View source for Roman Gabriel

{{Short description|American football player (1940–2024)}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Roman Gabriel
| image          = Roman Gabriel, 1970.jpg
| image_size     =
| alt            = 
| caption        = Gabriel in 1970
| number         = 18, 5
| position       = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1940|8|5}}
| birth_place    = [[Wilmington, North Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|2024|4|20|1940|8|5}}
| death_place    = [[Little River, South Carolina]], U.S.
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 4
| weight_lb      = 220
| high_school    = [[New Hanover High School|New Hanover]] (Wilmington)
| college        = [[NC State Wolfpack football|NC State]] (1959–1961)
| draftyear      = 1962
| draftround     = 1
| draftpick      = 2
| afldraftyear   = 1962
| afldraftround  = 1
| afldraftpick   = 1
| pastteams      =
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1962|1972}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1973|1977}})
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Cal Poly Pomona Broncos football|Cal Poly Pomona]] (1980–1982) <br /> Head coach
* [[Boston Breakers (USFL)|Boston Breakers]] ({{USFL Year|1983}}) <br /> Offensive coordinator
* [[Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks]] ([[1991 WLAF season|1991]]) <br /> Head coach
| highlights     =
* [[NFL Most Valuable Player]] (1969)
* [[National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award#PFW.2FPFWA Comeback Player of the Year award .281972.E2.80.93present.29|NFL Comeback Player of the Year]] (1973)
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]])
* 2× Second-team All-Pro ([[1967 All-Pro Team|1967]], [[1968 All-Pro Team|1968]])
* 4× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1968 Pro Bowl|1967]]–[[1970 Pro Bowl|1969]], [[1974 Pro Bowl|1973]])
* [[List of National Football League annual passing yards leaders|NFL passing yards leader]] (1973)
* 2× [[List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders|NFL passing touchdowns leader]] (1969, 1973)
* [[Bert Bell Award]] (1969)
* 2× First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1960 College Football All-America Team|1960]], [[1961 College Football All-America Team|1961]])
* 2× [[Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1960, 1961)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference football teams|All-ACC]] ([[1960 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1960]], [[1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1961]])
* [[NC State Wolfpack football#Retired numbers|NC State Wolfpack No. 18]] retired
| statlabel1     = Passing attempts
| statvalue1     = 4,498
| statlabel2     = Passing completions
| statvalue2     = 2,366
| statlabel3     = Completion percentage
| statvalue3     = 52.6%
| statlabel4     = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4     = 201–149
| statlabel5     = Passing yards
| statvalue5     = 29,444
| statlabel6     = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6     = 74.3
| statlabel7     = Rushing yards
| statvalue7     = 1,304
| statlabel8     = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue8     = 30
| overall_record = College: {{Winning percentage|8|24|record=y}} <br /> WLAF: {{Winning percentage|0|10|record=y}}
| pfr            = G/GabrRo00
| CollegeHOF     = 1857 
}}

'''Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Jr.''' (August 5, 1940 – April 20, 2024) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[quarterback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[NC State Wolfpack football|NC State Wolfpack]], twice earning first-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors. Gabriel was the second overall pick in the [[1962 NFL draft]] and played for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] for 11 seasons then five years for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. He was notable for being the first NFL quarterback of [[Filipino-American]] descent, as well as winning the [[NFL Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) award in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/nfl-s-first-filipino-american-quarterback-s-next-challenge-hall-n923811 |title=The NFL's first Filipino-American quarterback's next challenge is the Hall of Fame |last=Peng |first=Sheng |date=October 31, 2018 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en |access-date=March 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Gabriel was born to Edna Mae Wyatt and Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Sr., a Filipino immigrant, in [[Wilmington, North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite book| last1=Zhao| first1=Xiaojian| last2=Park, Ph.D| first2=Edward J. W.| title=Asian Americans: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political History [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political History| date=November 26, 2013| publisher=ABC-CLIO| isbn=978-1-5988-4240-1| page=447| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3AxIAgAAQBAJ&q=roman+gabriel+filipino+father&pg=PA447| access-date=September 23, 2016| language=en}}</ref> Gabriel grew up poor and suffered from [[asthma]], but he played [[high school football]] at [[New Hanover High School]], where he graduated in 1958.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Chi| first1=Samuel| title=Who Says Asians Can't Play American Football?| url=https://thediplomat.com/2013/08/who-says-asians-cant-play-american-football/| access-date=September 23, 2016| magazine=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]| date=August 29, 2013}}</ref> He went on to star as quarterback at [[NC State Wolfpack football|North Carolina State University]] in [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]].

