Diane Addonizio is best known as the wife of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long and the mother of three sons who each built distinct careers in professional football. While her husband earned fame on the field and later in broadcasting, Addonizio built her own path as an attorney before stepping back to raise her family.
Her youngest child, Howard Long, Jr., has carved out a quieter but meaningful role in the sport, working on the business and operations side rather than as a player. This article looks at Addonizio’s background, her marriage, and the individual paths taken by her three sons, with particular focus on Howard Long Jr.’s career in professional football management.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
| Full Name | Diane Addonizio |
| Known For | Wife of Howie Long |
| Birthplace | Red Bank, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Villanova University; University of Southern California School of Law |
| Profession | Former attorney, author |
| Husband | Howie Long |
| Marriage Date | June 27, 1982 |
| Children | Chris Long, Kyle Long, Howard “Howie” Long Jr. |
| Book | He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children |
| Book Published | 2000 |
Diane Addonizio’s Early Life
Diane Addonizio was born and raised in Red Bank, New Jersey, a coastal town in Monmouth County known for its small-town character. Details about her childhood and family background have never been widely publicized, as Addonizio has kept a relatively private life outside of her connection to Howie Long. What is well documented is her academic path, which shows a clear focus on classical education followed by professional legal training.
Her Education at Villanova and USC
Addonizio studied Classical Studies at Villanova University, a private Catholic research university located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Classical Studies programs typically cover ancient Greek and Roman history, literature, and philosophy, giving students a strong foundation in critical thinking and written communication. It was at Villanova that Addonizio met Howie Long, who was attending the same school.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Addonizio went on to attend the University of Southern California School of Law, one of the more competitive law schools in the country. Earning a law degree from USC prepared her for a career in legal practice, a path she pursued for a period before her focus shifted toward family life.
Diane Addonizio’s Legal Career
Addonizio worked as a practicing attorney for a period before choosing to step away from full-time legal work. Sources describe her as a “non-practicing lawyer” in recent years, meaning she holds a law degree and was licensed to practice but is not currently working in the legal field. This shift is common among professionals who choose to prioritize raising children, and Addonizio has generally been described as focusing her energy on her family once her sons were born.
How Diane Addonizio Met Howie Long
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long were college sweethearts who met while both were students at Villanova University. Howie Long, who would later become one of the most recognized defensive linemen in NFL history, was still years away from his professional football career when the two began their relationship. Their college romance eventually led to marriage.
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long’s Marriage
Addonizio and Long married on June 27, 1982, several years before Howie’s football career reached its peak with the Raiders. The couple has remained married for more than four decades, a notable length of time in an industry where relationships are often strained by the demands of professional sports and media careers. Their long marriage provided a stable foundation for raising three sons who each went on to have their own connection to professional football.
Who Is Howie Long?
Howie Long is a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end who spent his entire 13-season NFL career with the Raiders organization, playing for both the Los Angeles and Oakland versions of the franchise. After retiring as a player, Long transitioned into broadcasting and became a longtime studio analyst for Fox Sports’ NFL coverage. He has also appeared in several films and television projects, extending his public profile well beyond football. Long’s Hall of Fame playing career and continued media presence make him one of the most recognizable figures connected to the Raiders organization.
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long’s Children
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long’s children are three sons: Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howard “Howie” Long Jr. All three grew up playing multiple sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse, and all three attended the same high school, St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Virginia. While two of the three sons became NFL players, the third pursued a career connected to football without playing professionally, which has led to some confusion online about his actual role.
Chris Long
Chris Long, the eldest son, played college football at the University of Virginia before being selected second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He went on to a lengthy NFL player career, including stints with the St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles, and won Super Bowl titles with both the Patriots and the Eagles. After retiring, Chris transitioned into sports media and podcasting.
Kyle Long
Kyle Long, the middle son, also became an NFL player after being drafted by the Chicago Bears, where he spent his career as an offensive guard and earned multiple Pro Bowl selections. Interestingly, Kyle was also drafted by the Chicago White Sox for professional baseball before choosing to pursue football instead. Following his NFL retirement, Kyle moved into sports broadcasting.
Howard “Howie” Long Jr.
Howard Long Jr., the youngest of the three sons, took a different route than his brothers. Rather than becoming an NFL player, Howard Long Jr. pursued a career connected to the business side of football. Howard Long Jr. attended the University of Virginia, following in Chris’s footsteps academically, though he chose a lacrosse scholarship rather than playing football at the collegiate level, despite having played football, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse in high school.
After college, Howard Long Jr.’s professional career took shape within the Raiders organization itself. He has worked in roles connected to scouting and player personnel, assisting the football operations side of the Raiders rather than appearing on the field as a player. His work has also included premium sales, a role tied to managing high-value ticketing and hospitality packages, reportedly with Legends at Las Vegas Stadium, home of the Raiders. This combination of scouting support and premium sales reflects the broader business and organizational roles that exist within professional football beyond the players themselves.
It’s worth noting that several online articles incorrectly describe him as an NFL player, sometimes confusing him with an unrelated football figure of a similar name who played college football elsewhere and had a professional playing and coaching career. Howard Long Jr. did not become an NFL player. His actual career on the business side of football has kept him largely out of the spotlight compared to his brothers, but it represents a legitimate and important part of how professional football organizations like the Raiders operate day to day, covering areas like scouting logistics, personnel support, and revenue-generating sales roles.
To summarize the differences among the three brothers:
- Chris Long – Played defensive end in the NFL for over a decade, won two Super Bowls.
- Kyle Long – Played offensive guard in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, multiple Pro Bowl selections.
- Howard Long Jr. – Did not play in the NFL; built a career connected to football business, including scouting support and premium sales work tied to the Raiders organization.
Diane Addonizio Is Also an Author
Beyond her legal training and role as a mother, Diane Addonizio wrote a book titled He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children, published in 2000. The book reportedly explores the experiences of children growing up with famous athlete parents, a subject Addonizio would have had direct insight into given her own family’s experience with Howie Long’s football fame.
Diane Addonizio’s Public Appearances
Addonizio has largely stayed out of the media spotlight compared to her husband and sons. She occasionally appears alongside Howie Long at football-related events or family gatherings shared through her sons’ social media, but she has not pursued a public career in entertainment or sports media herself.
Where Does Diane Addonizio Live?
Specific details about Diane Addonizio’s current residence have not been publicly disclosed. Given Howie Long’s long broadcasting career with Fox Sports and the family’s roots in Virginia, where their sons attended high school, it is reasonable to assume the family has maintained ties to that region, though exact residency details remain private.
Is Diane Addonizio on Social Media?
Diane Addonizio does not appear to maintain a prominent personal social media presence. Most public glimpses of her come through posts made by her husband or sons rather than from accounts she manages herself.
Diane Addonizio’s Net Worth
Diane Addonizio’s individual net worth has not been independently verified or publicly reported. As the wife of Howie Long, whose estimated wealth stems from his NFL Hall of Fame career and decades-long broadcasting role, she is understood to share in significant family wealth, though a specific figure attributed solely to her has not been documented by reliable sources.
Facts About Diane Addonizio
To close out this profile, here are several quick facts that summarize who Diane Addonizio is:
- She studied Classical Studies at Villanova University before earning a law degree at USC.
- She met Howie Long while both attended Villanova.
- She married Howie Long on June 27, 1982.
- She worked as an attorney before shifting focus to raising her family.
- She authored a book in 2000 about children of celebrity athletes.
- She is the mother of Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howard Long Jr.
- Two of her three sons, Chris and Kyle, became NFL players, while Howard Jr. worked within professional football business rather than as a player.
