ROMAN GABRIEL: A Career in Three Acts

ROMAN GABRIEL:  A Career in Three Acts

Article coutesy of: PFRA

Reprinted from: The Coffin Corner | Vol. 36, No. 5 |

Bratkowski was entrenched as the starter, and it seemed

to Gabriel the new coach had little interest in him.

Gabriel sat most of the season, playing in only two

games, until Week 10. The Rams were 1–9. The week before,

an unheralded Ron Miller got the start and went 2

for 11 and threw a pick. So, perhaps desperate, Waterfield

started Gabriel. The Rams tied the Vikings and

Gabriel went on to start the final three games, all Rams

losses. But the stats pointed towards improvement. The

Rams offense averaged 254 yards in the first 10 games

and 331 yards per game with Gabriel starting. It was a

trend that continued through Gabriel’s early years.

But the Rams chose quarterback and Heisman winner

Terry Baker in the first round in 1963, perhaps

because they had little faith in the quarterback they

had chosen in 1962. Baker started the first game but

Bratkowski received the nod the next four weeks. With

the Rams offense averaging 9.2 points a game and 211

yards of total offense, their record stood at 0–5. Gabriel

started the final nine games and the Rams went 5–4 in

that span, the offense doubled its output in points and

averaged over 50 yards a game more in total offense.

Again, it failed to impress the Rams, who took Bill

Munson, another quarterback, in the first round of the

1964 NFL draft. And this time, when the season began

Munson was the starting quarterback. Gabriel also injured

a knee in preseason and started the season on the

injured list. Munson began well, winning two games,

tying one, and losing none. In Week 5, however, the

Bears picked Munson off four times and Gabriel finished

the game. Gabe started the next six, winning

three before giving way to Munson for the rest of the

season. With Munson as starter, the Rams were 2–4–2

and averaged 16 points a game and 235 yards in offense.

With Gabriel, the Rams were 3–3, averaged 23

points and just under 300 yards of offense a game.

Still, in 1965 Harland Svare noted that Gabriel was

not accurate as a passer and named Munson the

starter. He lasted 10 games, and the Rams record was

1–9. The offense was averaging 272 yards and 16 points

a game. Finally Svare handed the keys to the offense to

Gabriel. His first opponents were the Green Bay Packers,

who would end the season as NFL champions.

Gabriel passed for 255 yards and the defense clamped

down on the Packers as the Rams won, 21–10. The following

week the Rams rolled up 380 yards of offense

on the Cardinals for another win. The next week the

Rams faced the Cleveland Browns, who would face the

Packers in the NFL Championship Game a few weeks

later, and Los Angeles beat them handily. They lost to

the mighty Colts in Week 14, 20–17, in a game Baltimore

had to win and were forced to play Tom Matte as quarterback.

In the games Gabriel started, the team

averaged 27 points and 365 yards of offense.

So when is average better than that? From 1962

through 1965, Gabriel started 23 games, and in those

games the Rams were 11–11–1, exactly .500. In the 33

games not started by Gabriel, the Rams were 4–26–2 for

a winning percentage of .133. Moreover, in the games

started by Gabriel in that span the Rams averaged 21

points a game and 304 yards of offense; in the others,

the Rams averaged 15 points and 256 yards of offense.

In addition were the number of “quality wins” such

as the win over the eventual conference champions in

1965. In three previous years there were two other wins

over the Packers and wins over contending teams like

the Colts and Lions. Over the four-year period of

Gabriel’s role as an understudy, his passer rating was

74.0 at a time when the NFL–AFL average was 64.0, and

the other Rams quarterbacks combined for a 57.3 rating.

ACT II: The Spotlight

In May 1966, the Raiders offered Gabriel a $100,000

contract for the 1967 season. Head coach George Allen

promptly declared Gabriel the starting quarterback,

and he remained the Rams starter through 1972. It was,

according to Gabriel, Allen’s assurances that he’d play

that kept Gabriel from hopping leagues.

The Rams, under Allen, Gabriel and the Fearsome

Foursome defense, were winners for the first time since

the 1950s, and Gabriel proved himself to be one of the

best quarterbacks in football and a star player during

that span. The Rams were 8–6 in 1966. Allen brought in

running back Tom Moore for that season, and under

the system installed by Ted Marchibroda, Moore set a

record for catches by a running back with 60. The offense

was especially proficient in Week 10 versus the

New York Giants when the Rams set a record for most

first downs in a game (38) that stood until 1988.

In 1967 the Rams were division champs, going 11–

1–2, and Gabriel threw for 2,779 yards and 25

touchdowns. In the final two weeks the Rams beat

Green Bay and Baltimore to secure the division title,

and both weeks Gabriel was named the AP Offensive

Player of the Week for his contributions.