A two-time [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] and two-time ACC Player of the Year (1960–61), Gabriel finished his college career holding virtually every [[NC State Wolfpack football|Wolfpack]] passing record.  An academic All-American, Gabriel saw his jersey retired (the first in program history) after his senior season and then presented to him by [[North Carolina governor]] [[Terry Sanford]] on January 20, 1962, at halftime of an NC State-Maryland basketball game in [[Reynolds Coliseum]]. As captain of his team, Gabriel set 22 school and nine conference football records. He threw for 2,961 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Known for his arm strength, he also played [[baseball]] and was voted the best amateur athlete in the Carolinas. In a three-year career, he passed for 20 touchdowns and ran for 15. The [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]'s 50th Anniversary Football Team was announced in 2003 and Gabriel was among the top 50 players in the history of the ACC to be listed.<ref>{{cite news| title=Roman Gabriel Elected to National QB Hall of Fame| url=https://fannationsi.com/college/ncstate/football/ncstate-wolfpack-football-quarterback-hall-of-fame-roman-gabriel| first=Brett| last=Friedlander| date=August 25, 2020| magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]| access-date=September 12, 2022| quote=When the ACC announced its 50th Anniversary team in 2003, Gabriel was among those selected as top 50 players in conference history.}}</ref> Gabriel was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1989.

==Professional career==
Gabriel was the number one [[1962 American Football League draft|1962 AFL draft]] pick, chosen by the [[Oakland Raiders]], and he was the  second overall pick of the [[1962 NFL draft]], as selected by the [[Los Angeles Rams]]. Gabriel signed with the Rams and went on to a distinguished professional career.

Gabriel wore the number 18 with the Rams and the number 5 with the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. Gabriel played 16 seasons in the NFL, splitting time with the [[Los Angeles Rams]] from 1962 to 1972 and then the Philadelphia Eagles from 1973 to 1977. He was awarded the [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]] in 1969 and earned [[Pro Bowl]] spots in 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1973. When he retired, he ranked as the Rams' all-time passing leader with 22,223 yards and 154 touchdowns (1,705 completions/3,313 attempts) and threw for 7,221 yards and 45 touchdowns (661 com./1,185 att.) with the Eagles. In 1973, he led the NFL with 3,219 yards and 23 touchdown passes, for which he was awarded the [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award]]. As of the end of the 2016 NFL season, he still holds the Rams' career records for touchdown passes (154), passes attempted (3,313), and wins by a starting quarterback (74).

=== Los Angeles Rams ===
From 1962 through 1965, Gabriel had a difficult time securing a starting quarterback job. [[Los Angeles Rams]]' coaches gave [[Zeke Bratkowski]] or [[Bill Munson]] the nod over Gabriel. However, due to other quarterbacks slumping or being injured, Gabriel did get to start 23 games from 1962 through 1965. The team's record in those games was 11–11–1. Although his record as a starter was average, the other Rams quarterbacks who started the other 33 games combined record was 4–27–2. Gabriel's significant wins include a 1965 victory to beat the eventual NFL champion [[Green Bay Packers]] and the 11–3 [[Cleveland Browns]].In the spring of 1966, Gabriel contemplated leaving the Rams for the Raiders, who offered him a contract for when he would be a free agent after the 1966 season; as recounted by Gabriel, they offered him $300,000 to play three years with a $100,000 signing bonus, which differed from the roughly $22,500 made with Los Angeles.

When [[George Allen (American football coach)|George Allen]] took over for [[Harland Svare]] to coach the Rams in 1966, one of his first moves was to try and convince Gabriel to stay with the Rams, as Gabriel had signed the deal that would make him a Raider. Allen convinced Gabriel that he would get him $32,000 but "I'll get you $100,000 when you retire". He then told him to send the bonus check back to the Raiders, which he decided to do with no lasting regret.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://talkoffametwo.com/nfl/remembering-roman-gabriel | title=Remembering Roman Gabriel | date=April 21, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Jeff |author-link= |date= 2003|title= Going Long: The Wild Ten-Year Saga of the Renegade American Football League in the words of those who lived it|url= |location= |publisher=McGraw Hill |pages=199–200|isbn=0-07-141849-0}}</ref> Allen then made him the primary starter for 1966. Gabriel started all fourteen games and the Rams went 8–6, their first winning season since 1958. In 1967 the Rams went 11–1–2 and made the playoffs as [[NFL Coastal Division]] champions. Gabriel was named the [[Associated Press|AP]] Offensive Player of the Week the last two weeks of the season. In week 13, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, Gabriel was 20-for-36 with three touchdowns (including the game-winner in the last minute) in a 27–24 come from behind win over the defending champion [[Green Bay Packers]]. The next week, in a game against the [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] that would decide the division title, Gabriel completed 18-of-22 passes with three touchdowns as the Rams won 34–10. The 1967 Rams finished as the highest-scoring team in the NFL but were eliminated from the playoffs by the Packers 28–7. Gabriel threw for 2,779 yards and 25 touchdowns and was a second-team [[All-Pro]] and a Pro Bowler.

