A recent article in the New York Times asserted that many football fans know little about pro quarterback Kenny Stabler, who passed away recently. But pro football is a popular sport and even casual fans should be aware of this historically significant individual. The son of Alabama Crimson Tide coach, Bud Stabler, he grew up in the American South. After attending college at Alabama, he joined the Oakland Raiders and became part of a team that would later be called “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Stabler himself is often talked about as one of pro football’s greatest quarterbacks – an artist behind center who possessed remarkable skills both with his arm and his legs. Not only that, he was an interesting dude who eagerly embraced the spotlight. He is often referred to as “The Snake” by those familiar with his career.
how old was kenny stabler when he retired
Stabler first retired from professional football in 1984, but then returned to play for the Raiders shortly thereafter. He retired again in 1991 after playing with the Houston Oilers (and thus becoming one of relatively few pro quarterbacks to switch teams mid-career). Although he was never selected for the Pro Bowl during any season, Stabler was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. According to Wikipedia, Stabler’s 10 passing touchdowns in a single game in 1976 is tied for second all time in pro football history. Stabler married three times and had three children with his first wife. He died after a struggle with colon cancer at age 69.
how old was kenny stabler when he retired for good
Stabler’s body was cremated and his ashes spread at a private ceremony in Gulf Shores, Ala. He is survived by four children from his first marriage and two grandchildren. Stabler played pro football for 18 seasons with Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints, and finally the Minnesota Vikings. He retired at age 38 after more than 1,800 games played. Beyond football, he enjoyed fishing in his spare time and was an avid golfer. Stabler’s career on the field is not well-known today to newer fans of the sport, but it deserves respect for making him one of the most talented and challenging quarterbacks of the 1970s and 1980s.
Kenny Stabler was a quarterback in the NFL for 14 seasons
He played for the Oakland Raiders from 1970 to 1979, and the Houston Oilers from 1980 to 1984. In his career he threw for over 27,000 yards and logged a completion percentage of 61%. However, Stabler was most well known for “The Snake,” his nickname given to him because of his ability to sidestep and weave around would-be tacklers.
Stabler played his college football at the University of Alabama under coach Bear Bryant from 1965 to 1967, where he won the national championship in 1966 and finished third in the AP voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1967. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders with their second selection in the 1968 Common Draft, fourth overall behind Ron Yary, Charlie Smith, and Ed White.
He played for the Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, and New Orleans Saints during his professional playing career
Kenny Stabler was born on December 25, 1945 in Foley, Alabama. He died July 8, 2015 at age 69 after a battle with colon cancer.
Stabler’s attempt to change the pronunciation of his last name came during contract negotiations when he was 24 years old and still trying to work his way into the starting lineup.
Stabler was raised in an area known for having a large number of Alabama fans, but his father was not one of them. His dad rarely watched Stabler play football at the University of Alabama because he didn’t want to be accused of nepotism if there were any problems with his son’s decisions
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