Dillon Gabriel, quarterback for the Oregon Ducks, possesses arm strength, keen judgment, and composure in tight situations, and has been deemed one of the most promising players being drafted this weekend.
But behind his football prowess is a strong foundation that relies on family. Here’s everything you need to know about Gabriel’s parents and more.
All You Need To Know About Gabriel’s Parents
Gabriel is a native of Mililani, Hawaii, and football runs through his veins. His dad, Garrett Gabriel, was a Hawaii all-time great quarterback from 1986 through 1990. He threw for 5,631 yards and 47 touchdowns in his playing career, which earned him the reputation as one of the most consistent QBs in the program’s history.
Garrett was considered extremely accurate and a leader, with traits that his son certainly followed in his footsteps.
Thanks to Garrett’s experience, Dillon was exposed to football daily, especially by sitting with his father and watching game tape, throwing the ball around in the backyard, and learning the mental side of the game from someone who had been there.
Gabriel’s mom, Dori Gabriel, was also an athlete. She was a former college softball player. Dori is now in corporate America working as a senior district business manager for Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare organization. She drives long distances to be in the stands for his games.
Having lived with the requirements of elite-level sport, Dori understands how it takes a stable person to remain level-headed. Dillon always first credits her with remaining the family’s emotional anchor.
“Both of my parents have affected me in different ways,” Gabriel explained in an interview in 2024. “My dad showed me how to read a defense. My mom showed me how to handle life when it throws curveballs.”
Gabriel broke Hawaii state records at Mililani High School with over 9,800 passing yards and 105 touchdowns. That burst catapulted him into a starting role at UCF as a true freshman in 2019. He lit up scoreboards there and emerged as one of the country’s top young QBs.
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Despite this, an injury in 2021 kept him out for much of the season. Rather than allowing the setback to get the best of him, Gabriel entered the transfer portal and found a new home at Oklahoma. At Norman, he proved he hadn’t lost a beat, with 3,168 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2022, before an improved 2023 season.
In December 2023, Gabriel made headlines by leaving Oregon for his final year of eligibility. His move raised eyebrows, but it was motivated by his desire to take the next step. “I want to go out and make a statement,” Gabriel told a December press conference. Oregon was the place to do that.”
In 2024, Gabriel led the Ducks to a 13-0 mark, a Big Ten title, and a College Football Playoff spot. He threw for over 3,900 yards and 37 touchdowns, solid enough to have him named a Heisman Trophy finalist, which made him one of the country’s best QBs even more entrenched in the record books.
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