Roman Gabriel (born August 5, 1940 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is a former American Football quarterback.

A two-time All-American, he starred at quarterback for North Carolina State in the early 1960's and finished his career holding virtually every Wolfpack passing record. An academic All-American, Gabriel saw his jersey retired and presented to him by North Carolina governor Terry Sanford on Jan. 20, 1962 at half-time of an NC State-Maryland basketball game in Reynolds Coliseum. A first-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams, he went on to a distinguished professional career. Gabriel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

NFL career

In the professional ranks Gabriel went on to play 16 seasons in the NFL, splitting time with the Los Angeles Rams (1962-72) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1973-77). He was named the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1969 and earned Pro Bowl spots in 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1973. He ranked as the Rams' all-time passing leader with 22,223 yards and 154 touchdowns (1,705 com./3,313 att.) and threw for 7,221 yards and 45 touchdowns (661 com./1,185 att.) with the Eagles. In 1973 he led the NFL with 3,219 yards and 23 touchdown passes, for which he was awarded the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. He still holds the Rams' career records for touchdown passes (154), passing yards (22,223), passes attempted (3,313), and passes completed 1,705.

World League of American Football (WLAF) career

Gabriel was the head coach of the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football, becoming the only coach of to have a perfect losing season (0-10), in the inaugural season of 1991-1992. The team disbanded shortly afterwards.

Acting career

Gabriel had a brief career in movies and TV, sometimes playing American Indians. Gabriel's dark complexion gave rise to an idea that he may really have been a Native American, but this wasn't true. He is actually a Filipino American.

Awards

• 1973 -NFL Comeback Player of the Year

• 1969- NFL Most Valuable Player Award, - Bert Bell MVP Trophy (Maxwell Club), - UPI MVP

• 1968 - Pro Bowl MVP