Howie Long facts for kids
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Long in 2022
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| No. 75 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||
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| Born: | January 6, 1960 Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Milford (Milford, Massachusetts) |
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| College: | Villanova | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1981 / Round: 2 / Pick: 48 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Howard Matthew Moses Long (born January 6, 1960) is a famous American former football player. He was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Howie Long played his entire career with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders teams.
The Raiders picked him in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl eight times and was named a first-team All-Pro three times. He also helped his team win Super Bowl XVIII. In 2000, he was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After he stopped playing football, Long became an actor and a sports announcer. He now works as a football expert for Fox Sports.
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Early Life and Sports
Howie Long was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. He grew up in Charlestown, Boston, mostly with his uncles and grandmother. He went to Milford High School in Milford. He is now part of the Milford Hall of Fame.
Howie was a great athlete in high school. He played football, basketball, and track. He only started playing football when he was 15 years old. Even so, he was named to the Scholastic Coach All-America team in his senior year. In track, he set state records in the shot put and discus throws.
College Football Career
Howie Long played college football at Villanova University near Philadelphia. He studied communications there. He played for the Wildcats for four years. In 1980, he was chosen to play in the Blue–Gray Football Classic and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
As a freshman, he started every game and made 99 tackles. In his second year, he led Villanova with five sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also had 78 tackles that year.
Howie started as a tight end but then moved to the defensive line. He played mostly nose guard for his first two seasons. Later, he became a defensive end. In his senior year, he was named All-East and received an honorable mention for All-American. Howie also boxed at Villanova and won the Northern Collegiate Heavyweight Boxing Championship.
Professional Football Career
The Oakland Raiders picked Howie Long in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft. He played for the Raiders for 13 seasons, wearing the number 75 jersey. As a defensive lineman for the Raiders, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl eight times.
He was named first-team All-Pro three times (in 1983, 1984, and 1985). He was also named second-team All-Pro twice (in 1986 and 1989). Famous coach John Madden picked Howie for his "All-Madden" teams in 1984 and 1985. He was also on the 10th Anniversary All-Madden team in 1994.
In 1985, Howie Long won several awards. He was named the NFL Alumni Defensive Lineman of the Year. He also won the George Halas Trophy as the co-NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The next year, he was voted the Miller Lite NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year. These awards were chosen by NFL players.
From 1983 to 1986, the Raiders' defense was very strong. They had 249 sacks, which was tied for the most in the NFL during that time. Howie had 91.5 sacks in his career. His best year was 1983, when he had 13 sacks. This included five sacks in one game against the Washington Redskins.
He also intercepted two passes and recovered 10 fumbles during his 13 years playing. Howie Long was the last player on the team who had been a Raider before the team moved to Los Angeles. He helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII in 1983. They beat the Washington Redskins, and Howie played a key role in stopping their running game.
Howie Long had a special move called the "rip." This was a quick, uppercut-like motion. He used it to break free from blockers who were trying to hold him.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing in the NFL in 1993, Howie Long started an acting career. He mostly appeared in action films. He starred in the 1998 movie Firestorm. He also co-starred with John Travolta in the suspense movie Broken Arrow. He had a small part in 3000 Miles to Graceland with Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell.
Howie Long also appeared in many TV shows and commercials. He was a spokesperson for Radio Shack and appeared in ads for many big brands. These included Coors Light, Nike, Campbell's Chunky Soup, and Chevrolet.
After retiring from football, Howie became a studio analyst for the Fox Network's NFL coverage. He often works with Terry Bradshaw. He also writes a column for Foxsports.com. In 1996, he won a Sports Emmy Award for being an "Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst."
Howie Long also wrote a book called Football for Dummies. This book helps regular fans understand the basics of professional football. It is part of the popular For Dummies series. He also volunteers his time for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In 2000, he was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year.
Personal Life and Family
Howie Long met his wife, Diane Addonizio, when he was a freshman at Villanova University. They got married in 1982. They have three sons, and all of them are involved in football.
Their oldest son, Chris, was also a defensive end in the NFL. He played for the St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles. Chris won two Super Bowls during his career. Their middle son, Kyle, played as a guard for the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs. Their youngest son, Howie Jr., works for the Raiders team in player personnel. Howie Long is a Roman Catholic.
Awards and Honors
NFL
- Super Bowl XVIII champion
- Three-time First-Team All-Pro
- Eight-time Pro Bowl selection
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
Sports Emmy Awards
- 1996 - Studio Analyst
Halls of Fame
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2000)
