Dillon Gabriel ‘was not high’ in viral interview, reporter says

There are awkward interviews, and then there’s the conversation Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel had this week with a reporter.

In fact, Gabriel’s comments to KOIN sports anchor Brenna Greene were so bizarre, some fans speculated he might be on something. The speculation led Greene to step forward Wednesday to clarify “Dillon was not high.”

Greene interviewed Gabriel Monday at a media event ahead of Oregon’s game Wednesday against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal game. The interview happened at 8 a.m., and to be fair, Gabriel’s answers sounded as if he were still in a dream state.

“We love the Rose Bowl,” Gabriel said. “We love warm weather. I think we should play more games on nice grass instead of artificial stuff. The more sun the better. Why do we do it to ourselves? Do fans want to sit in the snow and the rain? Let’s make arenas. Let’s make domes. More grass. Let’s do more fireworks at games. Yeah, let’s do that.”

Greene posted the interview on X Monday, with a lighthearted comment: “Dillon Gabriel, certified MORNING PERSON.”

An astounding 8.9 million people had watched Gabriel’s comments by Wednesday afternoon (and that was just the number who watched it on Greene’s X account). Many fans were convinced Gabriel had been doing something recreational before the interview. Portland’s 750 The Game perhaps said it best, asking, “Dillon Gabriel. The next Bill Walton?”

All the snide remarks and insinuations Gabriel had been high prompted Greene to clarify the situation Wednesday. She posted on X, “Saying this once and once only: media day was at 8 AM and an hour. Dillon was not high. He’s already silly and I’m sure the combined exhaustion of how early it was and the amount he was in demand probably contributed to this quote.

“Kind of annoyed something innocent and funny has been co-opted butttt that’s the internet for you.”

There we have it. Gabriel was not high, merely tired. According to Greene, at least. Some on social media thought the jokes about Gabriel’s behavior had gotten out of hand.

[Brenna Greene]