As a junior in 1966, Stabler took over the quarterback position full-time for the University of Alabama. He led the team to an undefeated, 11–0 season which ended in a 34–7 rout of Nebraska in the Sugar Bowl. Despite the unblemished record, the Tide was snubbed by the polls, finishing in third behind Notre Dame and Michigan State.

As the quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, Stabler was named the 1974 NFL MVP and would lead the team to a victory over the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Stabler was posthumously elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.