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Chris Long (American football)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Howard Long (born March 28, 1985 in Santa Monica, California
) is an American football
defensive end
for the St. Louis Rams
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Rams second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Virginia
.
Long is a son of Hall of Fame
NFL defensive end Howie Long
.
in Charlottesville, Virginia
. As a senior in 2003 he was in on 91 tackles
, 23 tackles for a loss, and 15 sacks
helping his team to an undefeated record and the state private-school championship. “He was a big gangly kid who had yet to grow into his body,” said John Blake, the St. Anne’s-Belfield coach. “But he jumped in with both feet. When he played tackle, he would drive kids 10 or 15 yards down the field, like he was steering a car.”
Long had the rare distinction of having his jersey retired at St. Anne's-Belfield School. He was given a 4-star ranking for college recruiting from Rivals.com
, a service that rated him the sixth-best defensive end in the prep ranks. He played in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
.
Long also played basketball
, lacrosse
, and baseball
in high school. In addition to being Howie Long's son, he is also the great-nephew of deceased director Irvin Kershner.
Long enrolled at the University of Virginia
in 2004 and sought a degree in sociology
. He was a backup on the defensive line, but missed five games due to mononucleosis
. Long ended the season with five tackles (two for a loss) and a sack.
As a sophomore in 2005, Long averaged 3.8 tackles per game, leading all Virginia defensive linemen. He totaled 46 tackles, with 10 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. His 26 quarterback pressures led his team. He also shared the team lead in pass break-ups with seven.
In 2006, Long earned second-team All-ACC
honors and was voted team captain
. While starting all games, Long recorded 57 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 4 sacks. His 4.8 tackles per game was fourth among ACC defensive lineman. He was also a finalist for the Dudley Award
, for the most outstanding player in the Commonwealth of Virginia
and was an All-State selection.
Following his 2007 senior season, Long was selected as a consensus First-team All-American
. His 14 sacks were third in the country with an average of 1.13 sacks per game. Long was fourth nationally in tackling by a defensive lineman, averaging 6.3 tackles per game. In addition, North Carolina
head coach
Butch Davis
, who coached against Long in North Carolina's ACC match-ups with Virginia, called Long one of the premier defensive lineman in the country.
Long entered the 2007 season on the watch lists for the Outland Trophy
, Bronko Nagurski Trophy
, Bednarik Trophy, Lombardi Trophy
, Hendricks Award and the Lott Trophy
. He finished the season as a finalist for the Lombardi, Lott, and Nagurski Trophys. On December 5, 2007, Long won the 2007 Ted Hendricks Award
, given to the top defensive end in the nation. Long garnered more than 60 percent of the votes, the most ever for a winner in the history of the award. Additionally, Long received a first-place vote and finished 10th in the 2007 Heisman Trophy
voting.
On November 24, 2007, Long's #91 jersey was retired at UVA, making him the first player to have his jersey retired while he was still active.
, Long did not lift the bench-press reps of 225 pounds because of an injured thumb.
Virginia Pro Day
Bench press: 370 lbs; Squat: 640 lbs; Power clean: 375 lbs
second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
. The selection made him just the second son of a Hall of Famer, after Kellen Winslow II
, to be drafted in the first round, the fifth such player ever drafted, and one of two such players drafted in 2008 (the other being Matthew Slater
).
Following the draft, Rams head coach Scott Linehan
named Long a presumptive starter on defense, a notion that Long rejected and instead felt he needed to earn. The Rams also announced their plans on using Long as both a linebacker and defensive end to showcase his athleticism; Long considered such versatility one of his best assets.
On July 19, 2008, Long agreed to terms on a six-year $56.5 million contract with the Rams with $29 million guaranteed.
On September 14, 2008, Long recorded his first career sack against Eli Manning
of the New York Giants
. He recorded his first 2-sack games versus the New England Patriots
on October 26, 2008. At the end of his 2008 rookie season he was voted All-Rookie by the Pro Football Writers Association
and Sporting News. Long started 16 games (14 at right DE and 2 at left DE) for the Rams in 2008, recording 4 sacks and leading the team in quarterback pressures, with a high of two sacks against the New England Patriots.
