Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel is set for his first NFL start this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Still, the most significant moment of his career comes with a funny twist. As the 23-year-old prepares to take the field in London, he revealed that his biggest supporters won’t be in the stands, thanks to a hilarious oversight.
Why Won’t Dillon Gabriel’s Parents Be at His First NFL Start?
As Dillon Gabriel prepares for the most significant game of his young career, he has kept things light in the buildup to his first NFL start. After the Cleveland Browns’ Week 5 matchup in London, Gabriel shared a laugh-out-loud detail about why his family will be watching from home. “So, fun fact — need to get my dad a passport,” he said.
Dillon Gabriel says his family won’t attend his NFL debut. It would have been a last-second trip. Plus..
“Fun fact: We need to get my dad a passport.” pic.twitter.com/LHaKNH4oIP
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 3, 2025
That small administrative hurdle means the quarterback’s parents cannot attend the Oct. 5 game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a reality Gabriel acknowledged with good humor. The last-minute nature of the trip made international travel impossible.
The decision to start the rookie comes after the Browns benched veteran Joe Flacco following a rough 1-3 start. During that stretch, the offense failed to score more than 17 points in any game. Flacco’s performance put him at the bottom of the league with a 60.3 passer rating and a 58.1% completion percentage.
On Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Gabriel, the team’s third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, will take over under center against Minnesota. Gabriel’s opportunity arrived sooner than many expected, but he stressed that he had always prepared as if his number could be called at any moment. “You wait for the perfect time, you’re gonna wait a whole lifetime. So for me, I’ve always been ready,” Gabriel told reporters.
This won’t be his first taste of professional action, however. Gabriel made his NFL debut on Sept. 14 in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, completing all three pass attempts for 19 yards and one touchdown. He also saw limited action last week against the Detroit Lions.
His extensive college career, which spanned three programs, gave him one of the most seasoned resumes in recent memory. He started 25 games at UCF between 2019 and 2021, another 24 at Oklahoma in 2022 and 2023, and 14 in his final season at Oregon in 2024.
That single season with the Ducks proved to be historic. Gabriel threw for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns, finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Now, Cleveland is counting on the 24-year-old to ignite an offense badly in need of a spark. Sunday in London marks a massive challenge and an even bigger opportunity for the young quarterback.