THE QUARTERBACK TITAN: Remembering Roman Gabriel, Jr., the NFL’s First Asian American Superstar Quarterback

By Dr. Raymond Douglas Chong, Public Historian

Takeaways

Long before today’s towering quarterbacks began dominating the National Football League (NFL), Roman Gabriel Jr. cast an imposing influence over professional football.

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Gabriel was a physical anomaly in the 1960s, bigger than many linebackers. For 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and then five with the Philadelphia Eagles, he used a strong arm and persistent tenacity to forge a legendary career.

As the son of a Filipino immigrant, he became the first Asian American quarterback to star in the NFL and win the MVP award (1969).

Roots in Wilmington and the Wolfpack Legend (1940–1958)

Born August 5, 1940, in Wilmington, North Carolina, Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Jr. grew up with a distinctive outlook. His father, Roman Gabriel Sr., immigrated from the Philippines and worked as a waiter and cook on Pullman trains for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. His mother, Edna, was Irish American.

Growing up in the segregated American South created obstacles for a mixed-race child. At New Hanover High School, he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football.

Star Quarterback with North Carolina State Wolfpack (1959–1961)

From 1959 to 1961, Gabriel starred as quarterback for the North Carolina State Wolfpack of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He set 22 school and 9 conference records. He was awarded two-time First-Team All-American and ACC Player of the Year.

In an era dominated by rushing, Gabriel was a revolutionary dual-threat. He became the first ACC quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in a season—twice.

The Golden Era with the Los Angeles Rams (1962–1972)

The Los Angeles Rams took Gabriel as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, while he also became the No. 1 pick in the rival American Football League (AFL) draft.

For the first four seasons, he shared time with other quarterbacks. Gabriel became the starter in 1966, coinciding with the arrival of coach George Allen. Their partnership transformed the Rams from perennial losers to an NFC powerhouse.

From 1967 to 1970, Gabriel entered his absolute prime. He was the perfect quarterback for Allen’s risk-averse and punishing style of football. Gabriel was capable of deep throws to favorite receivers like Jack Snow and Bernie Casey, but he was also incredibly durable. He absorbed hits that would sideline lesser players, standing tall in the pocket to deliver the ball.

In 1967, Gabriel led the Rams to 11-1-2 record. The Rams won the Western Coastal, but lost Western Conference Championship playoff.

Support came from one of the most renowned defensive lines, the “Fearsome Foursome”—Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy. As the defense held the line, Gabriel commanded the offense with steady leadership.

In 1969, Gabriel led the Rams to an 11-3 record, including 11 straight wins. He threw for 2,549 yards and a league-high 24 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, earning NFL MVP honors. The Rams won the Western Coastal Division but lost Western Conference Championship playoff.

During an era with legendary quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, and Fran Tarkenton, Gabriel earned respect for his toughness. Coach George Allen said, “The strongest quarterback I’ve ever seen… He can take a beating and still throw the ball.”

Gabriel remains the Rams’ winningest quarterback with 74 victories. His durability was evident, as he played 144 consecutive games for the franchise, proving his tenacity and physical strength.

Resurgence in Philadelphia (1973-1977) and Career Twilight

After 11 seasons in Los Angeles, Gabriel was traded to the Eagles in 1973. Critics doubted him, but Gabriel revived his career, leading the league in all major passing categories and showing unmatched leadership.

In his first season with the Eagles under coach Mike McCormack, he led the NFL in pass completions, passing yards (3,219), and touchdown passes (23). He earned the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award and a Pro Bowl selection. He spent five seasons in Philadelphia before retiring after the 1977 season.

When Gabriel retired in 1977, he ranked among the quarterback elite.  His 16-year career totaled 29,444 passing yards, 201 passing touchdowns, and 30 rushing touchdowns. He held the record for the lowest interception percentage for many years.

• Total Passing Yards: 29,444
• Total Passing TDs: 201
• Total Rushing TDs: 30
• Most Valuable Player: 1 (1969)
• Comeback Player of the Year: 1 (1973)
• Pro Bowl Selections: 4 (1967, 1968, 1969, 1973)

A Hollywood Legacy and Beyond (1978 to 2024)

Gabriel’s rugged good looks and proximity to Hollywood during his Rams days led to a well-known second career in entertainment. He appeared in television shows like Gilligan’s Island and Perry Mason. He famously starred alongside John Wayne and Rock Hudson in the 1969 epic Western The Undefeated.

After retiring, Gabriel remained devoted to football, serving as a coach at Cal Poly Pomona and in the United States Football League. He also built a long career in broadcasting. He was also deeply involved in charity work.

Many institutions recognized his contributions to football. He is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame (1989), the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1971), and the North Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame (2012). Significantly, he was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame (2025) for his position as a cultural pioneer.

Gabriel passed away on April 20, 2024, in Little River, South Carolina.

Poem

The Quarterback Titan

A son of Wilmington, the Port City, of Philippine blood and North Carolina red, Roman Gabriel rose a giant among men, where others experienced a feeling of dread. A titan of solid iron, in the pocket’s heat, with the “Fearsome Foursome” at his back, he knew no defeat.

The first to bridge the Pacific Ocean’s gap, an Asian American trailblazer, He silenced every stadium and conquered all fears. A gunslinger with a cannon arm, a pioneer in blue and gold, His was the story of the Los Angeles Rams, the greatest ever told.

Through Los Angeles’ golden sun and Philadelphia’s misty rain, Roman Gabriel stood a mountain tall, the Most Valuable Player who broke the mold and answered every call. From the North Carolina State Wolfpack to the Los Angeles Rams, Roman Gabriel, the Quarterback Titan.

• © 2025 Raymond Douglas Chong

The Case for Canton – NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame

Today, as we look back on Gabriel’s life, one glaring omission stands – his absence from the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

His stellar career was produced in an era of brutal defenses and “dead-ball” rules.  He fundamentally changed how the quarterback position was played as a physical prototype. He was the winningest quarterback in Los Angeles Rams history. He was a giant of the game.

He proved that an Asian American could lead an NFL locker room, command a franchise, and reach the pinnacle of the sport. His heritage as a trailblazer deserves the ultimate recognition. As an Asian American trailblazer, NFL MVP, and multi-franchise passing champion, his exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame is still professional football’s greatest oversight. More than a premier player, Roman Gabriel, Jr. was the prototype quarterback for the modern era.