In 2009, Long again played both left and right defensive end for the Rams and ended the season with 5 sacks, which was second on the team. He also led the team's defensive linemen with 43 tackles (33 solo plus 10 assists) and for the second straight season he led the Rams in quarterback hits/hurries.
In 2010 Long moved to left defensive end, a position previously held by Leonard Little
, where he is a more "natural fit" according to his coaches. In Week 6, 2010, against the San Diego Chargers, Long recorded two sacks and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL. Long also helped keep the Chargers, who led the league in total offense, to 287 total yards. For the third consecutive season, he led team in hits/hurries. In addition, he led the NFL in hurries in 2010 with 41.5 and in total quarterback disruptions with 67.5 (Quarterback disruptions are the combined total of quarterback sacks, hits, and hurries) and was voted a 4th alternate to the Pro Bowl.
In 2011 Chris Long decided to change his jersey number from 72 to his former collegiate number 91. On September 17, 2011, the Rams and Long agreed to a restructuring of his contract to free money under the salary cap. The restructured deal includes a $12.1 million signing bonus and a base salary in excess of $10 million in 2012 and with the prorated signing bonus, Long will have an $18.3 million cap number next season
On October 30, 2011, Long had a career-high 3 sacks versus the New Orleans Saints and was named Sports Illustrated's NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Chris appeared in a 1980s anti underage drinking Public Service Announcement as an infant with his parents.
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Rams second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Long is a son of Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
NFL defensive end Howie Long
Howie Long
Howard "Howie" Matthew Moses Long is an American former National Football League defensive end and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000...
.
Early years
Chris Long attended St. Anne's-Belfield SchoolSt. Anne's-Belfield School
St. Anne's-Belfield School is a co-educational, independent boarding and day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.The school is located on in Charlottesville, VA, USA, near the campus of the University of Virginia....
in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. As a senior in 2003 he was in on 91 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, 23 tackles for a loss, and 15 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
helping his team to an undefeated record and the state private-school championship. “He was a big gangly kid who had yet to grow into his body,” said John Blake, the St. Anne’s-Belfield coach. “But he jumped in with both feet. When he played tackle, he would drive kids 10 or 15 yards down the field, like he was steering a car.”
Long had the rare distinction of having his jersey retired at St. Anne's-Belfield School. He was given a 4-star ranking for college recruiting from Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, a service that rated him the sixth-best defensive end in the prep ranks. He played in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
.
Long also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
in high school. In addition to being Howie Long's son, he is also the great-nephew of deceased director Irvin Kershner.
College career
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 2004 and sought a degree in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. He was a backup on the defensive line, but missed five games due to mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
. Long ended the season with five tackles (two for a loss) and a sack.
As a sophomore in 2005, Long averaged 3.8 tackles per game, leading all Virginia defensive linemen. He totaled 46 tackles, with 10 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. His 26 quarterback pressures led his team. He also shared the team lead in pass break-ups with seven.
In 2006, Long earned second-team All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
honors and was voted team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
. While starting all games, Long recorded 57 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 4 sacks. His 4.8 tackles per game was fourth among ACC defensive lineman. He was also a finalist for the Dudley Award
Dudley Award
The Dudley Award, named after former Virginia running back Bill Dudley, is presented annually by the Richmond Times-Dispatch to one NCAA Division I football player in the Commonwealth of Virginia....
, for the most outstanding player in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and was an All-State selection.
Following his 2007 senior season, Long was selected as a consensus First-team All-American
2007 College Football All-America Team
The 2007 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
. His 14 sacks were third in the country with an average of 1.13 sacks per game. Long was fourth nationally in tackling by a defensive lineman, averaging 6.3 tackles per game. In addition, North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
, who coached against Long in North Carolina's ACC match-ups with Virginia, called Long one of the premier defensive lineman in the country.
Long entered the 2007 season on the watch lists for the Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
, Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
, Bednarik Trophy, Lombardi Trophy
Lombardi Trophy
Lombardi Trophy may refer to:*Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winning team of the Super Bowl*Lombardi Award, an annual award to the best college football lineman or linebacker...
, Hendricks Award and the Lott Trophy
Lott Trophy
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is presented annually to the college football Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. IMPACT is an acronym for: integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community, and tenacity. The award purports to equally recognize the personal character of the winning player as well as...