In 1968 the Rams were 10–1–1 after 12 weeks but

two close losses cost them the division crown. A year

later, Gabriel was voted the NFL MVP by the AP, UPI

and NEA when he threw for 24 touchdowns and only

seven interceptions. He was also a consensus first-team

All-Pro selection. That three-year run was the “peak” of

Gabriel’s prime seasons. From 1967 through 1969, no

quarterback in the NFL won more games as a starter

(32), and he had the highest winning percentage (.821)

in the NFL as well, and only the AFL’s Darryl Lamonica

had more wins in pro football (36). Lamonica, Fran

Tarkenton and Sonny Jurgensen were the only quarterbacks

who threw for more touchdowns in those three

seasons. And while Rams receiver Jack Snow was a fine

player, he wasn’t in the category as some of those Lamonica,

Tarkenton and Jurgensen were throwing to,

players such as Charley Taylor, Fred Biletnikoff and

speedsters like Homer Jones and Warren Wells. Clearly,

Gabriel had arrived at the top of his craft.

The prime of Gabriel’s career, from 1966–1975, was

full of such successes. In that decade-long span, only

Fran Tarkenton completed more passes and started

more games as a winning quarterback (77 to 74), and

only Tarkenton and John Hadl threw for more yards

and more touchdowns than Gabriel.

Gabriel suffered knee injuries and had a chronic

elbow condition in the early 1970s. In 1970 and 1971 he

played through it, but the Rams finished second both

seasons, losing each year on the final Sunday to the

49ers in the NFC Western Division race. Gabriel was

ranked in several passing categories both seasons and

appeared on lists of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but he

would soon be leaving the spotlight in Los Angeles.

With a change in ownership and a desire to go in a

new direction, the Rams traded Gabriel to Philadelphia

in 1973. Los Angeles had traded for quarterback John

Hadl earlier and Gabriel was not happy about it. Offered

a king’s ransom for Gabriel, the Rams pulled the

trigger on a trade with the Eagles, acquiring star wide

receiver Harold Jackson, running back Tony Baker, two

first-round picks and a third-round choice.

Gabriel went on to help an Eagles team that had

gone 2–11–1 the previous season improve to a 5–8–1

record, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns.

He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the

Year and was voted to his fourth Pro Bowl.

The following season the Eagles won four of their

first five games, and in the one loss, which came in

Week 1 versus the Cardinals, Gabriel just missed on four

passes near the goal line in the closing seconds. The Eagles

were inches from victory. In Week 6 they lost by a

touchdown to Dallas in a classic hard-fought game, then

went on to lose the next five in a row, taking their

record to 4–7. For the first time in his career, Gabriel

was benched, and the Eagles won their last three under

Mike Boryla. Boryla did to Gabriel what Gabriel had

done to Rams quarterbacks in his early years.

In 1975, the Eagles were still in transition, going 4–

10 with Boryla beginning and ending the season as a

starter and Gabriel starting nine games in between.

Neither quarterback played great, but Gabriel’s passer

rating was 67.8 while Boryla’s was 52.7.

ACT III: The Fade Out

Gabriel was a backup for the next two seasons as

the curtain started to close on his career. In 1976 Dick

Vermeil took over the Eagles head-coaching position

and went with the younger Boryla as the starter.

Gabriel hadn’t even been sure he’d play after 1975, but

he rehabbed his aching knees and stuck around as the

backup to Boryla that season. The Eagles were 3–7 after

ten games and Vermeil went with Gabriel as the starter

for the final four, which included consecutive games

against three of the best teams in the NFL: the Raiders,

the Redskins, and the Cowboys. All beat Philadelphia

and beat up on Gabriel and the Eagles. Gabriel finished

the season with his final NFL start against the expansion

Seahawks, notching his final win.

In 1977 the Eagles acquired Ron Jaworski from the

Rams and Gabriel was the backup, seeing the field almost

exclusively as the holder for placekicks. He did fill

in briefly during the first game of the season after Lee

Roy Selmon sacked Jaworski and shook him up. Gabriel

came into the game to finish the series, completing a 15-

yard pass to Vince Papale, which was short of the first

down. Jaworski, with the cobwebs out, came back the

next series and finished the game. A few weeks later, for

the same reason, Gabriel entered the game versus the

Lions and threw his final two passes, both incomplete.

One of Gabriel’s fans is Jerry Kramer, who has stated

that the Packers always respected Gabriel and prepared

hard for him. When asked what player deserved Hall of

Fame consideration, Bob Lilly indicated Gabriel, saying,

“He’s got as good a set of numbers as anyone in there.”

The Cowboys were a team that Gabriel always seemed

to play well against. The Rams beat Dallas in 1967 and

1969, and lost a close one on Thanksgiving Day in 1971.

Then, when Gabriel was with Philadelphia, he engineered

upsets in 1973 and 1974. In 1974 and 1975, in the

games the Eagles lost to Dallas, the Eagles kept it close

to one of the NFL’s powerhouses.

