EDMOND — Steve Zabel, a former Oklahoma Sooners and NFL player, died on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the age of 78. The University of Oklahoma confirmed his death on the same day.

Zabel played for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1967 to 1969 as both a tight end and a linebacker. He earned All-Big Eight honors twice and was named an All-American in 1969, receiving second-team All-America honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association that year. During that season, he caught 19 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns and punted 58 times. In 1967, Zabel caught 23 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns, including a 30-yard score in a 14-10 game against Kansas.

In 1968, Oklahoma football coach Chuck Fairbanks asked Zabel to play both tight end and linebacker. Zabel recalled in 2020 that Fairbanks told him, "Steve, when you go play pro football, you'll be either at tight end or at linebacker, and we've proven we can't outscore people." Zabel added that Fairbanks said, "We want you to play both ways." The Sooners finished the 1968 season with a 6-1 record in the Big Eight conference and defeated Notre Dame 45-21 on September 21, 1968. Zabel wore number 82 for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Zabel was the sixth overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft, selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played ten seasons in the NFL with the Eagles, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Colts, starting 95 games at linebacker. He was a member of the New England Patriots All-Decade Team. He wore number 89 for the Eagles and number 54 for the Patriots.

Zabel was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, three children, several grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at Life.church in Edmond.