. He finished the season as a finalist for the Lombardi, Lott, and Nagurski Trophys. On December 5, 2007, Long won the 2007 Ted Hendricks Award
Ted Hendricks Award
The Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to college football's top defensive end. The award is named after Ted Hendricks, who is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is presented by his own 501 foundation, called the Ted Hendricks...
, given to the top defensive end in the nation. Long garnered more than 60 percent of the votes, the most ever for a winner in the history of the award. Additionally, Long received a first-place vote and finished 10th in the 2007 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting.
On November 24, 2007, Long's #91 jersey was retired at UVA, making him the first player to have his jersey retired while he was still active.
Career statistics
| 2004 | Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
12 | 12 | 46 | 19 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 2006 | Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
12 | 12 | 57 | 32 | 25 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| 2007 | Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
13 | 13 | 79 | 36 | 33 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| |Career | 43 | 37 | 187 | 90 | 97 | 43 | 22 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 70 | 1 |
Measureables
At the NFL CombineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
, Long did not lift the bench-press reps of 225 pounds because of an injured thumb.
Virginia Pro Day
Bench press: 370 lbs; Squat: 640 lbs; Power clean: 375 lbs
St. Louis Rams
Long was drafted by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. The selection made him just the second son of a Hall of Famer, after Kellen Winslow II
Kellen Winslow II
Kellen Boswell Winslow, II is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns sixth overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, to be drafted in the first round, the fifth such player ever drafted, and one of two such players drafted in 2008 (the other being Matthew Slater
Matthew Slater
Matthew Wilson Slater is an American football wide receiver and safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
).
Following the draft, Rams head coach Scott Linehan
Scott Linehan
Scott Thomas Linehan is an American football coach, currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the St...
named Long a presumptive starter on defense, a notion that Long rejected and instead felt he needed to earn. The Rams also announced their plans on using Long as both a linebacker and defensive end to showcase his athleticism; Long considered such versatility one of his best assets.
On July 19, 2008, Long agreed to terms on a six-year $56.5 million contract with the Rams with $29 million guaranteed.
On September 14, 2008, Long recorded his first career sack against Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He recorded his first 2-sack games versus the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on October 26, 2008. At the end of his 2008 rookie season he was voted All-Rookie by the Pro Football Writers Association
Pro Football Writers Association
Technically known as the Pro Football Writers of America, this organization purports to be "The official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public." Goals of the organization include improving access to practices and locker rooms,...
and Sporting News. Long started 16 games (14 at right DE and 2 at left DE) for the Rams in 2008, recording 4 sacks and leading the team in quarterback pressures, with a high of two sacks against the New England Patriots.
In 2009, Long again played both left and right defensive end for the Rams and ended the season with 5 sacks, which was second on the team. He also led the team's defensive linemen with 43 tackles (33 solo plus 10 assists) and for the second straight season he led the Rams in quarterback hits/hurries.
In 2010 Long moved to left defensive end, a position previously held by Leonard Little
Leonard Little
Leonard Antonio Little is a former American football defensive end. He was originally drafted by the Rams in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-Early years:...
, where he is a more "natural fit" according to his coaches. In Week 6, 2010, against the San Diego Chargers, Long recorded two sacks and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week by the NFL. Long also helped keep the Chargers, who led the league in total offense, to 287 total yards. For the third consecutive season, he led team in hits/hurries. In addition, he led the NFL in hurries in 2010 with 41.5 and in total quarterback disruptions with 67.5 (Quarterback disruptions are the combined total of quarterback sacks, hits, and hurries) and was voted a 4th alternate to the Pro Bowl.
In 2011 Chris Long decided to change his jersey number from 72 to his former collegiate number 91. On September 17, 2011, the Rams and Long agreed to a restructuring of his contract to free money under the salary cap. The restructured deal includes a $12.1 million signing bonus and a base salary in excess of $10 million in 2012 and with the prorated signing bonus, Long will have an $18.3 million cap number next season
On October 30, 2011, Long had a career-high 3 sacks versus the New Orleans Saints and was named Sports Illustrated's NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Personal
Chris has two younger brothers, Kyle and Howie Jr.Chris appeared in a 1980s anti underage drinking Public Service Announcement as an infant with his parents.