RIP Roman Gabriel

[texasdave]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/rams-saddened-by-death-of-former-mvp-quarterback/ar-AA1nojO0?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=297d8ef536454e44b752442ecbb7c2c7&ei=21

[M2]

Had Eagles season tix back when I was a wee lad and he was their QB.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Helluva quarterback. Pioneer. First Filipino-American QB. NFL MVP.

[cumberlandreds]

Fine QB who should probably be in the HOF. He just didn't have much playoff success. RIP Roman Gabriel.

[RedsBaron]

Gabriel was a good QB, twice leading his league or conference in TD passes and being named the NFL MVP in 1969, the last season before the merger of the NFL and AFL into one league, made up of the NFC and AFC.
His LA Ram teams were very good but had no playoff success. In 1967 the Rams tied the Colts for the best record in the NFL at 11-1-2. However, that record didn't get them a home playoff game. While the Rams defeated Green Bay, which had a 9-4-1 record in the regular season, winning 27-24 in LA, the playoff game was in Green Bay, with the Packers, in Vince Lombardi's last season as their coach, winning easily 28-7. Gabriel had a poor game, completing 11 of 31 passes for 186 yards, one TD, one interception. Bart Starr of the Packers completed 17 of 23 passes for 222 yards, one TD, one pick.
Gabriel's other playoff appearance came in 1969. The Rams started the season 11-0 but lost their 12th game to the Vikings in LA, 20-13. The Rams finished 11-3 and the Vikings went 12-2. Those two teams met again in the first round of the playoffs, this time in Minnesota. LA lead 17-7 at halftime but lost 23-20. Gabriel outplayed Joe Kapp of the Vikings: Gabriel completed 22 of 32 passes for 150 yards, 2 TDs and one interception, while Kapp went 12 for 19 for 196 yards, but with no TD passes, two interceptions and a fumble. These two playoff games were the only post season games played by the "Fearsome Foursome" of the Rams.
Gabriel also played "Blue Boy" in 1969's "The Undefeated" starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. His teammate Merlin Olsen was also in the film. Unlike Gabriel, Olsen went on to have a successful acting career.

[Kingspoint]

One of the legends of great QB's that existed in 1969. Seems every team had one. Roman Gabriel had the coolest name, though, right there with Bart Starr.

I made a bet on that Rams-Vikings game against my Dad. I took the Rams and their 11-0 record, and he had the Vikings and their 10-1 record. Rams lost.

Look at the back of this card....6'4", 230lbs. Gabriel was a behemoth for a QB during his time.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP. a_DBxOTNTny6xsHL-li_owAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=0f71fb03417478fe4ceece503a266aaac6fd7edc56414e 62ac1e669c74980be7&ipo=images

1969 was my favorite year for Topps NFL cards. So many legends.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP. zQGYptFo-dnqanFACgGMPAHaDt%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=495a1a93e663b87fe997c86c12cda9cbc4ff7bdc9c0234 3babed9c9ca008cd85&ipo=images