=25 September 2025 | pages=7}}</ref><ref name="know"/> Stabler helped the Raiders finish the season with a 9–4–1 record and earn an appearance in the [[1973 AFC Championship Game|AFC championship game]].<ref name="know">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/181741304/ | title=... They're Getting to Know Ken Stabler | work=[[New York Daily News]] | date=December 29, 1973 | accessdate=25 September 2025 | author=Ward, Gene | pages=23C}}</ref>

On April 2, 1974, Stabler and several NFL stars agreed to join the newly created [[World Football League]].<ref name="wfl">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner/181738399/ | title=Raiders may wind up with two lame duck quarterbacks in '74 | work=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] | date=April 3, 1974 | accessdate=25 September 2025 | author=Daley, Walt | pages=52}}</ref> He signed a multi-year contract to play for the [[Birmingham Americans]], beginning in 1976 once his Raiders contract would have expired.<ref name="wfl"/> He said "the biggest thing to me is getting back home. Getting to play before the people in [[Southern United States|the South]] is where it's at for me. In two years I'll be in Birmingham if I have to hitchhike." The WFL folded midway through the [[1975 World Football League season|1975 season]], and Stabler remained in the NFL without ever playing in the WFL.

After having severe knee injuries, Stabler became less a scrambling quarterback and more a classic, drop-back passer, known for accurate passes and an uncanny ability to lead late, come-from-behind drives. During the peak of his career, he had a receiving corps consisting of sprinter [[Cliff Branch]], sure handed receiver [[Fred Biletnikoff]], and tight end [[Dave Casper]]. All three of Stabler's receivers would ultimately end up in the Hall of Fame. The Raiders' philosophy was to pound teams with their running game (aided by multiple-time Pro Bowler [[Marv Hubbard]] at fullback, and [[Clarence Davis]] at tailback), then stretch them with their long passing game. Although Stabler lacked remarkable arm strength, he was a master of the long pass to Branch, and accurate on intermediate routes to Biletnikoff and Casper. As a starter in Oakland, Stabler was named AFC player of the year in [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|1974]] and [[1976 Oakland Raiders season|1976]], and was the NFL's passing champion in {{nfly|1976}}. In January 1977, he guided the Raiders to their first [[Super Bowl XI|Super Bowl]] victory, a decisive 32–14 win over the [[1976 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] at the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose&nbsp;Bowl]].<ref name="spblgt">{{Cite news |date=January 10, 1977 |title=Super Bowl like Grant's Tomb |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CyEfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9J0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4790%2C1850028 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=10 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="aspdup">{{Cite magazine |last=Jenkins |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Jenkins |date=January 17, 1977 |title=The Raiders were all Suped up |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/01/17/the-raiders-were-all-suped-up |magazine=Sports Illustrated |page=10}}</ref> Stabler was awarded the [[Hickok Belt]] for 1976, as the year's top professional sports athlete.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hickok Belt |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/hickok_belt.shtml |access-date=November 24, 2025 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

