Wallace “Wally” Gabler, who was Michigan’s starting quarterback in 1965 before going on to a long career in the Canadian Football League, has died.
The Toronto Argonauts of the CFL announced his death Thursday. He was 80.
“A true leader and fierce competitor, Wally’s contributions to the team and the sport have left an incredible mark on our history,” the Argonauts said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday night.
Gabler was a Portsmouth, Ohio, native, and he grew up in Metro Detroit, attending Royal Oak Kimball High School, before attending New Mexico Military Institute.
He was a junior-college All-American before he transferred to Michigan, where he played on the freshman team in 1963 and was a backup on varsity for the 1964 season, when QB Bob Timberlake led the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship. Under coach Bump Elliott, he started as a backup to Dick Vidmer in 1965, before he became the starter.
Gabler started five games for the Wolverines in 1965, and was 58-for-126 passing for 825 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. He also rushed for 149 yards.
In 1966, he began a long career in the CFL, including five seasons with the Argonauts. He also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Gabler thrived in the CFL, which was more pass-heavy than his time with Michigan. His best season was 1968, when he threw for 3,242 yards and 18 touchdowns, and also rushed for 458 yards and four TDs. He also had 18 interceptions.
During his CFL career, which ran from 1966-72, he threw for more than 13,000 yards and 61 touchdowns. He also had 118 interceptions during his CFL career.
Gabler’s brother, John, also played at Michigan, from 1966-69. He was a halfback for the Wolverines, playing in the 1970 Rose Bowl. John died in 2021, at the age of 72.
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