Dillon Gabriel entered training camp with a spotlight firmly fixed on him. Flanked by a proven veteran like Joe Flacco and a rising force in Shedeur Sanders, Gabriel had every reason to feel the heat. But from the very first minute of his mic’d-up footage, it’s clear he’s not just chasing the Browns QB1 spot, he’s earning his stripes through relationships, rhythm, and readiness. His true character showed not in flashy plays, but in how he uplifted teammates and owns each moment on the field.

During initial snaps, Gabriel turned to teammate RT Dawand Jones and said, “Dan, you look amazing today, this the fit I like.” A playful exchange, yet profound. Gabriel set a vibe grounded in positivity. He even rallied others while yelling, “Let’s go, man. Let’s go, Bab. Go, bro,” weaving encouragement into repetition. He even joked, “Let’s go eat,” underscoring his ability to bond beyond Xs and Os. Those early interactions brought mood and momentum to the huddle.

Dillon Gabriel repeatedly called “Watch out” at the line, scanning coverage, adjusting cadence, anticipating pressure. After one sequence, he steps out of the huddle, nods and says, “Fundamental. Let’s go. Three. I got you.” He even exchanges handshakes with Jerry Jeudy while smiling, showing he’s slowly building his way to the top.

His red-zone intensity was also unmistakable. “First down now. First down. Start the drive. Start it off right. Let’s go.” With each “First down” echoing urgency and trust. After a clean out-route, he said, “Good out, dude,” then simple, “Out.” That blend of praise and precision, neither overblown nor robotic, reflected what teammates often mentioned when talking about his presence, dependable, but personal.

Even though his spot is not yet guaranteed on the QB depth chart, the energy Gabriel projects is unmistakable. These mic’d‑up moments show a player who leads through affirmation, clarity, and consistency, building momentum not just with his arm, but with his attitude. In a crowded quarterback room, that’s the kind of quiet consistency teammates rally around most.

Dillon Gabriel and Joe Flacco are pairing beautifully

On Day 6 of Browns training camp, a quiet but meaningful exchange between Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel offered a glimpse into the mutual respect and budding chemistry between the seasoned vet and the rookie. It wasn’t about schemes or footwork, it was about punters. And somehow, that made it even better.

Standing on the sideline watching the special teams unit unleash bombs, Flacco broke the silence first, “These punters are unbelievable, bro.” Gabriel laughed, tracking the ball mid-air as Flacco continued in disbelief, “Put the ball like 85 yards. Not even, that’s not even real, though. Like, who’s doing that?” The conversation wasn’t forced or mentor-to-student. It was peer-to-peer, candid, authentic, a genuine moment of awe shared between quarterbacks from two different generations.

They weren’t just joking around either. They were marveling at how much the game had evolved. “Think about the kickers back in the day to now. Look at that ball right there,” Flacco said, watching yet another booming punt hangs in the sky. Gabriel chimed in, nodding and smiling as Flacco cracked, “That’s better than a joke. He just kicked it from; he just stood there kicking almost 80 yards.” This moment mattered, not because of what was said, but because of what it represented.

Gabriel wasn’t being coached, he was being included. Flacco, a Super Bowl MVP, wasn’t lecturing the rookie. He was sharing space with him, human to human. And Gabriel? He fit right in. When players build real connections in the locker room, they make it easier to pass down leadership through laughs and admiration—not just playbooks.