There are still conflicting reports at this moment on Kenny Stabler, with at least two outlets reporting that he has died. The Tuscaloosa News reported his death at 5 p.m. ET, then retracted the report with an apology at 5:55 p.m.
Social media ran with the story — accolades and less-flattering Stabler stories flowed in. Then everyone backed off. Now, two Alabama TV stations are confirming the death, one which is quoting Stabler’s ex-wife, Rose Stabler.
But we’re still confused.
UPDATE: Kenny Stabler’s ex-wife Rose Stabler confirms to Local 15 News that Kenny has passed away at the age of 69.
Tuscaloosa News reported former Alabama star quarterback and Foley native Kenny Stabler’s death and has since retracted the story, saying Stabler’s death is unconfirmed.
Local 15 News also reported this news at 5 p.m. after reaching out to the head of the Kenny Stabler’s former foundation. A representative from the foundation tells Local 15 Stabler did die from prostate cancer.
Witness the chaos:
And now WPMI in Mobile has changed its headline from "Kenny Stabler Passes Away" to "Conflicting Reports of Kenny Stabler's Death"
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) July 9, 2015
UPDATE: Kenny Stabler's death unconfirmed http://t.co/6ZTBcQgukp via @247Sports
— Darrell C. (@dcnynal) July 9, 2015
Kenny Stabler got the Monty Burns treatment pic.twitter.com/iLv6Sb9ZgW
— Peter Edmiston (@peteredmiston) July 9, 2015
RIP the great Kenny Stabler, not just the Snake but the Holy Roller. (Plus Bill King with the all-time call.) https://t.co/nj9AxprbjV
— tommy tomlinson (@tommytomlinson) July 9, 2015
No pro quarterback epitomized a team more than Stabler with the Raiders in the 1970s, and with Alabama before that, actually. How best to describe him? His coach, John Madden, probably said it best: “He could read a playbook from the light of a jukebox.”
Here is the family's statement on the death of Ken Stabler. pic.twitter.com/OnKwcpQKVR
— Phil Barber (@Skinny_Post) July 9, 2015