Roman Gabriel, a former quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams — from the team’s initial stint in the city — died Saturday at age 83.
Gabriel’s death at his home in Little River, S.C. was confirmed by his son, Roman Gabriel III, according to multiple reports. A cause was not specified.
The Oakland Raiders of the now-defunct American Football League drafted Gabriel with the first pick overall in 1962. However, the startup league, which would merge a handful of years later with the National Football League, was only in its third year and trying to compete for talent with the more entrenched league. The Rams made Gabriel the second selection of the NFL draft and signed him.
Gabriel played 11 seasons with the team, where he earned three Pro Bowl nods as well as an MVP in 1969, when he led the league with 24 touchdown passes. The following year, the NFL and the AFL would merge.
In 1973, Rams head coach George Allen — who had given Gabriel the starting role at quarterback seven years earlier — was replaced by Chuck Knox, and the team acquired John Hadl from the San Diego Chargers, with the intention of making him their number-one quarterback. Gabriel requested a trade and was shipped off to a struggling Philadelphia team, where he would spend his final five seasons.
In his first year with the Eagles, Gabriel was voted Comeback Player of the Year by sports writers after he tied for the league-lead in touchdown passes, and led in passing yards and completions.
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