The Cleveland Browns kicked off rookie minicamp on May 9, and all eyes landed on Dillon Gabriel, the former Oregon Ducks quarterback, as he took the podium for his first press conference. While Gabriel stayed poised and focused, one offhand moment afterward captured unexpected attention.
A Browns reporter, caught on camera, mouthed, “I’m taller than him,” after the quarterback wrapped up his media appearance.
It was a comment that echoed a familiar narrative: Gabriel’s height. At 5-foot-11, the quarterback has heard the questions his entire career. And while it wasn’t a malicious jab, the remark added to the ongoing conversation about whether his stature would affect his NFL future.
The thing is, Gabriel isn’t new to this. He just finished a season where he led Oregon to an undefeated regular season, passed for nearly 4,000 yards, and tossed 30 touchdowns. Numbers like that don’t come from someone easily rattled.
A Cleveland Browns reporter mouthed this after Dillon Gabriel’s presser:
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) May 10, 2025
“I’m taller than him.”😂😂 pic.twitter.com/kPAaRl0dEv
Fan Buzz, Accuracy On Display, And The Depth Chart Question
Despite the quiet dig, Gabriel is already turning heads in Cleveland. He earned the first rep at rookie minicamp over fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders, signaling that the Browns are taking a real look at him early.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t want to stir the pot, saying, “Yeah I wouldn’t look into really anything,” when asked if the rep order meant anything. But fans are paying attention.
“Everyone is stressing about Dillon Gabriel’s height how about Doug Flutie? He was 2 inches shorter and he was a great NFL Quarterback,” one Browns fan tweeted Friday, referencing a standout moment from practice. That play alone reminded some why ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Browns “low-key really like him,” despite his draft slide.
Everyone is stressing about Dillon Gabriel's height how about Doug Flutie? He was 2 inches shorter and he was a great @NFL Quarterback
— Joey Morr (@JoeyMorr) May 5, 2025
Team insider Nathan Zegura also noted that Gabriel was Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback target behind No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Landing him in the third round allowed the team to secure other talent while still getting one of their top choices under center.
Gabriel isn’t wasting time proving that height won’t define his future. He’s stepping into a quarterback room that includes Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, and Joe Flacco, but early signs show he’s ready for the competition. Whether the comment after the press conference was a joke or not, Gabriel knows the only way to silence it all is on the field- and so far, he’s doing just that.
Also Read: VIDEO: Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Predicted His Own Draft Pick By Speaking To The Birds
