Steve Zabel

Steven Gregory Zabel was born on March 20,1948 in St. Paul, MN, and passed from this life into the next on June 24, 2026.

After moving to Denver, Steve excelled in both academics and athletics. A decathlete, and graduate of Thornton High School, he lettered in basketball, track, and football, setting multiple school records. Steve went on to attend New Mexico Military Academy on a football scholarship, prepping for an appointment to the Air Force Academy. After a stand-out freshman year at New Mexico, Steve accepted an offer to play football at the University of Oklahoma.

Steve continued to shine at OU, earning Academic All-American honors, which allowed him to start his first eligible season. He was second-team All-American in 1967, a first-team All-American in 1968, first-team All Big 8, served as team captain, and helped the Sooners win two Big 8 Championships under coach Chuck Fairbanks. Steve caught the game-winning 30-yard touchdown to clinch the Sooner victory in the infamous Orange Bowl of 1967. A stellar athlete, Steve played both offense and defense as tight-end, linebacker, and punter for the Sooners from 1967-1969. His success as a football player continued as he went in the first round as the sixth pick overall in the 1970 NFL draft to the Philadelphia Eagles.

While at OU, Steve met and married the love of his life, Susan Field. They recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. As Steve continued his professional football career, Susan and Steve built a family with the birth of their three beloved children, Jessie, Matt, and Mason.

Steve went on to play for the New England Patriots, being named to their 1970s All-Decade Team, finishing with the Baltimore Colts, as he rounded out his ten-year career in the NFL in 1980.

After retiring from professional football, Steve and his family settled in Oklahoma where he pursued multiple business ventures, including the founding of Competitive Action Sports, and inventing a strength, conditioning, and training tool for athlete development called, “The Tug”.

As impressive as Steve’s football career was, his dedication and service to the unhoused community of Oklahoma City is to be commended. Using the same determination and passion he brought to the field, Steve co-founded City Care in 1990, alongside Larry Bross, to serve underprivileged members of the community. City Care provides temporary housing, mental health counseling, food, and many other services, including Whiz Kids, a faith-based one-to-one literacy and mentorship program for at-risk youth. In addition to his successful fundraising efforts for City Care, Steve faithfully cooked and served breakfast to people experiencing homelessness every Wednesday for over 30 years, displaying a heart as big as his stature, and the desire to live out his faith.

Although a very accomplished man, including being inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, Steve considered his greatest achievement in this life to be raising his family alongside his bride, and giving back to his community.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Myrle and Glenn Zabel, brother Bruce Zabel, sister Linda Duede, and grandson Zeke Zabel.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Zabel of Edmond, daughter and son-in law, Jessie and Lane Yeager of Park Hill, OK, son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Lindsey Zabel of Oklahoma City, son and daughter-in-law Mason and Jenni Zabel of Crescent, Ok, granddaughter and husband Sophie and Sam Rycroft of Broken Arrow, OK, granddaughters Ella, Claire, Hays, Maggie, Georgia, and Hope Zabel, grandsons Zander Zabel and Nate Zabel, great-grandson Reece Rycroft, bonus granddaughters Maddie, McKenna, and Tara Yeager, brother Skip Zabel and family of Moore, OK, and brother Bobby Zabel and family of Oklahoma City.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to devoted caregivers and friends Josh Ancheta, Diego Ortegon, and Rick Mason for their love and care during Steve’s valiant battle against cancer.

The hearts of Steve’s loved one’s ache at the profound loss of such an amazing man, but are thankful to have the Hope of a heavenly reunion in eternity, because of their shared belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Steve’s legacy of faith and grit will endure in the lives of those who have had the privilege of being loved by him.

A celebration of Steve’s life will be at 10:00am on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at Life.Church, Edmond Campus.