The following season, they were in another neck-and-neck battle for the Coastal Division title with the Colts. Going into the thirteenth game of the season, the Rams needed a win to stay within one-half game of the Colts, who would be coming to Los Angeles the following week for the season finale. However, the Rams took a 17–16 loss to the [[Chicago Bears]] and soon finished in second place.

In 1969, the Rams opened the season with an 11-game winning streak, which is still a Rams record, before suffering their first loss to the 10–1 [[Minnesota Vikings]] in Los Angeles by a score of 20–13. With the division clinched and the undefeated record gone, coach Allen decided to rest many of his starters and the Rams lost their last two games to finish 11–3. In a rematch with the Vikings in the playoffs in Minnesota, the Rams lost, 23–20. For the season, Gabriel threw 24 touchdowns and only seven [[interceptions]] and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the AP and NEA, the Player of the Year by the [[UPI]] and was voted All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl.

In 1970, the league realigned, putting the Rams in contention with the [[San Francisco 49ers]] for the new [[NFC West]] Division title. After an upset loss at home to the lowly [[New York Jets]] (who were without the injured [[Joe Namath]]) in which Gabriel threw three interceptions, the Rams won three straight games, including a crucial 30–13 win over the 49ers to take over first place. Going into the thirteenth week of the season, the Rams participated in the first [[Monday Night Football]] game in the city of Los Angeles. However, despite over 300 yards passing from Gabriel, the Rams lost 28–23 to the [[Detroit Lions]], putting the Rams back in 2nd place and left them a half-game behind the Lions for the wild card playoff spot. The Rams won their finale at the [[New York Giants]] 31–3 (eliminating the Giants from playoff contention) but failed to make the playoffs as the Lions won to secure the wild card spot, and the 49ers won to clinch the NFC Western Division title. From 1967 to 1970, Gabriel led the Rams to a 41–14–4 overall record and was named to three Pro Bowls during that four-year span.

In 1971, the veteran Rams began to show their age and Gabriel missed parts of every game due to knee and shoulder injuries. In addition, coach George Allen left for the [[Washington Redskins]] after a long-running dispute with the Rams general manager [[Dan Reeves (American football executive)|Dan Reeves]]. Still, the Rams, despite playing the league's toughest schedule, faced almost the same situation as in 1970. After falling behind the 49ers in the seventh week of the season, they rallied back to take the division lead going into another matchup in Los Angeles on Monday night for the thirteenth week of the season, for which the matchup was against Washington (now coached by Allen). After falling behind 31–10, Gabriel led the Rams back to within 31–24 and was driving to a possible tying score when he was intercepted; it was returned for a touchdown and the Redskins won. Once again, the Rams fell into second place behind the 49ers and behind the Redskins for the wild card berth. Despite winning in Pittsburgh against the [[Steelers]] in the final week of the year, the 49ers came from behind to beat the Lions, 31–27, and win the division.

In 1972, Gabriel's knee and shoulder injury problems deteriorated. After making [[List of most consecutive starts by a National Football League quarterback|89 consecutive starts]] over eight seasons, he missed two games and lost playing time in all twelve other games.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070115162411/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2003444151_hawk23.html Favre above the pain]</ref> Still, after a Monday night win in San Francisco in the twelfth week, the Rams regained first place. But losses to the [[St. Louis Cardinals (football)|St. Louis Cardinals]] and Detroit Lions in the final two weeks (combined with a previous loss to the woeful [[1972 New Orleans Saints season|Saints]]), doomed their season. The Rams finished 6–7–1 and coach [[Tommy Prothro]] was fired.

