Ken Stabler facts for kids
Stabler in 2007
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 25, 1945 Foley, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Died: | July 8, 2015 (aged 69) Gulfport, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Foley (Foley, Alabama) | ||||||||
| College: | Alabama | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1968 / Round: 2 / Pick: 52 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Kenneth Michael Stabler (born December 25, 1945 – died July 8, 2015) was an American football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. He played most of his career with the Oakland Raiders. People often called him "Snake" because of his tricky playing style.
Stabler played college football at Alabama. The Raiders picked him in the second round of the 1968 NFL Draft. During his 10 years with the Raiders, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times. In 1974, he was named the Most Valuable Player. Stabler also led the Raiders to win their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XI. He was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he passed away in 2016.
High School Football Star
Ken Stabler was a very talented football player at Foley High School in Foley, Alabama. His high school team had an amazing record of 29 wins and only 1 loss. He was also great at other sports, scoring 29 points per game in basketball. He was even offered contracts to play professional baseball!
It was in high school that Stabler earned his famous nickname, "Snake." His coach gave him this name after he made a long, winding touchdown run. He was truly an all-American athlete.
College Football Journey
Stabler went to the University of Alabama to play for legendary coach Bear Bryant. In 1964, during his freshman year, Alabama won the National Championship. Stabler was part of the freshman team that year.
In 1965, as a sophomore, Stabler helped the team win their second straight National Championship. They finished the season with a great record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. They also won the Orange Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Stabler became the starting quarterback in 1966, his junior year. He led Alabama to a perfect season, winning all 11 games. They beat Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl. Even with their perfect record, Alabama finished third in the national polls that year.
His senior season in 1967 had some challenges. The team's offense struggled at times. However, Stabler created a memorable moment in the "Iron Bowl" game against rival Auburn. In a rainy game, Stabler ran 47 yards through the mud for a game-winning touchdown. This play is still famous in Alabama football history as the "Run in the Mud."
College Statistics
| NCAA collegiate career statistics | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | |||||||||||||
| Season | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
| Cmp | Att | Yds | Pct | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 1965 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 27.3 | 0 | 0 | 47.1 | 61 | 328 | 5.4 | 1 | ||
| 1966 | 74 | 114 | 956 | 64.9 | 9 | 5 | 152.6 | 93 | 397 | 4.3 | 3 | ||
| 1967 | 103 | 178 | 1,214 | 57.9 | 9 | 13 | 117.2 | 111 | 113 | 1.0 | 5 | ||
| Career | 180 | 303 | 2,196 | 59.4 | 18 | 18 | 128.0 | 265 | 838 | 3.2 | 9 | ||
Professional Football Career
The Oakland Raiders drafted Ken Stabler in the second round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. He was the fifth quarterback chosen that year. He also had offers to play professional baseball.
Stabler first became well-known in the NFL during a 1972 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He came into the game and scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. However, the Steelers won with a famous play called the "Immaculate Reception."
As Stabler played more, he became known for his accurate passes and his amazing ability to lead his team to win games in the final minutes. He had a strong group of receivers, including Cliff Branch, Fred Biletnikoff, and Dave Casper. All three of these players are now in the Hall of Fame. The Raiders liked to run the ball a lot, then surprise teams with long passes from Stabler.
Stabler was named the AFC Player of the Year in 1974 and 1976. In January 1977, he led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory. They beat the Minnesota Vikings 32–14.
In the 1977 playoffs, Stabler made another famous play against the Baltimore Colts. He threw a pass to Dave Casper, which led to a game-tying field goal. This play was called the "Ghost to the Post." The Raiders then won the game in double overtime.
In 1978, another famous play happened involving Stabler, called the "Holy Roller." The Raiders won the game after Stabler fumbled the ball forward, and other players also fumbled it forward into the end zone for a touchdown. Because of this play, the NFL made a new rule in 1979. This rule says that only the player who fumbles the ball can pick it up on fourth down, or in the last two minutes of a half.
After the 1979 season, Stabler was traded to the Houston Oilers. He had been the Raiders' all-time leader in completions, passing yards, and touchdown passes. The Oilers hoped Stabler could help them reach the Super Bowl. However, the Oilers did not make it to the Super Bowl with Stabler.