In the [[1977–78 NFL playoffs|1977 AFC playoffs]] against the [[1977 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] on Christmas Eve, Stabler completed a legendary fourth quarter pass to Casper to set up a game-tying field goal by [[Errol Mann]]. This play, dubbed the "[[Ghost to the Post]]," sent the game to double overtime, which the visiting Raiders won 37–31, after Stabler threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to&nbsp;Casper.<ref name="ergapgtp">{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1977 |title=Suddenly, the Raiders win 37–31 decision |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=za1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=7085%2C8086400 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |page=3C |agency=wire services}}</ref><ref name="lmtrpio">{{Cite news |last=DuPree |first=David |date=December 25, 1977 |title=Raiders pull it out, 37–31 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e5ZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6015%2C8761570 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |page=1B |agency=(Washington Post)}}</ref><ref name="sivrrgtpo">{{Cite magazine |last=Reid |first=Ron |date=January 2, 1978 |title=The Ghost to the Post |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1978/01/02/the-ghost-to-the-post-heading-for-new-orleans-and-super-bowl-xii-oakland-took-a-long-winding-road-denver-shot-ahead-via-the-passing-lane-dallas-roared-through-some-shortcuts-and-minnesota-wheels-churning-jounced-through-the-mud |magazine=Sports Illustrated |page=12}}</ref> In the second game of [[1978 Oakland Raiders season|1978]] on September 10, the [[Holy Roller (American football)|Holy Roller (Immaculate Deception) Game]] saw Oakland win 21–20 at [[1978 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego]] after a fourth quarter forward fumble by Stabler was caught and forward-fumbled by two other players to score a touchdown and win the game.<ref name="rwosfum">{{Cite news |date=September 11, 1978 |title=Raiders win on Stabler's 'fumble' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h3k0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AJ4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6870%2C3044453 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=11 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="lnsflfu">{{Cite news |date=September 11, 1978 |title=Raiders edge Chargers on fluke fumble |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vpQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6602%2C949119 |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=California |page=12 |agency=UPI}}</ref><ref name="rgaway">{{Cite news |date=January 10, 1977 |title=Raiders go all the way, thrash Vikings |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tmYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7038%2C772571 |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=California |page=14 |agency=UPI}}</ref> This caused the [[1979 NFL season#Major rule changes|Ken Stabler Rule]] to be enacted in {{nfly|1979}}, permitting only the fumbling player to recover the ball during a fourth down play, or during any down played after the two-minute warning in a half or overtime.

===Houston Oilers===
After subpar 1978 and [[1979 Oakland Raiders season|1979 season]]s in which the Raiders failed to make the [[1979–80 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] and saw the departure of many team leaders from the Super Bowl run – [[Clarence Davis]], [[Skip Thomas]], [[George Atkinson (safety)|George Atkinson]], [[Fred Biletnikoff]], [[Willie Brown (American football)|Willie Brown]], and head coach [[John Madden]] – Stabler was traded in March [[1980 Oakland Raiders season|1980]] to the [[1980 Houston Oilers season|Oilers]] for [[Dan Pastorini]]<!--, after a lengthy contract holdout-->.<ref name="rctostb">{{Cite news |date=March 16, 1980 |title=Raiders confirm trade of Stabler |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4i8dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=054EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6750%2C3246335 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=4B |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He left as the Raiders' all-time leader in completions (1,486), passing yards (19,078), and touchdown passes (150). The Oilers<!--, in turn,--> saw Stabler as the missing ingredient that could finally get them past the rival [[1980 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Steelers]] and into the Super Bowl. Houston lacked the exceptional talent on offense that Stabler had thrived with in Oakland, as [[Earl Campbell]] and Casper—who was also acquired in a trade from the Raiders—were the few potent weapons they had. Meanwhile, Pastorini lost the starting job in Oakland to [[Jim Plunkett]] after an injury, and Plunkett then led the Raiders to a win in [[Super Bowl XV]], which included a [[1980–81 NFL playoffs|playoff]] win over the Oilers in the wild card game. Houston head coach [[Bum Phillips]] was fired shortly after the season, succeeded by defensive coordinator [[Ed Biles]].

Without the popular head coach that rejuvenated an otherwise woeful Houston franchise, Stabler did not report to training camp in [[1981 Houston Oilers season|1981]] and announced his retirement through his agent on July&nbsp;23.<ref name="snkho">{{Cite news |date=July 24, 1981 |title=Snake who? Oiler players rally round Nielson |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tCcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R6UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6945%2C5532123 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=10 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="tsnqpfap">{{Cite news |date=July 24, 1981 |title='The Snake' is quitting pro football |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MPhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4996%2C3282873 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |page=29 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> After five weeks and an injury<!--shoulder, Aug 22--> to projected starter [[Gifford Nielsen]], he returned to the Oilers in late August and signed a two-year contract.<ref name="notoffapol">{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1981 |title=Stabler not offering apologies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dDgdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y6UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2609%2C7549260 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=19 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="ogoqb">{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1981 |title=White gets new contract, Oilers get old quarterback |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=REBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2fYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6702%2C6591541 |work=The Bulletin |location=Bend, Oregon |page=D2 |agency=UPI}}</ref> He had a mediocre season, as Houston went 7–9 and missed the [[1981–82 NFL playoffs|playoffs]].

