Roman Gabriel
born Roman Ildonzo Gabriel, Jr. is the son of a Filipino father and an Irish-American mother.
He was the first Asian-American to start as an NFL quarterback and is considered by many to have been one of the best players at that position during the late 1960s and early 70s.
Born August 5, 1940 in Wilmington, North Carolina, Gabriel QB’d with the Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and the Philly Eagles, to name a few. At 6’4” and 235 pounds, he is considered the first truly big quarterback of the modern era.
He was also a two-time All-American, and a two-time Two-time ACC Player of the Year (1960-61) he starred at quarterback for North Carolina State University in the early 1960s 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.
Gabriel later had acting roles in movies and television and became a tv and radio sports commentator.