Stabler later joined the New Orleans Saints in 1982. He played for them until he retired in 1984. Stabler was one of the fastest quarterbacks to win 100 games as a starter. He did it in 150 games, which was a record at the time. Only Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, and Tom Brady have reached 100 wins faster since then.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| AP NFL MVP & OPOTY | |
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| NFL career statistics | |||||||||||||||
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| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
| GP | GS | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 1970 | OAK | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 42.8 | 52 | 0 | 1 | 18.5 | 1 | −4 | −4.0 | 0 | |
| 1971 | OAK | 14 | 1 | 24 | 48 | 50.0 | 268 | 1 | 4 | 39.2 | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 2 | |
| 1972 | OAK | 14 | 1 | 44 | 74 | 59.5 | 524 | 4 | 3 | 82.3 | 6 | 27 | 4.5 | 0 | |
| 1973 | OAK | 14 | 11 | 163 | 260 | 62.7 | 1,997 | 14 | 10 | 88.3 | 21 | 101 | 4.8 | 0 | |
| 1974 | OAK | 14 | 13 | 178 | 310 | 57.4 | 2,469 | 26 | 12 | 94.9 | 12 | −2 | −0.2 | 1 | |
| 1975 | OAK | 14 | 13 | 171 | 293 | 58.4 | 2,296 | 16 | 24 | 67.3 | 6 | −5 | −0.8 | 0 | |
| 1976 | OAK | 12 | 12 | 194 | 291 | 66.7 | 2,737 | 27 | 17 | 103.4 | 7 | −2 | −0.3 | 1 | |
| 1977 | OAK | 13 | 13 | 169 | 294 | 57.5 | 2,176 | 20 | 20 | 75.2 | 3 | −3 | −1.0 | 0 | |
| 1978 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 237 | 406 | 58.4 | 2,944 | 16 | 30 | 63.4 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| 1979 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 304 | 498 | 61.1 | 3,615 | 26 | 22 | 82.2 | 16 | −4 | −0.3 | 0 | |
| 1980 | HOU | 16 | 16 | 293 | 457 | 64.1 | 3,202 | 13 | 28 | 68.7 | 15 | −22 | −1.5 | 0 | |
| 1981 | HOU | 13 | 12 | 165 | 285 | 57.9 | 1,988 | 14 | 18 | 69.5 | 10 | −3 | −0.3 | 0 | |
| 1982 | NO | 8 | 8 | 117 | 189 | 61.9 | 1,343 | 6 | 10 | 71.8 | 3 | −4 | −1.3 | 0 | |
| 1983 | NO | 14 | 14 | 176 | 311 | 56.6 | 1,988 | 9 | 18 | 61.4 | 9 | −14 | −1.6 | 0 | |
| 1984 | NO | 3 | 0 | 33 | 70 | 47.1 | 339 | 2 | 5 | 41.3 | 1 | −1 | −1.0 | 0 | |
| Career | 184 | 146 | 2,270 | 3,793 | 59.8 | 27,938 | 194 | 222 | 75.3 | 118 | 93 | 0.8 | 4 | ||
Life After Football
After retiring from playing, Ken Stabler became a color commentator for NFL games on CBS. He also worked on radio broadcasts for Alabama football games.
Charitable Work
Stabler was the chairman of the XOXO Stabler Foundation. This group helps raise money and awareness for different good causes. His golf tournaments have raised almost $600,000 for The Ronald McDonald House of Mobile. This charity helps families with sick or injured children.
In Media
- Ken Stabler appeared in a funny skit on Saturday Night Live.
- Famous professional wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts got his nickname "The Snake" as a way to honor Ken Stabler.
- Stabler is a character in the video games NFL Street and All-Pro Football 2K8.
Personal Life and Legacy
Ken Stabler was married three times and had three daughters: Kendra, Alexa, and Marissa. In 2017, his daughter Alexa became a sports agent for NFL players.
Stabler passed away on July 8, 2015, at age 69, from colon cancer. In 2016, researchers found that he had a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He was buried in Foley, Alabama.
In 2016, Ken Stabler was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is remembered as one of the most exciting and clutch quarterbacks of his time.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Stabler para niños