===New Orleans Saints===
Released by the Oilers after the season, Stabler re-joined Phillips in [[1982 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]] in late August.<ref name="stblpfs">{{Cite news |date=August 25, 1982 |title=Stabler will play for Saints |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CUogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5aUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6759%2C6576112 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=25 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> ([[Dave Wilson (American football)|Dave Wilson]] had a season-ending knee injury on August&nbsp;12.)<ref name="fbdw">{{Cite news |date=August 14, 1982 |title=Football: Dave Wilson |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AUogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5aUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2435%2C3586292 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=10 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In mid-September, the Saints traded longtime starter [[Archie Manning]]<!-- to Houston--> for offensive tackle [[Leon Gray]].<ref name="sdmtoil">{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1982 |title=Saints deal Manning to Oilers |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Nj9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7006%2C5185248 |work=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |page=19 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> By this time, however, the 37-year-old Stabler was past his prime and the Saints were still a fairly dismal franchise. The [[1982 New Orleans Saints season|first year]] was interrupted by a [[1982 NFL season#1982 players' strike|two-month players' strike]]; New Orleans was 4–5 and narrowly missed the [[1982–83 NFL playoffs|expanded playoffs]]. The [[1983 New Orleans Saints season|1983 season]] was his best as a Saint. He started 14 games, and while the team's record in those games was only 7–7, Stabler was the starter for the final game of the season, in New Orleans, against the division rival [[1983 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]. Had the Saints won that game, they would have finished 9–7 and reached their first trip to the playoffs. But the Rams pulled out the victory late in the 4th quarter, 26–24. The Saints then acquired [[New York Jets]] veteran [[Richard Todd (American football)|Richard Todd]], who like Stabler played for Bryant at Alabama, before the [[1984 New Orleans Saints season|1984 season]] and Stabler retired in the middle of that season, in late October.<ref name="ksciqu">{{Cite news |date=October 27, 1984 |title=Ken Stabler calls it quits |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-TMdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h6UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6678%2C7140400 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |page=13 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="psosnk">{{Cite news |date=October 27, 1984 |title=The passing of 'the Snake' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dOdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4701%2C6598990 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |page=3B |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Stabler was the fastest to win 100 games as a starting quarterback, having done so in 150 games, which bettered [[Johnny Unitas]]' previous mark of 153 games. Since then, only [[Terry Bradshaw]] in 147 games, [[Joe Montana]] in 139 games, and [[Tom Brady]] in 131 games have reached 100 wins more quickly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2008 |title=Pats put away Chargers for fourth Super Bowl berth in seven years |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280120017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917081533/http://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280120017 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 17, 2016 |access-date=September 2, 2008 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Stabler was also the first NFL quarterback to retire with at least 200 passing yards per game in the playoffs (minimum 10 playoff appearances).

<!--For his successes in the NFL,-->Stabler was named the twenty-seventh greatest quarterback of the post-merger era by Football Nation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2012 |title=Top 100 Modern Quarterbacks 40–21 |url=http://www.footballnation.com/content/top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-40-21/15546/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030200111/http://www.footballnation.com/content/top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-40-21/15546/ |archive-date=October 30, 2012 |access-date=October 13, 2012 |publisher=Football Nation |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Stabler to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Professional Researchers Association Hall of Very Good Class of 2014 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2014.html |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>

