Mililani native Dillon Gabriel has officially been named the Cleveland Browns’ No. 2 quarterback, slotting in behind veteran starter Joe Flacco to begin the 2025 NFL season. The rookie, a third-round pick out of Oregon, beat out fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders for the backup role.
Gabriel, who starred at Mililani High School and went on to a record-setting college career at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, impressed the Browns with his consistency and poise during training camp and preseason. Sanders, a fifth-round pick, will serve as the team’s third-string quarterback.
The decision comes after Cleveland traded Kenny Pickett to Las Vegas and released Tyler Huntley, leaving Gabriel as the next man up should Flacco go down. For Hawai‘i fans, it’s another proud milestone as Gabriel becomes the latest island quarterback to carve out his place in the NFL.