An Alabama legend has passed away.

Former Crimson Tide quarterback Ken Stabler died Wednesday, AL.com confirmed. Multiple sources said Stabler quietly battled colon cancer in a fight he lost Wednesday night. He was 69.

Before going on to a pro career with the Oakland Raiders, Stabler starred for Alabama under Bear Bryant from 1964-67.

Stabler's family released a statement about his death Thursday evening. Stabler had been battling Stage 4 colon cancer since February.

The statement also said the quarterback was listening to favorite songs including "Sweet Home Alabama" as he passed away.

At his request, Stabler's brain and spinal cord were donated to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center to aid research for degenerative brain disease in athletes.

The Foley product worked on the Alabama radio broadcast team before being replaced in 2008. As a player, Stabler was a freshman for Alabama's 1964 national title season and led the Tide to an 11-0 record as a junior in 1966.

He played in the NFL from 1970-84, completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 27,938 yards. As of 2015, Stabler was not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former teammate Scott Hunter said Stabler was "always a fun guy to be around." His best memory of Stabler was his most famous moment in an Alabama jersey. His 53-yard touchdown run against Auburn in 1967 won the Iron Bowl, 7-3.

"With the run in the mud, I was a redshirt sophomore standing on the sidelines with a clipboard," Hunter said by phone Thursday evening. "He came around that right end and started running, and I thought someone surely on the Auburn team would catch him but in that mud, everyone was the same speed. He just kept running and running. I stepped out on the field about two or three paces, then a big guy stepped out in front of me. Of course it was coach Bryant. He blocked my view and I finally looked around him and Kenny kept running. He might score. And he did."

Eddie Etheredge was the executive director of Stabler's foundation. He last spoke to Stabler a year ago but knew he was battling illnesses.

"He seemed to be strong," he said, "fighting real hard."

Lester Smith was a senior when Stabler was a sophomore at Foley HS, played football, baseball and part of a season of basketball with him. Said Stabler averaged 29 points a game in basketball and was a dominant pitcher on the baseball team by his senior year. Smith went on to become a longtime head football coach at Foley.

"He was just such a competitor and was just so talented. ... I'll always remember his smile and his kindness," Smith said.

AL.com reporter Mike Herndon contributed to this report.