Former Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints quarterback Ken Stabler has died as a result of complications associated with colon cancer, his family announced Thursday afternoon. He was 69.
Stabler played for the Saints from 1982-84 and handled starting duties for the club from 1982-83. In 1982, he was signed by head coach Bum Phillips and quarterbacked New Orleans to a 4-5 record as the Saints narrowly missed the playoffs. In 1983 under his leadership, the Saints finished 8-8 for the second time in franchise history under Stabler's leadership.
Drafted by Oakland in the second round of the 1968 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders, Stabler assumed starting quarterback duties for Oakland in 1973. He was named AFC player of the year in 1974 and 1976. In 1976, Stabler completed 194 of 291 passes (66.7%) for 2,737 yards with 27 touchdowns and a 103.4 passer rating, leading the league in completion percentage and passer rating, as he led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory, a 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings. In 15 NFL seasons with the Saints, Raiders (1970-79) and Houston Oilers (1980-81), he played in 184 games with 146 starts and completed 2,270 of 3,793 passes for 27,938 yards with 194 touchdowns.
Statement from the Stabler family:
We announce with great sadness that our father, Ken Stabler, passed away Wednesday, July 8 as a result of complications associated with colon cancer.
He passed peacefully surrounded by the people he loved most, including his three daughters and longtime partner, as some of his favorite songs played in the background, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Van Morrison's "Leaves Falling Down."
He quietly battled Stage 4 colon cancer since being diagnosed in February 2015.
He wanted to make a difference in the lives of others in both life and death. At his request, his brain and spinal cord were donated to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center to support research for degenerative brain disease in athletes.
He was a kind, generous and unselfish man, never turning down an autograph request or an opportunity to help someone in need. A great quarterback, he was an even greater father to his three girls and grandfather to his two "grand snakes."
We are grateful for the tremendous love and support from friends and fans. We ask that you please respect our privacy during this difficult time as we grieve this heartbreaking loss.
Funeral Arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the XOXO Stabler Foundation to support research of colon cancer and sports-‐related head trauma. More Information will be available on Ken Stabler's Facebook Fan page and the XOXO Stabler Foundation.
He is survived by his three daughters Kendra Stabler Moyes (husband, Scott), Alexa (fiancé, Hunter Adams) and Marissa; His grandsons Jack And Justin Moyes; Sister Carolyn Bishop; Nephew Scott Bishop; and great nephew and niece Tayler and Payton Bishop. He is preceded in death by his father, Leroy Stabler, and mother, Sally Stabler."