=== Philadelphia Eagles ===
After the 1972 season, the Rams hired [[Chuck Knox]] as their new coach and obtained [[John Hadl]] to be the quarterback. On June 8, 1973, after he threatened to accept a $100,000 contract with the Las Vegas Casinos of the Southwestern Football League in April 1973,<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19730419&id=gahVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4eADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5474,5024138 "Gabriel, Las Vegas call off the deal"]. ''[[The Register-Guard]]''. Eugene, Ore. April 19, 1973.</ref> Gabriel was traded from the Rams to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] for [[Harold Jackson (American football)|Harold Jackson]], [[Tony Baker (running back, born 1945)|Tony Baker]], a [[1974 NFL Draft|1974]] first-round selection (11th overall&ndash;[[John Cappelletti]]), and first- and third-round picks in [[1975 NFL Draft|1975]] (11th and 67th overall&ndash;[[Dennis Harrah]] and [[Dan Nugent]]) .<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/09/archives/gabriel-is-traded-to-eagles-by-rams-unitas-signs-pact-chargers-sign.html "Gabriel Is Traded To Eagles by Rams; Unitas Signs Pact"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. June 9, 1973. Retrieved November 3, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/Years/1974.htm "1974 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 29 (Rounds 1&ndash;5) & 30 (Rounds 6&ndash;17)"]. ''Pro Sports Transactions''. Retrieved November 3, 2020.</ref>

Gabriel improved a 2–11–1 Eagles team to a 5–8–1 record. Gabriel was voted to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time and was voted the "Comeback Player of the Year" by ''[[Pro Football Weekly]]''. For the 1973 season, Gabriel led the Eagles with 270 completions, 460 attempts, 3,219 yards, and 23 touchdowns (all were league highs) as the Eagle offense was the most prolific passing game in the NFL. Gabriel played through 1977 but his final two years were in a backup role. In his last season, he backed up [[Ron Jaworski]], who had played for the Rams from 1973 to 1976.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

In his career, he had a winning record of 86–64–7 and passed for 29,444 yards with 201 touchdowns. He is the only quarterback from his era to still rank high in the "lowest interception percentage" category in NFL passing statistics.  The [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Gabriel to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2013.htm |website=Professional Researchers Association |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2013 |access-date=September 12, 2022 |archive-date=January 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104015529/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2013.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
Gabriel was the last football coach at [[California State Polytechnic University, Pomona|Cal Poly Pomona]], where from 1980 to 1982 his teams compiled an 8–24 record.<ref>{{cite web| title=Bronco Golf Classic Raises $27,000 For Scholarships| url=http://www.csupomona.edu/~athletic/Events/| website=California State Polytechnic University, Pomona| access-date=September 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502172827/http://www.csupomona.edu/~athletic/Events/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=May 2, 2008 }}</ref> On November 26, 1982, he resigned to become offensive coordinator with the [[Boston Breakers (USFL)|Boston Breakers]] of the [[USFL]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Roman Gabriel has resigned as head football coach| url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/11/27/Roman-Gabriel-has-resigned-as-head-football-coach-at/5549407221200/| access-date=January 3, 2017| website=[[UPI]]| date=December 27, 1982}}</ref> Cal Poly-Pomona terminated its football program.

Gabriel was head coach of the [[Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks]] of the [[World League of American Football]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id93.html |title=Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks History |website=World League of American Football |access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref> He was the only coach who did not win a game in the inaugural 1991 season, but came close to beating [[Jack Elway]]'s 7-3 [[Frankfurt Galaxy (NFL Europe)|Frankfurt Galaxy]] in Germany. The 0-10 Skyhawks disbanded shortly thereafter, the franchise was replaced by [[Ohio Glory]].{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

==Broadcasting career==
Gabriel also had a career as a broadcast [[color commentator]], calling games on [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] television from 1978 to 1979, on [[NFL on CBS Radio|CBS Radio]] in the 1980s and on [[Carolina Panthers]] radio from 1995 to 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2013/04/24/chuck-carree-summerall-helped-with-gabriels-time-on-tv/30936197007/|title=Summerall helped with Gabriel's time on TV|last=Carree|first=Chuck|work=StarNews Online|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=April 24, 2024}}</ref>

