Diane Addonizio gave up her own law career to raise Howie Long's children and family
Diane Addonizio is a former attorney who once built a promising legal career after earning her law degree from the University of Southern California. She walked away from that career to raise her family alongside NFL legend Howie Long. Her dedication to family supported the development of their children, who built successful careers in the NFL.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Diane is widely regarded as the backbone of one of the most respected families in professional football.
- She gave up a practicing law career to raise her three sons, Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr.
- Chris is a retired NFL defensive lineman, while Kyle is a retired NFL offensive lineman.
- Howie Long Jr. is a sports executive and football scout.
Profile summary
Full name | Diane Addonizio |
Gender | Female |
Year of birth | 16 March 1962 |
Age | 61 years old (as of January 2024) |
Place of birth | Monmouth County Town of Redbank, New Jersey, USA |
Current residence | Albemarle County, Virginia, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height in feet | 5'8" |
Height in centimetres | 173 |
Weight in pounds | 128 |
Weight in kilograms | 58 |
Hair colour | Golden brown |
Eye colour | Brown |
Father | Frank Addonizio |
Mother | Marie Cecere |
Siblings | 1 |
Marital status | Married |
Husband | Howie Long |
Children | Chris, Kyle, and Howie Long Jr. |
University | Villanova University, University of Southern California |
Profession | Professional lawyer, author, businesswoman |
Diane Addonizio's bio
Diane Addonizio is an American attorney, businesswoman. and author. She is best known as the wife of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long. However, her story goes far beyond that connection. She built her own identity through education, a legal career, and a dedicated family life. She remains one of the most admired and private figures in NFL circles.
How old is Howie Long's wife?
Diane Addonizio's birthday falls on March 16, making her 64 years old as of 2026. She was born in 1962.
Diane Addonizio's parents
She is the daughter of Mane Cecere and Frank Addonizio. Her father was in the Army during World War II and the Korean War. He was also a security officer of the IIT subsidiary. Diane was brought up alongside her brother, James, an attorney.
Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, Diane Addonizio comes from an Italian-American family, a heritage reflected in both her surname and her mother's maiden name, Cecere. She was raised in a traditional Catholic household.
Source: Getty Images
Where did Diane Addonizio study?
Diane Addonizio majored in Classical Studies at Villanova University, a discipline that sharpened her analytical thinking and communication skills. She then earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California School of Law. At the time, relatively few women were pursuing demanding legal careers, making her academic accomplishment all the more significant.
Diane Addonizio's law career
After graduating, Diane entered the workforce as a practicing attorney. Colleagues described her as meticulous, articulate, and deeply professional. She specialized in corporate and civil law, bringing the same discipline to her legal work that she had shown throughout her education.
However, when she married Howie Long, Diane sacrificed her legal practice to raise their kids, while Howie continued with his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders.
Source: Getty Images
What many people do not know is that Diane never truly left the law behind. Her legal training continued to serve the family in quiet but meaningful ways. She became deeply involved in managing the financial and legal aspects of the family's affairs, including business ventures and endorsement contracts. She was, in many ways, the legal mind working behind the scenes of a very public career.
Diane channelled her entrepreneurial instincts into business. She made strategic investments that generated strong returns, though she has always kept the specific details of those ventures private.
Author
The mother of three is also a published author. In 2000, she released her book He's Just My Dad! Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children. The book offered a rare and deep look at the relationships between professional athletes and their families. It reflected both Diane's personal experience inside an NFL household and her broader interest in the human side of professional sport.
The book remains a unique contribution, blending her identity as a mother, a lawyer, and a thoughtful observer of sports culture.
Her son Chris Long once described her as the real MVP of the household. In an interview with the Albemarle Magazine in 2025, he praised both his parents for his upbringing. He said.
My parents gave me a blueprint for how to treat people with respect and dignity. My mom spent so much time working with the Boys & Girls Club, not just organizing but being there with the kids, making sure they felt seen and valued.
My dad, despite his career in the public eye, always stressed that real character is what you do when no one is watching. I always marveled at how committed they were to making the world a better place through different avenues.
How did Howie Long meet his wife?
Howie and his wife met while studying at the University of Villanova. They dated and married on 27 June 1982 through a wedding ceremony attended by friends and relatives.
Howie and Diane Addonizio's children
The couple has three children: Christopher Howard Long, Kyle Long, and Howard Long Jr. Christopher was born on 28 March 1985. He followed in his father's footsteps by becoming an NFL player, where he played as a defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles. He also played for other teams, such as the New England Patriots and St Louis Rams.
Source: Getty Images
Chris Long retired in 2019 after 11 NFL seasons, winning two Super Bowl titles and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Chris is married to Megan O'Malley, and the two share a son, Waylon James Long.
Kyle, the couple's second son, was born on 5 December 1988. He also followed in his father's and older brother's footsteps. He played as an offensive guard for the Chicago Bears. He is now a TV analyst.
Her youngest son, Howard Long Jr, was born in 1990. He took a different career path from his father and brothers. Since December 2019, he has worked as the Manager of Premium Sales at the Las Vegas Raiders. He also held the same position at Legend-Las Vegas Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Diane's husband, Howard Mathew Moses Long, is a retired football defensive end who played in the NFL for 13 seasons. He played for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders teams. After retiring, he became a studio analyst for Fox Sports and an actor. He has been featured in films and TV shows such as 3000 Miles to Graceland and Firestorm.
Diane Addonizio's height and weight
Howie's wife is 5 feet 8 inches or 173 centimetres tall. She weighs approximately 128 pounds or 58 kilograms.
FAQs
- Is Howie Long's wife an attorney? She is currently not practising law. Diane earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California School of Law, making her a highly qualified attorney. She chose to step away from active legal practice to focus on raising her family after marrying Howie Long.
- Who is Howard Long married to? He is married to Diane Addonizio. The couple met at Villanova University and married in 1982. They have been together for over four decades and have three sons.
- How many wives did Howie Long have? The former NFL player has been married once to his wife, Diane Addonizio. However, there were speculations that he was married to American actress Teri Hatcher, which was false.
- Is Howie Long a millionaire? Yes, Howie Long is a millionaire. His wealth comes from his long NFL career, his decades as a Fox Sports analyst, and his acting work. His net worth is estimated at around $16 million.
- How many children does Howie Long have? Howie Long has three sons. Their names are Christopher, Kyle, and Howard Long Jr. All three followed their father into the world of football. Chris and Kyle both played in the NFL, while Howie Jr. works in the front office of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Diane Addonizio is proof that influence does not require a spotlight. She chose family over career at a pivotal moment and never looked back. The results speak for themselves. Three successful sons, a four-decade marriage, and a legacy built quietly but deliberately make her story one worth telling.
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Isaac Wangethi (Lifestyle writer) Isaac Wangethi is a writer at Legit.ng. He joined the team in September 2021 and has over five years of experience. Isaac specialises in celebrity biographies, lifestyles, and news reports. He has won the Legit Writer of the Year Award multiple times (2023, 2024, 2025). Isaac earned a BSc in Information Technology from the UoN in 2017. He also holds a Higher Diploma in Computer Software Engineering from Gretsa University (2021). Isaac completed the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course in 2023 and the Google News Initiative training in March 2024. Email: Wangethin@gmail.com.
Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is a writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in digital publishing. She writes across lifestyle, entertainment, sports, education, and finance, with work featured on MSN News, Ihamba Adventures, Industry Biz, and Legit.ng. She previously worked as a project manager and researcher at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi. She holds a BA in Urban and Regional Planning and is pursuing an MA in Environmental Law. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boit@gmail.com.
