Wilmington sports legend Roman Gabriel has died at the age of 83

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Wilmington native Roman Gabriel, one of pro football’s best quarterbacks in the 1960s, died Saturday morning, his son announced. He was 83 years old.

“I regret to announce my father Roman Gabriel @RGabriel4HOF passed away peacefully this morning of natural causes at his home. The whole family asked for your prayers and to respect our privacy – I love you daddy.”

The New Hanover High School Wildcat was All-State honoree for football, basketball and baseball. Gabriel went on to play quarterback at NC State, where he would become a two-time ACC Player of the Year and a two-time first-team All-American. The Wildcat field is named after him and Sonny Jurgensen. He is also a 2017 inductee of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1962, Gabriel, who played at NC State from 1959-1961 and is a College Football Hamm of Famer, was the No. 1 overall pick in the AFL Draft and the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Instead of signing with the AFL’s Raiders, Gabriel joined the NFL’s Rams, a decision that paid major dividends for the franchise.

He was a four-time Pro Bowl pick. He threw for 22,223 yards and 154 touchdowns in his 11-year career with the Rams, leaving that franchise as the career-leading passer.