==Acting career==
Gabriel was a frequent guest on television talk shows of the era, including ''[[The Merv Griffin Show]]'', ''The [[Virginia Graham]] Show'', ''The [[Rosey Grier]] Show'', and ''[[The Joey Bishop Show (talk show)|The Joey Bishop Show]]''.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Gabriel had a brief film career, playing a prison guard in [[Otto Preminger]]'s 1968 spoof ''[[Skidoo (film)|Skidoo]]'' and a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] named "Blue Boy" in the 1969 [[John Wayne]] and [[Rock Hudson]] film ''[[The Undefeated (1969 film)|The Undefeated]].'' He had previously appeared as a [[Headhunting|headhunter]] in the November 14, 1966, "Topsy-Turvey" episode of [[CBS]]' ''[[Gilligan's Island]].''<ref>{{cite web |title=Season 3, Episode 10 Topsy Turvy |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/gilligans-island-1966/episode-10-season-3/topsy-turvy/100178/ |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=October 12, 2018}}</ref> With several of his Rams teammates, he  made a cameo appearance as a football player in the 1965 ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' episode, "The Case of the 12th Wildcat", as well as in 1970 on an ''[[Ironside (TV series)|Ironside]]'' episode, "Blackout". He appeared twice on ''[[Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In]]''. He was also on a 1978 episode of ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'', "The Deadly Sting".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina-state/Board/103768/Contents/Roman-Gabriel-had-an-acting-career-54624511/?Page=2 |title=Roman Gabriel had an acting career? |website=[[247Sports]] |access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>

==Death==
On April 20, 2024, Gabriel died peacefully at home in [[Little River, South Carolina]], at the age of 83.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Goldstein (writer, born 1942) |date=April 20, 2024 |title=Roman Gabriel, Star Quarterback of the 1960s and '70s, Dies at 83 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/sports/football/roman-gabriel-dead.html |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=DeArdo | first=Bryan | title=Rams legend, former NFL MVP quarterback Roman Gabriel dies at age 83 | website=CBSSports.com | date=2024-04-20 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rams-legend-former-nfl-mvp-quarterback-roman-gabriel-dies-at-age-83/ | access-date=2025-05-08}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#ff0;"|
| [[NFL MVP]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1962 NFL season|1962]] !! [[1962 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 6 || 4 || 0−3−1 || 57 || 101 || 56.4 || 670 || 6.6 || 3 || 2 || 78.4 || 18 || 93 || 5.2 || 0
|-
! [[1963 NFL season|1963]] !! [[1963 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 12 || 9 || 5−4 || 130 || 281 || 46.3 || 1,947 || 6.9 || 8 || 11 || 62.7 || 39 || 132 || 3.4 || 3
|-
! [[1964 NFL season|1964]] !! [[1964 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 7 || 6 || 3−3 || 65 || 143 || 45.5 || 1,236 || '''8.6''' || 9 || 5 || 82.4 || 11 || 5 || 0.5 || 1
|-
! [[1965 NFL season|1965]] !! [[1965 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 7 || 4 || 3−1 || 83 || 173 || 48.0 || 1,321 || 7.6 || 11 || 5 || 83.0 || 23 || 79 || 3.4 || 2			
|-
! [[1966 NFL season|1966]] !! [[1966 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 14 || 14 || 8−6 || 217 || 397 || 54.7 || 2,540 || 6.4 || 10 || 16 || 65.9 || '''52''' || 176 || 3.4 || 3 
|-
! [[1967 NFL season|1967]] !! [[1967 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 14 || 14 || 11−1−2 || 196 || 371 || 52.8 || 2,779 || 7.5 || '''25''' || 13 || 85.2 || 43 || '''198''' || 4.6 || '''6''' 
|-
! [[1968 NFL season|1968]] !! [[1968 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 14 || 14 || 10−3−1 || 184 || 366 || 50.3 || 2,364 || 6.5 || 19 || '''16''' || 70.0 || 34 || 139 || 4.1 || 4
|-
! style="background:#ffff00;"|[[1969 NFL season|1969]] !! [[1969 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 14 || 14 || 11−3 || 217 || 399 || 54.4 || 2,549 || 6.4 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 24 || 7 || '''86.8''' || 35 || 156 || 4.5 || 5
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 14 || 14 || 9−4−1 || 211 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 407 || 51.8 || 2,552 || 6.3 || 16 || 12 || 72.2 || 28 || 104 || 3.7 || 1
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! [[1971 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 14 || 14 || 8−5−1 || 180 || 352 || 51.1 || 2,238 || 6.4 || 17 || 10 || 75.4 || 18 || 48 || 2.7 || 2
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! [[1972 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 14 || 12 || 6−6 || 165 || 323 || 51.1 || 2,027 || 6.3 || 12 || 15 || 63.8 || 14 || 16 || 1.1 || 1
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] !! [[1973 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 14 || 14 || 5−8−1 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''270''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''460''' || '''58.7''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''3,219''' || 7.0 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 23 || 12 || 86.0 || 12 || 10 || 0.8 || 1
|-
! [[1974 NFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 11 || 11 || 4−7 || 193 || 338 || 57.1 || 1,867 || 5.5 || 9 || 12 || 66.8 || 14 || 76 || '''5.4''' || 0
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 11 || 9 || 2−7 || 151 || 292 || 51.7 || 1,644 || 5.6 || 13 || 11 || 67.8 || 13 || 70 || '''5.4''' || 1
|-
! [[1976 NFL season|1976]] !! [[1976 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 4 || 4 || 1−3 || 46 || 92 || 50.0 || 476 || 5.2 || 2 || 2 || 63.5  || 4 || 2 || 0.5 || 0
|-
! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] !! [[1977 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 13 || 0 || — || 1 || 3 || 33.3 || 15 || 5.0 || 0 || 0 || 50.7 || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 183 !! 157 !! 86−64−7 !! 2,366 !! 4,498 !! 52.6 !! 29,444 !! 6.5 !! 201 !! 149 !! 74.3 !! 358 !! 1,304 !! 3.6 !! 30
|}

