| Chris Long grew up with a famous father by the | | | | surprisingly football that put him on the map as a |
| name of Howie Long and eventually came into his | | | | top college prospect. Despite attention from |
| own celebrity as a standout player for the | | | | college recruiters around the nation Chris |
| University of Virginia (UVA) Cavaliers football | | | | ultimately decided to stay in a familiar area and |
| team. His collegiate success and first rate pedigree | | | | become a member of the nearby UVA Cavaliers |
| eventually earned him a spot as the number two | | | | program. |
| overall player taken in the 2008 NFL Draft by the | | | | After an uneventful freshmen season in 2004 |
| St. Louis Rams. | | | | during which Chris missed five games due to |
| Born in March of 1985 in Santa Monica, California | | | | illness the once lanky athlete finally began to fill |
| Chris had a charmed upbringing as the son of a | | | | out and come into his own during his sophomore |
| well-liked father who was a NFL standout | | | | season when he moved from backup defensive |
| defensive player for many years before being | | | | lineman to statistical leader of the D-line. As a |
| inducted into the football hall of fame. After his | | | | junior in 2006 Long really began catching the |
| playing days were over (retirement in 1993) | | | | attention of his team and conference opponents |
| Howie Long transitioned into sports broadcasting | | | | as he was voted a team captain and selected as |
| and being a pitchman for international brands like | | | | a second team All-ACC player. In his senior |
| Toyota. Being the son of a hall of fame defensive | | | | season Chris finally began to approach his true |
| end as was the case for Chris Long has both its | | | | potential as he dominated the defensive side of |
| pros and cons. While Chris was the beneficiary of | | | | the ball and was eventually selected as a First |
| top tier genes and first rate exposure he did | | | | Team All-American and the winner of the Ted |
| suffer the downside of having tremendously high | | | | Hendricks Award that is given annually to the best |
| expectations held over his head in terms of the | | | | defensive end in college football. |
| pressure to follow in the footsteps of the | | | | Before ever joining a pro roster or even receiving |
| greatness his father achieved on the gridiron. | | | | his diploma Chris Long has his number 91 retired |
| Before attending the University of Virginia in | | | | at the University of Virginia in November of 2007. |
| Charlottesville, VA Chris Long played prep sports | | | | This marked the first time in the history of the |
| at a private high school in the same city that his | | | | school (a history that dates back to 1819) that a |
| future college choice is based. Chris played | | | | player who was still active had his jersey number |
| baseball, lacrosse, and basketball as a high school | | | | retired. |
| athlete at St. Anne's-Belfield School but it was not | | | | |
