Early Life and NFL Career Overview
Howard Matthew Moses Long, known as Howie Long, was born on January 6, 1960, in Somerville, Massachusetts. He attended Milford Academy and then played college football at Villanova University, where he was a defensive tackle and earned All-American honors. Long was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft and spent his entire 13-year career with the franchise, becoming a mainstay on one of the most dominant defensive lines in league history.
During his career, Long recorded 132.5 sacks, 1,117 tackles, and 20 forced fumbles, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro nods. He was a key member of the Raiders' Super Bowl XVIII championship team after the 1983 season and was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1985. Long retired after the 1993 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, cementing his status among the top defensive linemen of his era Pro Football Reference stats.
Post-Retirement Business and Media Career
After retiring from football, Long transitioned into broadcasting, serving as a studio analyst and color commentator for Fox NFL Sunday, where he became one of the most recognizable voices in NFL coverage. He has also worked as a football analyst for various networks and contributed to long-form NFL programming, leveraging his Hall of Fame credentials to build a sustained media career alongside his former Raiders teammates.
In the business world, Long has held executive and advisory roles in multiple industries. He served as Vice President of Player Development for the Oakland Raiders, working directly with the front office on talent evaluation and player relations. Long has also been involved with several companies and investment ventures, and he has served as a board member and strategic advisor for firms in the sports, media, and financial services sectors, including roles tied to major brands and real estate development projects Forbes career transition insights.
Legacy, Earnings, and Current Status
Howie Long's net worth has been widely reported in the range of $16 million to $20 million, reflecting his earnings from NFL contracts, broadcasting roles, business ventures, and endorsement deals over several decades. His Hall of Fame pension, media income, and advisory roles continue to contribute to his financial profile, and he remains a prominent figure in NFL media and public appearances SEC filings for team financials.
Long's legacy is defined by his dominance on the defensive line, his longevity with a single franchise, and his successful transition into broadcasting and business. He is frequently cited in discussions of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, and his career is used as a benchmark for players evaluating long-term earnings, brand building, and post-sport career planning Wikipedia career summary.