Howie Long

Howard Matthew Moses Long, born January 6, 1960, spent his entire 13-season NFL career as a defensive end for the Raiders, starting in Oakland and finishing in Los Angeles after being drafted in the second round in 1981 out of Villanova. He earned eight Pro Bowl nods and three first-team All-Pro honors, and was a key part of the team’s Super Bowl XVIII victory. In 2000, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Raised in Charlestown, Boston, primarily by his uncles and maternal grandmother, Long attended Milford High School in Massachusetts. At Villanova, he earned a communications degree and was a four-year letterman, starting every game as a freshman with 99 tackles. After switching from tight end to the defensive line—playing nose guard initially—he moved to defensive end, earning All-East honors and honorable mention All-American status as a senior. He also boxed for the Wildcats, becoming the Northern Collegiate Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

Drafted in 1981, Long wore number 75 and quickly made an impact. He told Football Digest in 1986 his goals were financial security, the presidency, and more Super Bowl wins. He was first-team All-Pro in 1983, 1984, and 1985, and second-team in 1986 and 1989. John Madden selected him for the All-Madden team in 1984 and 1985, and later for the 10th Anniversary team in 1994.

In 1985, he was voted NFL Alumni Defensive Lineman of the Year, NFLPA AFC Defensive Lineman of the Year, and co-NFL Defensive Player of the Year (with Andre Tippett), winning the George Halas Trophy and Seagrams’ Seven Crown award. The next year, he earned the Miller Lite NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year award, both decided by player polls. In 1986, he made his fourth straight Pro Bowl and helped the Raiders lead the AFC in defense with 63 sacks. From 1983 to 1986, the Raiders’ 249 sacks tied the Bears for the NFL lead.

Long finished his career with 91.5 sacks (7.5 unofficial, as sacks weren’t recorded his rookie year), with a career-high 13 in 1983, including five against the Redskins on October 2. He also intercepted two passes and recovered ten fumbles. At retirement, he was the last Raider remaining from before the team’s move to Los Angeles. In Super Bowl XVIII, playing left defensive end, he outplayed tackle George Starke as the Raiders held John Riggins and the Redskins’ running game to 90 yards on 32 carries. His signature move was the “rip,” an uppercut-like motion to break a blocker’s grip. Pro Football Weekly later named him to its All-time 3–4 defensive front, based on votes from over 40 former players, coaches, and scouts.

After retiring following the 1993 season, Long moved into broadcasting, joining Fox Sports in 1994 as a studio analyst, often playing straight man to Terry Bradshaw’s antics. He hosted Howie Long’s Tough Guys in the early 2000s, awarding a Chevrolet truck to the NFL’s toughest player, and wrote a column for Foxsports.com. He won a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst in 1996. In acting, he starred in Firestorm (1998) and co-starred in Broken Arrow with John Travolta, where his character’s death scream became a popular sound effect. He appeared in 3000 Miles to Graceland and in the extended cut of That Thing You Do! (2007 DVD) as Tom Hanks’ partner Lloyd, though his part was cut from the theatrical release. He also made TV cameos and was a Radio Shack spokesman.