Diane Addonizio is widely known as the wife of NFL Hall of Famer and Fox Sports analyst Howie Long. She grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey, and met Howie while they were both students at Villanova University. The couple married in June 1982 and raised three sons, including NFL players Chris Long and Kyle Long.
Many people know Howie Long as a fearsome Raiders defensive end and a familiar face on Fox NFL Sunday. Fewer know the woman who has stood beside him for more than 40 years. Diane has lived mostly out of public view, and that quiet strength is a big reason so many people search for her name.
This article looks at her early life, her college love story, her studies, and the football family she helped build. Every part is written in simple words so anyone can read and enjoy it.
Quick Facts: Diane Addonizio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Diane Addonizio (Diane Long) |
| Hometown | Red Bank, New Jersey |
| College | Villanova University |
| College Major | Classical studies |
| Further Study | Completed two years of law school by 1985 |
| Husband | Howie Long |
| Wedding | June 1982 |
| Children | Chris Long, Kyle Long, Howie Long Jr. |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Wife of Howie Long, mother of NFL players |
| Public Life | Very private |
Who Is Diane Addonizio?
Diane Addonizio is the wife of Howie Long, one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history. After marriage, she became known as Diane Long.
She is not a TV star or a public speaker. Her name became known through her husband’s fame and, later, through her sons’ football careers.
Still, her role in the family story is a big one. She met Howie before he was famous, when he was a moody, unsure college kid.
She stayed by his side as he became a Super Bowl champion, a movie actor, and a TV analyst. Through it all, she kept her own life quiet and grounded.
Diane Addonizio’s Early Life in New Jersey
Diane grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey, a small town near the Jersey Shore. A 1985 Sports Illustrated profile of Howie named Red Bank as her hometown.
Not much is publicly known about her parents or siblings. Her family has kept those details private.
What is clear is that she valued learning. She chose a college known for strong academics and studied a subject few people pick.
That love of learning would stay with her for years. It would also shape the way she later understood the young man she fell in love with.
Diane Addonizio’s Studies at Villanova University
Diane enrolled at Villanova University, a Catholic school near Philadelphia. There, she majored in classical studies, the study of ancient Greece and Rome.
It was an unusual choice for a future football wife. It showed a curious, thoughtful mind.
Villanova was not a football powerhouse in those years. The Wildcats had losing seasons for much of Howie’s time there. Still, the campus gave Diane and Howie something more important than wins.
It gave them each other. Their story began in the dorms and classrooms of this small Pennsylvania school.
How Diane Addonizio Met Howie Long
Diane and Howie met while both were students at Villanova. According to Sports Illustrated, she was a freshman and he was a sophomore at the time.
She later said he was moody and hard to get to know at first. But she was clearly drawn to him. She told the magazine, “I’d never met anyone that big who was that good-looking.”
Their first real date was simple. Howie invited her to his dorm room to watch an NFL game on a tiny black-and-white TV his grandmother had given him.
During the game, Howie got so excited about a big hit that he jumped up and cheered. It was an early sign of the passion he would later bring to the NFL.
Understanding Howie’s Hard Childhood
Diane soon learned that Howie’s life had not been easy. He was born on January 6, 1960, in Somerville, Massachusetts, and grew up in the tough Charlestown section of Boston.
He was raised mostly by his grandmother and his uncles. His parents divorced when he was young, and he moved between relatives’ homes.
Early in their dating, Howie did not send Diane a Valentine’s card. When she told him she was upset, he explained that holidays had never meant much to him. As a kid, he never even had his own bed.
Diane later said it took her time to understand this. Her patience helped build a bond that would last for decades.
Diane Addonizio’s Wedding to Howie Long in 1982
In 1981, the Oakland Raiders picked Howie in the second round of the NFL Draft. His pro career was just beginning.
Diane and Howie married in June 1982. That same year, the Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles.
The couple settled in Southern California. By 1985, they were living in Redondo Beach, near the Pacific coast.
Their early years of marriage came during the most exciting stretch of Howie’s career. Diane was beside him for all of it.
