<p id=”par-1_33″>Quarterback <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/cleveland-browns-quarterback-dillon-gabriels-fiancee-zo-caswell.html/”>Dillon Gabriel</a> played his <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/sports/?swcfpc=1″>college ball</a> at three different universities. He was the signal caller for the UCF Knights in 2019, before transferring to the Oklahoma Sooners in 2022, and then the Oregon Ducks for one season.</p>
<p id=”par-2_55″>Dillon was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2025 <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/nfl/?swcfpc=1″>NFL</a> Draft. He initially started the season as a backup to <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/who-is-joe-flaccos-wife-dana-grady.html/”>veteran Joe Flacco</a>. But head coach Kevin Stefanski decided ahead of Week 5 to make a change and go with Gabriel as the starter. Soon after, Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals.</p>
<p id=”par-3_41″>Dillon’s time as the team’s signal caller hasn’t been smooth sailing, and midway through the season, the Browns remained one of the worst teams in the league. Now, some fans are wondering what that could mean for the young quarterback’s future.</p>
<p id=”par-4_20″>While that has yet to play out completely, here are things we know about Dillon Gabriel and his family. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-who-are-dillon-gabriel-s-parents”>Who are Dillon Gabriel’s parents?</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio” id=”emb-1″><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<iframe title=”Garrett and Dori Gabriel describe experience of Dillon’s Heisman Trophy journey” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/9qNNi6XlMtg?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
<p id=”par-5_23″>Dillon was born on Dec. 28, 2000, in Mililani, Hawaii, to parents Garrett and Dori Gabriel. He is of Filipino and Native Hawaiian descent. </p>
<p id=”par-6_33″>Dillon is named after retired NFL running back Corey Dillon. His older brother, Garrison, is named after former running back Garrison Hearst, and his younger brother, Roman, is named after former NFL quarterback Roman Gabriel. </p>
<p id=”par-7_30″>Their father played quarterback himself for the University of Hawaii from 1986 to 1990. During his collegiate playing career, Garrett upset BYU, led by Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, twice.</p>
<blockquote class=”instagram-media” data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOHd9InEgQB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading” data-instgrm-version=”14″ style=” background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% – 2px); width:calc(100% – 2px);”><div style=”padding:16px;”> <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOHd9InEgQB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading” style=” background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”> <div style=” display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;”> <div style=”background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;”></div> <div style=”display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;”> <div style=” background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;”></div> <div style=” background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;”></div></div></div><div style=”padding: 19% 0;”></div> <div style=”display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;”><svg width=”50px” height=”50px” viewbox=”0 0 60 60″ version=”1.1″ xmlns=”https://www.w3.org/2000/svg” xmlns:xlink=”https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink”><g stroke=”none” stroke-width=”1″ fill=”none” fill-rule=”evenodd”><g transform=”translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)” fill=”#000000″><g><path d=”M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631″></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style=”padding-top: 8px;”> <div style=” color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;”>View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style=”padding: 12.5% 0;”></div> <div style=”display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;”><div> <div style=”background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);”></div> <div style=”background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;”></div> <div style=”background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);”></div></div><div style=”margin-left: 8px;”> <div style=” background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;”></div> <div style=” width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)”></div></div><div style=”margin-left: auto;”> <div style=” width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);”></div> <div style=” background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);”></div> <div style=” width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);”></div></div></div> <div style=”display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;”> <div style=” background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;”></div> <div style=” background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;”></div></div></a><p style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;”><a href=”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOHd9InEgQB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading” style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>A post shared by OluKai (@olukai)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src=”//www.instagram.com/embed.js”></script>
<p id=”par-8_49″>“Back home, the Hawaii-BYU rivalry is huge,” Dillon explained per the <a href=”https://www.on3.com/sites/ucf-sports/news/dillon-gabriel-excited-to-play-dad-s-rival-byu/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>UCF Rivals website</a>. “We’d always put that BYU game on. When they ended up beating Ty Detmer after he won the Heisman. Personally, I’ll never be a BYU fan because of it. I’m with my dad on that one.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_32″>Dillon’s mother attended Loyola Marymount University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies. She has been working as a Senior District Business Manager at Novo Nordisk since 2006.</p>
<p id=”par-10_61″>Dillon attended the same high school as fellow Hawaiian and Miami Dolphins signal caller <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolphins-quarterback-tua-tagovailoa-wife-annah-gore.html/”>Tua Tagovailoa</a>. And he grew up a huge fan of another NFL quarterback and Hawaiian, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/quarterback-marcus-mariotas-wife-kiyomi-cook.html/”>Marcus Mariota</a>. The latter has mentored Dillon throughout his career. Dillon even wore No. 8 with the Ducks, which was the number Mariota wore when he played for the same team. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dillon-has-created-a-charity-to-give-back-to-the-hawaiian-community”>Dillon has created a charity to give back to the Hawaiian community</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter” id=”emb-2″><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-width=”550″ data-dnt=”true”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLDraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#NFLDraft</a> hopeful Dillon Gabriel was back at his high school alma mater Tuesday for the unveiling of the newly renovated Gabriel Family Training and Weight Rooms as he continues to give back to Mililani Trojans athletics<a href=”https://twitter.com/HIsportsradio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@HIsportsradio</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/_dillongabriel_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@_dillongabriel_</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/HIDOE808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@HIDOE808</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/HHSAAsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@HHSAAsports</a>… <a href=”https://t.co/pgNHAFKA9P”>pic.twitter.com/pgNHAFKA9P</a></p>— Michael Lasquero (@MichaelLasquero) <a href=”https://twitter.com/MichaelLasquero/status/1914943749446160602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>April 23, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
</div></figure>
<div class=”related-articles”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<div class=”related-article”>
<img src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jordan-Love-whose-father-was-African-American-while-his-mother-is-white-warms-up-prior-to-a-game-against-the-Miami-Dolphins.jpg” alt=”What Is Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love’s Ethnicity?”>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/green-bay-packers-quarterback-jordan-loves-ethnicity.html/”>
What Is Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love’s Ethnicity? </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class=”related-article”>
<img src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Tua-Tagovailoa-whose-ethnicity-is-Samoan-looking-on-from-the-sidelines-during-the-preseason-game-against-the-Houston-Texans.jpg” alt=”What Is Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s Ethnicity?”>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolphins-quarterback-tua-tagovailoas-ethnicity.html/”>
What Is Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s Ethnicity? </a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<p id=”par-11_30″>Dillon is extremely proud of his roots and wants to make sure that no matter where his NFL career takes him, he always gives back to the Hawaiian community. </p>
<p id=”par-12_82″>“Off the field, I’m focused on giving back to the next generation through philanthropic projects in my hometown and managing my brand and business ventures that were built during college,” he told Hawaii’s <a href=”https://hawaiipublicschools.org/2025-alumni-spotlight-dillon-gabriel/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Alumni Spotlight</a>. “I’m proud of where I come from and passionate about giving back to the community that shaped me. I’ve started a foundation focused on inspiring the next generation and continue to look for ways to create opportunities for kids in Hawaii to dream big and chase it.”</p>