At the 2016 NFL Honors, it was announced that Stabler had been selected for the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], and he was officially inducted on August 6, 2016.<ref name="w634">{{cite web | title=Ken Stabler Named to Pro Football Hall of Fame | website=Las Vegas Raiders | date=2016-02-06 | url=https://www.raiders.com/news/ken-stabler-named-to-pro-football-hall-of-fame-16795629 | access-date=2024-12-25}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#ffff00; width:3em;"|
| AP [[NFL MVP]] & [[Offensive Player of the Year|OPOTY]]
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="7"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 3 || 0 || – || 3 || 7 || 42.8 || 52 || 0 || 1 || 18.5 || 1 || −4 || −4.0 || 0
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! [[1971 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 14 || 1 || 1–0 || 24 || 48 || 50.0 || 268 || 1 || 4 || 39.2 || 4 || 29 || '''7.3''' || '''2'''
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! [[1972 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 14 || 1 || 0–1 || 44 || 74 || 59.5 || 524 || 4 || 3 || 82.3 || 6 || 27 || 4.5 || 0
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] !! [[1973 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 14 || 11 || 8–2–1 || 163 || 260 || 62.7 || 1,997 || 14 || 10 || 88.3 || '''21''' || '''101''' || 4.8 || 0
|-
! style="background:#ffff00; width:3em;"|[[1974 NFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 14 || 13 || 11–2 || 178 || 310 || 57.4 || 2,469 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 26 || 12 || 94.9 || 12 || −2 || −0.2 || 1
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 14 || 13 || 10–3 || 171 || 293 || 58.4 || 2,296 || 16 || 24 || 67.3 || 6 || −5 || −0.8 || 0
|-
! [[1976 NFL season|1976]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1976 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 12 || 12 || '''11–1''' || 194 || 291 || '''66.7''' || 2,737 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''27''' || 17 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''103.4''' || 7 || −2 || −0.3 || 1
|-
! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] !! [[1977 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 13 || 13 || 10–3 || 169 || 294 || 57.5 || 2,176 || 20 || 20 || 75.2 || 3 || −3 || −1.0 || 0
|-
! [[1978 NFL season|1978]] !! [[1978 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 16 || 16 || 9–7 || 237 || 406 || 58.4 || 2,944 || 16 || '''30''' || 63.4 || 4 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 
|-
! [[1979 NFL season|1979]] !! [[1979 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 16 || 16 || 9–7 || '''304''' || '''498''' || 61.1 || '''3,615'''  || 26 || 22 || 82.2 || 16 || −4 || −0.3 || 0
|-
! [[1980 NFL season|1980]] !! [[1980 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 16 || 16 || 11–5 || 293 || 457 || 64.1 || 3,202 || 13 || 28 || 68.7 || 15 || −22 || −1.5 || 0
|-
! [[1981 NFL season|1981]] !! [[1981 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 13 || 12 || 5–7 || 165 || 285 || 57.9 || 1,988 || 14 || 18 || 69.5 || 10 || −3 || −0.3 || 0
|-
! [[1982 NFL season|1982]] !! [[1982 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]
| 8 || 8 || 4–4 || 117 || 189 || 61.9 || 1,343 || 6 || 10 || 71.8 || 3 || −4 || −1.3 || 0
|-
! [[1983 NFL season|1983]] !! [[1983 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]
| 14 || 14 || 7–7 || 176 || 311 || 56.6 || 1,988 || 9 || 18 || 61.4 || 9 || −14 || −1.6 || 0
|-
! [[1984 NFL season|1984]] !! [[1984 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]
| 3 || 0 || – || 33 || 70 || 47.1 || 339 || 2 || 5 || 41.3 || 1 || −1 || −1.0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 184 !! 146 !! 96–49–1 !! 2,270 !! 3,793 !! 59.8 !! 27,938 ||194 !! 222 !! 75.3 !! 118 || 93 || 0.8 || 4
|}
* Stabler's five consecutive appearances in conference championship games (from 1973 to 1977) remained a record for NFL quarterbacks for almost 40 years, until Stabler's record was surpassed by [[Tom Brady]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farley, Glen |date=January 15, 2017 |title=Patriots Notebook: Pats pack a six-pack |url=https://www.enterprisenews.com/sports/20170115/patriots-notebook-pats-pack-six-pack |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924060826/https://www.enterprisenews.com/sports/20170115/patriots-notebook-pats-pack-six-pack |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |access-date=February 10, 2021 |work=[[The Enterprise (Brockton)]]}}</ref>

