28. Roman Gabriel

During the early 1960s, the Los Angeles Rams had a terrible reputation. This began to change when Roman Gabriel became their quarterback. By the late 60s, Gabriel had become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He won the NFL's Most Valuable Player award in 1969 and helped the Rams become a respectable team that was considered a legitimate championship threat. Gabriel's strong arm made him a formidable player, but he often played it safe to avoid turnovers. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Gabriel's touchdown-interception ratio of 201-149 was considered very good.

In 1972, Gabriel was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won his first Passing Yards Title with 3,219 yards and his second TD Title with 23 touchdowns. Statistically, this was the best year of his career, but he regressed afterward. He retired after the 1977 season with 29,444 passing yards.

Gabriel and other offensive stars from his time have struggled to make it into the Football Hall of Fame, possibly because their records were surpassed by the huge offensive statistics of the 90s and 00s.

Should Roman Gabriel be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 88.6%

Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 5.2%

Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 3%

No opinion. - 0%

No way! - 3.3%

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Eligible Since: Saturday, 01 January 1983
Position: Quarterback
Games Played: 183
Notable Statistics: 2,366 Pass Completions
4,498 Pass Attempts
52.6 Pass Completion Percentage
29,444 Passing Yards
201 Touchdown Passes
149 Interceptions
74.3 Passer Rating
358 Rushing Attempts
1,304 Rushing Yards
30 Rushing Touchdowns
1 Reception
-5 Receiving Yards

2 Playoff Games
33 Pass Completions
63 Pass Attempts
52.4 Pass Completion Percentage
336 Passing Yards
3 Touchdown Passes
2 Interceptions
70.6 Passer Rating
7 Rushing Attempts
32 Rushing Yards
Played For: Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles
College: North Carolina State
Drafted: 1st Round, 2nd Overall in 1962
Major Accolades and Awards: Super Bowl Rings (None)
AP Most Valuable Player (1) (1969)
Bert Bell Award (1) (1969)
UPI MVP (1) (1969)
NEA MVP (1) (1969)
The Sporting News Player of the Year (1) (1969)
PFWA Comeback Player of the Year (1) (1973)
First Team All-Pro Selections (1) (1969)
Pro Bowl MVP (1) (1968)
Pro Bowl Selections (4) (1967, 1968, 1969, & 1973)
Most Pass Completions (1) (1973)
Most Pass Attempts (2) (1970 & 1973)
Most Passing Yards (1) (1973)
Most Passing Touchdowns (2) (1969 & 1973)
Most Passing Yards per Game (1) (1973)
Most Pass Attempts per Game (3) (1970, 1973 & 1974)
Most Pass Completions per Game (2) (1973 & 1974)
Other Points of Note: Top Ten Finishes: Approximate Value (1) (1967)
Top Ten Finishes: Passes Completed (9) (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
Top Ten Finishes: Passes Attempted (10) (1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards (8) (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 & 1973)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Touchdowns (7) (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 & 1973)
Top Ten Finishes: Passer Rating (8) (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973 & 1975)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards per Game (11) (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973 & 1974)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards per Attempts (3) (1963, 1967 & 1968)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Attempts per Game (12) (1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Completions per Game (11) (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Completion Percentage (5) (1966, 1967, 1969, 1973 & 1974)
Notable All Time Rankings: 45. Pass Attempts: 4,498
50. Touchdown Passes: 201
58. Passing Yards: 29,444
60. Passes Completions: 2,366
72. Yards per Pass Completion: 12.4
Years Nominated for the Hall of Fame: None