Diane Long’s Law School Studies
Diane did not set her own goals aside after the wedding. By 1985, Sports Illustrated reported that she had completed two years of law school.
That was no small task. She was studying law while married to a rising NFL star and, soon, raising a newborn son.
Many websites claim details about her later legal career. Those claims are not confirmed by trusted sources, so they are best left aside.
What the record does show is a woman with real ambition and a sharp mind. She built her own path even as her husband’s fame grew.
Howie Long’s Hall of Fame Career
Howie played 13 seasons for the Raiders, from 1981 to 1993. He wore number 75 and became famous for his powerful “rip” move against blockers.
He helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII after the 1983 season, beating Washington. He earned eight Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team All-Pro three times.
In 1985, he was named co-NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was later picked for the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.
In 2000, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Diane had watched that journey from its very first day.
Life After Football for the Long Family
Howie retired after the 1993 season. In 1994, he joined Fox Sports as a studio analyst on its NFL coverage, often working alongside Terry Bradshaw.
He won a Sports Emmy Award in 1996. He also turned to acting, starring in Firestorm (1998) and appearing with John Travolta in Broken Arrow (1996).
He became a familiar face in commercials too, including ads for Radio Shack and Chevrolet. In 2003, he co-wrote Football for Dummies.
Through all these changes, Diane stayed out of the spotlight. She focused on family while her husband moved from the field to the screen.
Diane Addonizio’s Sons: A True Football Family
Diane and Howie have three sons, and football runs strong in all of them.
Their oldest, Chris Long, was born in 1985. He became a star defensive end and played for the St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles. He won two Super Bowls of his own.
Their middle son, Kyle Long, played guard for the Chicago Bears, who picked him 20th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021.
Their youngest, Howie Long Jr., worked in player personnel for the Raiders, his father’s old team. Diane raised a family that left its mark on the NFL across two generations.
What Diane Said About Second Chances
In the 1985 Sports Illustrated story, Diane shared a thoughtful view about Howie’s rise. She suggested that luck and the right people had made a huge difference in his life.
She also wondered how many other kids out there had the same talent but never got the same chance. They might know they were capable of more, she said, but never find a way forward.
That comment showed deep compassion. It also echoed something Howie cared about too. He returned to speak to the Boys and Girls Club of Boston and treated local kids to Raiders games.
Their shared belief in giving back has been part of their marriage from the start.
Why Diane Addonizio Stays Away From the Spotlight
A common question is simple. Why does Diane keep such a low profile?
Her husband and two of her sons became public figures. Many people in her place might have enjoyed the attention.
Instead, Diane has given very few interviews. She does not appear to have a public social media presence.
That choice seems to match who she has always been. From her college days, she cared more about understanding people than being seen.
Diane Addonizio’s Life Today
Today, Diane and Howie have been married for more than 40 years. That is rare in any family, and even more so in the world of pro sports and Hollywood.
Very few details about her daily life are public. No trusted source confirms her current work, her exact age, or her net worth.
What is clear is the strength of her family. Her husband is a Hall of Famer, two of her sons became NFL players, and the third built a career in football too.
Through it all, Diane has remained the steady, private center of the Long family.
Final Thoughts
Diane Addonizio’s story begins with a tiny TV in a college dorm room and grows into one of football’s great family stories. She saw the scared, restless young man inside the giant, and she chose to stay.
Her patience helped turn a boy who never had his own bed into a husband and father with a home full of love. That kind of quiet support rarely makes headlines, but it shapes everything.
Some people change the game on the field. Others change the people who play it. Diane’s life reminds us that both kinds of strength matter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Diane Addonizio?
Diane Addonizio is the wife of NFL Hall of Famer and Fox Sports analyst Howie Long. She is also the mother of NFL players Chris and Kyle Long.
How did Diane Addonizio meet Howie Long?
They met as students at Villanova University. Their first real date was watching an NFL game on a small TV in his dorm room.
When did Diane Addonizio marry Howie Long?
They married in June 1982, the year after the Raiders drafted Howie.
What did Diane Addonizio study?
She majored in classical studies at Villanova and later completed two years of law school.
How many children do Diane Addonizio and Howie Long have?
They have three sons: Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr.
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