==After football==
===Broadcasting career===
Following his retirement as a player, Stabler worked as a [[color commentator]], first on [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] NFL telecasts, and then on radio with [[Eli Gold]] for Alabama football games.  Stabler left before [[2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama's 2008 season]] and was replaced by Phil Savage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Bill |date=July 11, 2008 |title=Ex-Raiders star Stabler leaves radio gig |url=http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-8-150/Ex-Raiders-star-Stabler-leaves-radio-gig.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009061830/http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-8-150/Ex-Raiders-star-Stabler-leaves-radio-gig.html |archive-date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=September 3, 2008 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

===Charitable work===
Stabler served as chairman of the XOXO Stabler Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission "to raise funds, build awareness and hope for a variety of charitable causes." Stabler's celebrity golf tournaments in [[Point Clear, Alabama]] have raised nearly $600,000 for charitable partner The Ronald McDonald House of Mobile, which serves families of seriously ill and injured children receiving medical treatment at local hospitals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Inabinett |first=Mark |date=March 4, 2013 |title=Ken Stabler 'just trying to pay the rent' with golf tournament |url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/03/ken_stabler_just_trying_to_pay.html |access-date=March 31, 2013 |publisher=al.com}}</ref>

===In media===
*Stabler was featured on a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' skit as the spokesman for a fictional product called the "Lung Brush".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lung Brush |url=http://snltranscripts.jt.org/91/91elungbrush.phtml |access-date=September 3, 2008}}</ref>
*Professional wrestler [[Jake Roberts|Jake "The Snake" Roberts]] adopted his nickname "The Snake" as a tribute to Stabler.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2008 |title=LegendsL Jake 'The Snake' Roberts! |url=http://www.prowrestlingdaily.com/2008/03/10/legendsl-jake-the-snake-roberts/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608033912/http://www.prowrestlingdaily.com/2008/03/10/legendsl-jake-the-snake-roberts/ |archive-date=June 8, 2008 |access-date=September 3, 2008 |publisher=Pro Wrestling Daily}}</ref>
*Stabler is featured on the "NFL Legends" team in the video game ''[[NFL Street]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2003 |title=NFL Street Legend: Kenny Stabler |url=http://sports.ign.com/articles/440/440936p1.html |access-date=July 14, 2012 |publisher=IGN Sports}}</ref>
*Stabler appears in the [[2K Games|2K]] video game ''[[All-Pro Football 2K8]]''.

==Personal life==
Stabler was married three times: to Isabel Clarke from 1968 to 1973,  to Debbie Fitzsimmons from 1975 to 1978, and to Rose Molly Burch from 1984 to 2009.

Stabler had three daughters, Kendra Stabler Moyes, Alexa Stabler-Adams and Marissa Leigh Stabler.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dickey |first=Glenn |date=June 5, 2005 |title=Catching up with Kenny Stabler: Avoiding Snake eyes |url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/CATCHING-UP-WITH-KENNY-STABLER-Avoiding-Snake-2665528.php |access-date=September 3, 2008 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>  In 2017, Alexa Stabler-Adams was certified by the NFLPA as a sports agent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexa's NFLPA Agency certification |url=https://www.nflpa.com/agents/profile/TlRZd05URT01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705211325/https://www.nflpa.com/agents/profile/TlRZd05URT01 |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>

Renowned for being cool and cerebral on the field, Stabler was equally legendary for his off-field exploits;{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} he wrote in his 1986 autobiography ''Snake'', "The monotony of [training] camp was so oppressive that without the diversions of whiskey and women, those of us who were wired for activity and no more than six hours sleep a night might have gone berserk."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stabler |first=Ken |url=https://archive.org/details/snakestab00stab |title=Snake |date=September 1986 |publisher=Doubleday |isbn=0385234503 |page=[https://archive.org/details/snakestab00stab/page/2 2] |url-access=registration}}</ref> Stabler told stories of drunk Raiders teammates pointing guns at him, and bailing out a teammate from jail who was wearing nothing but blue cowboy boots and his [[Super Bowl ring]]. "We were the only pro team who traveled with its own [[bail bondsman]]," he said.<ref name="stjohn2004">{{Cite book |last=St. John |first=Warren |author-link=Warren St. John |title=Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Journey Into the Heart of Fan Mania |publisher=Crown Publishers |year=2004 |isbn=1-4000-8297-8 |pages=137 |chapter=Chapter Eight: Fighting Gators, Crash Landings, and Fireman Mike}}</ref>

