Howie Long is a well-known name in the NFL world, as he is a former defensive end, actor and sports analyst who played for the Raiders franchise for 13 seasons. He is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a Super Bowl champion. But is he related to Spencer Long, another NFL player who plays as an offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills? The answer is no, they are not related by blood or marriage.
Who is Howie Long?
Howie Long was born on January 6, 1960 in Somerville, Massachusetts. He grew up in Charlestown, Boston, and attended Milford High School, where he excelled in football, basketball and track. He also boxed and was the Northern Collegiate Heavyweight Boxing Champion
He played college football at Villanova University near Philadelphia and earned a degree in communications. He was a four-year letterman for the Wildcats and was named the MVP of the Blue–Gray Football Classic in 1980. He was also an honorable mention All-American in his senior year
He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft and spent his entire career with the franchise, which moved to Los Angeles in 1982. He played as a defensive end and was known for his strength, speed and intensity. He received eight Pro Bowl and three first-team All-Pro selections and helped the team win Super Bowl XVIII over the Washington Redskins. He retired after the 1993 season with 84 career sacks, 10 fumble recoveries and two interceptions
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and has his number 75 retired by the Raiders. He also pursued a career in acting and broadcasting after retiring from football. He has appeared in several films and TV shows, such as Broken Arrow, 3000 Miles to Graceland, Firestorm and The Highwaymen. He also serves as a studio analyst for Fox Sports’ NFL coveragE
He married Diane Addonizio, a non-practicing lawyer and businesswoman, in 1982. They have three sons: Chris Long, Kyle Long and Howard Long Jr., who have all been involved in football in some capacity
Who is Spencer Long?
Spencer Long was born on November 8, 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended Elkhorn High School, where he played football as a tight end and defensive end. He also played basketball and baseball. He walked on to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and played college football for the Cornhuskers as an offensive lineman. He earned a degree in biological sciences and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft and played for them until 2017. He then signed with the New York Jets in 2018 and played for them for one season. He joined the Buffalo Bills in 2019 and has been playing for them ever since. He plays as a center and guard and has started 53 games in his career so far.
He married Lucy Crichton, a former Nebraska volleyball player, in 2017. They have one son: Harrison Long, who was born in 2019.