===Postseason statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1967–68 NFL playoffs|1967]] !! [[1967 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 1 || 1 || 0−1 || 11 || 31 || 35.5 || 186 || 6.0 || 1 || 1 || 54.0 || 3 || 6 || 2.0|| 0
|-
! [[1969–70 NFL playoffs|1969]] !! [[1969 Los Angeles Rams season|LA]]
| 1 || 1 || 0−1 || 22 || 32 || 68.8 ||150 ||4.7 || 2 || 1 || 86.7 || 4 || 26|| 6.5 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 2 !! 2 !! 0−2 !! 33 !! 63 !! 52.4 !! 336 !! 5.3 !! 3 !! 2 !! 70.6 !! 7 !! 32 !! 4.6 !! 0
|}

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Cal Poly Pomona Broncos football|Cal Poly Pomona Broncos]]
 | conf      = [[California Collegiate Athletic Association]]
 | startyear = 1980
 | endyear   = 1981
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1980 NCAA Division II football season|1980]]
 | name         = [[1980 Cal Poly Pomona Broncos football team|Cal Poly Pomona]]
 | overall      = 3–7
 | conference   = 0–2
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1981 NCAA Division II football season|1981]]
 | name         = [[1981 Cal Poly Pomona Broncos football team|Cal Poly Pomona]]
 | overall      = 4–7
 | conference   = 1–1
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Cal Poly Pomona Broncos football|Cal Poly Pomona Broncos]]
 | conf      = [[Western Football Conference (United States)|Western Football Conference]]
 | startyear = 1982
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1982 NCAA Division II football season|1982]]
 | name         = [[1982 Cal Poly Pomona Broncos football team|Cal Poly Pomona]]
 | overall      = 1–10
 | conference   = 1–3
 | confstanding = 4th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Cal Poly Pomona
 | overall    = 8–24
 | confrecord = 2–6
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 8–24
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}
<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=http://broncoathletics.com/custompages/CPP_retired_sports/CPP_FBC_y_by_y.pdf |title=Cal Poly Pomona football (1947‐1982) |publisher=[[Cal Poly Pomona Broncos]] |pages=6–7 |access-date=February 16, 2025 }}</ref>

==Awards==
* 1969: [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]], AP, UPI, NEA, and the Bert Bell MVP Trophy (Maxwell Club)
* 1970: [[Pro Bowl MVP]]
* 1973: [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year]]

==See also==
* [[List of most consecutive starts by an NFL quarterback]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|1857}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=roman-gabriel |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=G/GabrRo00 |rotoworld=}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0300276|name=Roman Gabriel}}

{{NC State Wolfpack quarterback navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Cal Poly Pomona Broncos football coach navbox}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Roman Gabriel—awards and honors
| list1 =
{{ACC Male Athlete of the Year}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{AFL NumberOne Draft Picks}}
{{1962 NFL Draft}}
{{Second overall NFL draft picks}}
{{RaidersFirstPick}}
{{RamsFirstPick}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1962 draft navbox}}
{{NFL passing touchdown leaders}}
{{AP NFL MVPs}}
{{Bert Bell Award}}
{{NFL passing yardage leaders}}
{{NFL Comeback Players of the Year}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gabriel, Roman}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:American Football League first overall draft picks]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
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[[Category:Second overall NFL draft picks]]
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[[Category:NFL Comeback Player of the Year winners]]