===Death===
Stabler died of colon cancer on July 8, 2015, at the age of 69. He had been diagnosed with the disease in February 2015. After some initial confusion when ''[[The Tuscaloosa News]]'' [[List of premature obituaries|leaked a draft obituary]] for Stabler before word of his death could be confirmed, his family confirmed his death in a statement issued on July 9.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 9, 2015 |title=UPDATE: Oakland Raiders QB Ken Stabler, 69, Dies From Stage 4 Colon Cancer |url=http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2015/07/09/update-oakland-raiders-qb-ken-stabler-69-dies-from-stage-4-colon-cancer/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=CBS - Sacramento}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinclair Broadcast Group |title=CONFIRMED: Kenny Stabler Passes Away |url=http://www.local15tv.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wpmi_alabama-legend-kenny-stabler-passes-away-21849.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710094505/http://www.local15tv.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wpmi_alabama-legend-kenny-stabler-passes-away-21849.shtml |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |website=WPMI}}</ref>

In February 2016, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that researchers at [[Boston University]] discovered high Stage 3 [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE) in Stabler's brain after his death.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Branch |first=John |date=February 3, 2016 |title=Ken Stabler, a Magnetic N.F.L. Star, Was Sapped of Spirit by C.T.E. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/sports/football/ken-stabler-nfl-cte-brain-disease.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref> He is one of at least 345 [[List of NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy|NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The driving force behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) |url=https://concussionfoundation.org/cte-resources/subconcussive-impacts |access-date=July 2, 2023 |work=Concussion Legacy Foundation |archive-date=July 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702123543/https://concussionfoundation.org/cte-resources/subconcussive-impacts |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ken Belson and Benjamin Mueller |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Collective Force of Head Hits, Not Just the Number of Them, Increases Odds of C.T.E. The largest study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to date found that the cumulative force of head hits absorbed by players in their careers is the best predictor of future brain disease. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/20/sports/football/cte-study-concussions-brain-tackle.html |access-date=July 2, 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He was buried at Pine Rest Cemetery in Foley, Alabama.

==See also==
*[[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]]
*[[List of left-handed quarterbacks]]
* [[List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
* [[List of NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |last1=Stabler |first1=Ken |title=Snake: The Candid Autobiography of Football's Most Outrageous Renegade |last2=Berry Stainback |publisher=Doubleday |year=1986 |isbn=0-385-23450-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://mrbiofile.com/2021/09/16/biofile-kenny-stabler-interview/ Ken Stabler interview]{{Footballstats |nfl=STA013616 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=S/StabKe00 |rotoworld=}}
*{{Find a Grave|148951755}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Ken Stabler—awards, championships, and honors
| list1 =
{{1965 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback navbox}}
{{Raiders1968DraftPicks}}
{{Oakland Raiders starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Tennessee Titans starting quarterback navbox}}
{{New Orleans Saints starting quarterback navbox}}
{{AP Offensive Players of the Year}}
{{AP NFL MVPs}}
{{Bert Bell Award}}
{{Super Bowl XI}}
{{Super Bowl Champion quarterbacks}}
{{NFL completion percentage leaders}}
{{NFL passing touchdown leaders}}
{{NFL1970s}}
{{2016 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{NASCAR on TBS}}
{{Hickok Belt}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stabler, Ken}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football announcers]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Players of American football with chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]
[[Category:American memoirists]]
[[Category:Birmingham Americans players]]
[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:Continental Football League players]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers players]]
[[Category:NFL announcers]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Foley, Alabama]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:NFL Offensive Player of the Year winners]]
[[Category:NFL Most Valuable Player winners]]