Oregon Ducks poised to set NFL record this Sunday with former quarterback in line to make first NFL start
Former Oregon Duck quarterback Dillon Gabriel on track to make first career start Sunday.
A familiar face in Eugene will be making waves in the NFL this week: Dillon Gabriel, the former Oregon Ducks quarterback, is slated to make his first career start in the league, and in doing so, he’ll carve out a unique place in Oregon football history.
Gabriel, a third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, will replace veteran Joe Flacco as Cleveland’s starting quarterback for Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings in London. Once he takes the field, Gabriel will become the fourth different former Oregon quarterback to start an NFL regular-season game in the same year – an Oregon record. He’ll join Justin Herbert (Chargers), Bo Nix (Broncos), and Marcus Mariota (Commanders), all of whom started in Week 4 for their respective teams.
Gabriel’s path to this moment hasn’t been smooth or guaranteed. He entered a crowded quarterback room in Cleveland, competing against Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders. There were questions about whether he would make the 53-man roster, but Gabriel quickly proved he belonged. In his NFL debut during Week 2 against Baltimore, he went 3-for-3 for 19 yards and tossed a touchdown. He’s since seen limited action, but his poise and accuracy have given the Browns confidence to hand him the reins.
At Oregon, Gabriel left behind a legacy in just one season. In 2024, he completed 326 of 447 passes for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only six interceptions while rushing for seven scores. He led the Ducks to an undefeated regular season, a Big Ten Championship, and a berth in the College Football Playoff, cementing himself as one of the most impactful transfer quarterbacks in school history.
While Ducks fans are locked in on Dante Moore’s Heisman campaign and Oregon’s playoff push, Gabriel’s upcoming start is a reminder of the program’s growing influence at the next level. Four former Oregon quarterbacks starting NFL games in the same season isn’t just a school milestone – it’s something no other program in the country can claim.
Whether Gabriel thrives long-term in the NFL remains to be seen. But this weekend, Oregon fans will have one more reason to cheer: a former Duck making history on football’s biggest stage.
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