Chris Long

Christopher Howard Long (born March 28, 1985) is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Virginia, and was recognized as an All-American. The St. Louis Rams chose him with the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Early years
Long was born in Santa Monica, California. He attended St. Anne's-Belfield School 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.

College career


Long enrolled at the University of Virginia, and played for coach Al Groh's Virginia Cavaliers football team from 2004 to 2007, while seeking a degree in sociology. As a freshman in 2004, 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 recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American. His 39 sacks were first in the country with an average of 3.13 sacks per game. Long was fourth nationally in tackling by a defensive lineman, averaging 8.3 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 linemen 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 Trophies. 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.

Measureables
At the NFL Combine, 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 Rams 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. Long also achieved a career-high in sacks in the 2011 season and was voted an alternate to the 2011 Pro Bowl for his efforts. And for the second consecutive season he led the NFL in quarterback disruptions. Long also led the Rams in quarterback hurries with 15 and quarterback hits with 16.

On July 29, 2012, Long and the Rams agreed to a four-year contract extension. The extension adds $50 million over 4 years, with $27 million is guaranteed. Counting the existing year of contract (2012) which was reworked in 2011, Long's overall deal is now worth $60 million over 5 years, with $37 million guaranteed.

In 2012 Long led the Rams in sacks with 11.5 and again led the team in quarterback hits and hurries and was voted an alternate for the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive season. On December 30, 2012, Long tied a career-high of 3 sacks versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Personal
Long is a son of Hall of Fame NFL defensive end Howie Long. Chris has two younger brothers, Kyle Long and Howie Jr.

Chris appeared in a 1980s anti-underage drinking public service announcement as an infant with his parents.