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Oakland Raiders legend Ken Stabler dead at age 69

By Josh Hill

Oct 12, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet on the turf during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet on the turf during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ken Stabler was a legend at the college level and in the AFL, and he’s an icon that we won’t soon be forgetting after his passing. 

UPDATE [6:34pm ET] — The Tuscaloosa News is retracting it’s report that Stabler has died.

UPDATE [6:59pm ET] — NBC15 in Alabama is reporting that Stabler has indeed died after reaching out to his family foundation.

UPDATE: [7:08pm ET] — Ken Stabler’s ex-wife has confirmed to NBC15 that the former Alabama quarterback has died at the age of 69 after losing his battle to prostate cancer.

UPDATE [7:36pm ET] == The family of Ken Stabler has confirmed his death in a statement on Facebook.

It’s hard for a quarterback to make a living in the NFL and it’s even harder to turn that living into a legacy. So many have tried and failed to standout in their profession, but the few that have are immortalized for all that they accomplished. Ken Stabler not only accomplished a career in professional football that made him a legend but he’s one of the most well remembered college quarterbacks of all-time too.

On Thursday afternoon is was announced that legendary quarterback Ken Stabler had died at the age of 69.

Stabler is a legend at Alabama, where he slow cooked his talented behind first Joe Namath and then Steven Sloan before taking the Tide on an 11-0 season in his Junior year. His Senior season wasn’t as memorable overall as his undefeated Junior year at quarterback, but Stabler still turned in one of the most memorable moments in Alabama football history.

In the Iron Bowl that year, Stabler tore off a run that is now remembered as ‘The Run In The Mud’, and it solidified his status as a Bama legend.

Beyond his career under Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant at Alabama, Stabler is widely recognized as perhaps the best quarterback in Oakland Raiders history. He not only stands as one of the only franchise quarterbacks the Raiders have ever had, but he helped take them to Super Bowl XI in 1976 where Oakland topped the Minnesota Vikings which gave the franchise their fish ever Super Bowl win.

He was an MVP in 1974 and still holds the franchise records in passing yards and touchdowns for the Raiders. Those records may one day fall, and Stabler may not be with us anymore, but he’s a football icon who will never fade away.

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