Howie Long

Howie Long Profile

Howie Long, former Hall of Fame Defensive End for the Los Angeles Raiders, is currently best known for his position of in-studio analyst for the Emmy Award winning Fox NFL Sunday team.

A multi-talented performer, Long launched his successful television and film career after playing 13 years in the NFL for the Los Angeles Raiders. Widely known for his appearances on the big screen as well as the gridiron, he made his feature film debut in John Woo’s box office hit Broken Arrow and has since starred in Firestorm and Dollar for the Dead. Long was also featured in 3000 Miles to Graceland alongside Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. He was named “Male Star of Tomorrow” for 1997 by ShoWest, sharing the honor with past winners Brad Pitt, Chris O’Donnell, and Will Smith.

A versatile television personality, Long hosted the 20th anniversary special for the re-release of the Star Wars trilogy as well as the TBS special War Games.   He has been featured in national commercials and advertising campaigns including Radio Shack, Coors, Nike, Hanes and Campbell’s Soup. Over the years, his football persona has been used to promote clothing, toy figures, and candy bars.

Long’s sharp wit and keen analysis have prompted him to be recruited by several publications for which he wrote articles including USA Today and Cosmopolitan. He has also written the introduction to the Bo Jackson biography Bo Knows Bo.

In addition to his professional duties, Long has consistently been active in charity work, including being name “Man of the Year” by the Walter Camp Foundation for his local and national contributions to charities. He is also a past recipient of the West Coast Father’s Day Council “Father of the Year” award. He is currently the Honorary Chairman of his local Boys and Girls Club and honorary chairman of “Andrew’s Buddies”, an organization which raises awareness and supports research to defeat spinal muscular atrophy.

In honor of his grandmother, Long has established a scholarship fund at Villanova which benefits underprivileged students. He annually lends his time and talent to the United Way, the Mental Health Association, and the Tracey Biletnikoff Foundation. In 2001, Long and his wife, Diane, were chairmen of Child Abuse Prevention Month in Virginia. He is also a member of the American Cancer Society’s Public Awareness Council and was the founding National Chairman for Athletes & Entertainers for Kids.

In his NFL career, Long twice earned title of Defensive Lineman of the Year and  was elected to the Pro Bowl eight times, tying the Raiders’ all-time record. He was voted Seagrams Defensive Player of the Year by the NFL coaches and general managers in 1985. He has also been named to the first team of the “All Decade Team of the 80s”. In 1983, Long helped lead the Raiders to their Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins. In 2000, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Long became the third youngest player ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and is one of only seven defensive ends voted into the Hall.