Gabriel’s arm strength was his calling card in his

early years; he could step into the pass and fire it downfield.

He was a noted runner as well. From 1966 though

1972, no Rams running back rushed for more touchdowns

than Gabriel, and only 16 running backs in the

NFL rushed for more. From 1966 to 1969, Gabriel

rushed for 18 touchdowns, which was 11th best in the

combined AFL–NFL. Gabriel was the short yardage

runner for the Rams.

Said his coach Dick Vermeil:

I had the pleasure of being on the L. A.

Rams staff in 1969 when Roman was in his

prime. He was as good as the very best at that

time. Great competitor, a leader, tougher than

any QB playing. He had a very strong arm and

was a real worker. No one at that time was

preparing to play each week with more effort

than Roman was at that time, he was a real student

of the game. In 1971, I went back to the

Rams with Tommy Prothro as his offensive coordinator

and QB coach, a position I did not

have the experience to do real well at that

time; Roman was always respectful, very helpful

and patient with me. I learned a lot from

him! He was a true pro. His arm went dead on

him during that period, 1971 or ’72, but he

hung tough and did the best he could without

making excuses. I will always admire this guy,

and consider him a player that impacted my

career and life. I’m a better person for having

had the opportunity to coach Roman.

Phil Olsen remembers Gabriel for his toughness:

He was remarkably athletic and, even

though this was a time when few athletes

trained year round, he was consumed with a

desire to be physically fit. He was big and very

strong for a quarterback and on many passing

plays, he would refuse to go down until two or

three defenders had pounded on him. Gabe

would simply stand in the pocket and absorb

punishment just like a boxer taking body

punches from an opponent. He completed a lot

of passes while dragging defenders with him.

I was rehabbing a knee following surgery in

1971 and spent lot of time in the training room

so I saw a lot of Gabe. Week after week, he

would come in for treatment following games.

He’d have bruises all over his body from the

pounding he’d taken. Some weeks, it looked

like someone had been beating on him with a

sledge hammer. In spite of all the pounding he

absorbed, I never heard him complain or

grouse about it. He was simply one tough dude.

Gabriel was always proud of his ability to avoid interceptions.

When he retired after the 1977 season, he

held the NFL record for the lowest interception percentage,

and held it until Joe Montana broke it. The advent

of shorter passes and the West Coast types of offense

prevalent now reduce that statistic to an afterthought.

At the time, however, it was a remarkable achievement,

even when he was compared to his peers such as Unitas,

Tarkenton, Jurgensen, Brodie and other great quarterbacks

of the time. Gabriel is now tied for 63rd in lowest

career interception percentage at 3.3 percent and none

of the players ahead of him were active when Gabriel

played. To find another person from his era, you have

to drop to the 111th spot, to Joe Thiesmann at 3.8 percent.

To find a true peer of Gabriel (anyone who played

in or before 1970) you have to look down to two who

are tied for 124th and 132nd, respectively, to find Bill

Munson at 4.0 percent and Fran Tarkenton at 4.1.

From 1965 until early 1972, Gabriel started 89

straight games, tops until both Ron Jaworski and Joe

Ferguson surpassed it in 1983, with Jaws setting the

mark with 116 in 1984. Brett Favre blew the numbers

away with his massing 297-game mark, but nothing

was made of Gabriel besting the mark of 88 set by

Johnny Unitas. Currently, Unitas's 88 games rank tenth

and Gabriel’s 89-game streak is rankded ninth.

Gabriel’s NFL accomplishments followed a stellar college

career at North Carolina State University, where he

was voted All-American twice and as well as being twice

voted the ACC Player of the Year. He was voted to the College

Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and was on the ACC’s

50th Anniversary Football Team announced in 2003.

Gabriel left North Carolina State in 1961 as the

school record holder in rushing touchdowns (he still

ranks 15th), passing yards (also currently ranks 15th),

passing completions (currently 14th), and touchdown

passes (currently tied for ninth). His 60.4 percent completion

rate is a single-season record was not bettered

until 1988 and still ranks as eighth best in N. C. State

history, remarkable given where college football has

gone in the passing game since 1961. His 34 touchdowns,

both running and passing, is still eighth in

school annals in that category.

Gabriel left the Rams as the leader in virtually every

passing category and even after 40 years, he is still the

team record holder in career touchdown passes, the

Greatest Show on Turf teams notwithstanding. His five

touchdowns in a game is also still a record he holds

with Van Brocklin, Waterfield, Vince Ferragamo, Jim

Everett and Kurt Warner.

Gabriel’s career, like any great performance for an

athlete or an actor, is worthy of our applause and adulation.

It certainly has stood the test of time.

JOHN TURNEY is a business owner and colorization artist in

Alamogordo, New Mexico. He is the author of The All-Pros: The

Modern Years 1960–1999 and enjoys defensive football research

and NFL artwork. He also coaches semi-pro football and is editor-in-chief

for Pro Football Journal.