Diane Addonizio is widely known as the wife of former NFL star and football broadcaster Howie Long, but her life includes much more than her connection to football. She studied Classical Studies at Villanova University before continuing her education in law. She later worked as an attorney and also became an author.
Diane met Howie Long during their college years at Villanova, long before his professional football career made him a household name. The couple married in 1982 and later raised three sons, Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr. Chris and Kyle went on to play in the NFL, while Howie Jr. built a career in football operations.
Diane Addonizio Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Diane Addonizio |
| Known For | Wife of Howie Long and mother of three sons |
| College | Villanova University |
| Field of Study | Classical Studies |
| Law School | University of Southern California |
| Profession | Former attorney and author |
| Husband | Howie Long |
| Marriage Year | 1982 |
| Children | Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr. |
| Book | He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Kids |
Who Is Diane Addonizio?
Diane Addonizio is a former attorney and author who became widely known through her marriage to Howie Long. Her educational and professional background, however, began independently of her husband’s football career. She attended Villanova University, where she studied Classical Studies, and later pursued a law degree at the University of Southern California.
Her connection to football became an important part of her family life after she married Howie. The couple raised three sons, with Chris and Kyle eventually playing in the NFL and Howie Jr. working in football-related operations. Diane has generally maintained a lower public profile than her husband and children, so most public information about her centers on her education, career, marriage, and family.
Diane Addonizio’s Early Life and Background
Diane Addonizio has kept much of her early personal life private. Sports Illustrated described her as being from Red Bank, New Jersey, and identified her as a Classical Studies major at Villanova University. The publication also documented how she met Howie Long during their college years.
Her years at Villanova became an important chapter in her life because they brought her into contact with Howie before his NFL career began. Rather than growing up in the public spotlight, Diane entered that world later through her marriage and family. This makes her college years one of the clearest parts of her early story.
Diane Addonizio’s Education
Diane attended Villanova University and studied Classical Studies. Her time at the university was significant not only because of her education but also because it was where she met Howie Long. Sports Illustrated reported that Diane was a Classical Studies major and that she met Howie when he was a student there.
After completing her undergraduate education, Diane continued into the legal field and studied at the University of Southern California. Her legal education eventually led to a career as an attorney. This part of her background is important because it shows that she had a professional path of her own before becoming widely known as Howie Long’s wife.
Diane Addonizio’s Career as an Attorney
Diane Addonizio trained as a lawyer and worked in the legal profession. Her legal background has been described as corporate litigation, giving her a career that was separate from the sports world in which her husband became famous.
Over time, Diane’s professional priorities changed as her family grew. She became the mother of three sons while Howie continued his career in professional football and later broadcasting. Rather than adding unsupported details about specific law firms or cases, it is more accurate to focus on her established legal education and work as an attorney.
Diane Addonizio’s Book and Writing
Diane Addonizio is also associated with the book He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Kids, published in 2000. The book focuses on professional athletes and their relationships with their children, bringing together sports and family life.
The subject was also closely connected to Diane’s own experience. She was raising a family with a professional football player while their children were growing up around the sport. Her book gave her a way to explore the family side of professional athletics rather than focusing only on the players themselves.
How Diane Addonizio Met Howie Long
Diane Addonizio met Howie Long while they were students at Villanova University. According to Sports Illustrated, Diane was a freshman when Howie was a sophomore. Their first real date involved watching an NFL game in Howie’s dorm room.
Their relationship began before Howie became a major NFL star. At that time, he was still a college football player developing his career, while Diane was pursuing her studies. Their relationship therefore started well before the fame and television career that later became associated with Howie’s name.
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long’s Marriage
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long married in June 1982. Sports Illustrated specifically records Diane referring to their marriage in June of that year.
Their marriage began during the early part of Howie’s professional football career. Howie had entered the NFL with the Raiders in 1981 and went on to spend many years as a defensive star before moving into broadcasting. Diane remained a part of his family life throughout those different stages of his career.
The couple eventually raised three sons, and their family developed an unusually strong connection to professional football. Two of their sons became NFL players, while their youngest son worked in the football business.
Diane Addonizio’s Children and Family
Diane and Howie Long have three sons: Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr. Each followed a different professional path, although all three remained connected to football in some way.
Chris became an NFL defensive end, while Kyle played offensive guard in the league. Their youngest son, Howie Long Jr., pursued work in football operations rather than becoming an NFL player. This gave the Long family several different connections to professional football across one generation.
Chris Long
Chris Long is Diane and Howie Long’s oldest son. He followed his father into the NFL and played defensive end during his professional career. He played for the St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Chris won Super Bowl titles with the Patriots and Eagles before retiring from professional football. His career made him a well-known name in his own right and added another major chapter to the Long family’s connection with the NFL.
Kyle Long
Kyle Long is Diane and Howie Long’s second son. He also played in the NFL, primarily as an offensive guard, and became particularly associated with the Chicago Bears.
His professional career gave the Long family another direct connection to the NFL. Unlike his father and older brother, who played defensive positions, Kyle built his career on the offensive side of the game.
Howie Long Jr.
Howie Long Jr. is Diane and Howie Long’s youngest son. Instead of becoming an NFL player like his two older brothers, he pursued a career connected to football operations.
His work allowed him to remain involved in professional football while following a different path from his father, Chris, and Kyle. His career is another example of how the Long family’s connection to football extends beyond playing on the field.
Diane Addonizio’s Life Away From the Spotlight
Diane Addonizio has generally kept a quieter public profile than the other members of her family. Howie Long became widely known through his NFL career and later television work, while Chris and Kyle gained their own recognition through professional football.
As a result, much of the public interest in Diane comes from her education, career, marriage, and role within the Long family. Her story does not require speculation about private matters that she has not made public.
Her professional background as an attorney and her work as an author provide important parts of her story beyond her marriage. Together with her role as the mother of three sons, these experiences give a fuller picture of Diane Addonizio.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When Did Diane Addonizio Marry Howie Long?
Diane Addonizio married Howie Long in June 1982. They had met while they were students at Villanova University.
2. How Many Children Does Diane Addonizio Have?
Diane and Howie Long have three sons: Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr.
3. What Did Diane Addonizio Study?
Diane studied Classical Studies at Villanova University. She later continued her education in law at the University of Southern California.
4. What Was Diane Addonizio’s Career?
Diane Addonizio trained and worked as an attorney. She is also known as an author of He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Kids.
5. Why Is Diane Addonizio Known?
Diane is best known as the wife of former NFL star Howie Long and the mother of Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr. She also has a background in law and writing.
6. Where Is Diane Addonizio From?
Diane has been described as being from Red Bank, New Jersey. Sports Illustrated identified her as a Classical Studies major from Red Bank when discussing her college years.
7. Did Diane Addonizio Work as a Lawyer?
Yes. Diane studied law after Villanova and worked as an attorney before later focusing more heavily on her family.
8. Does Diane Addonizio Have a Book?
Yes. She is associated with the 2000 book He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Kids.
Conclusion
Diane Addonizio’s life extends well beyond her connection to Howie Long. She studied Classical Studies at Villanova University, pursued a legal education at the University of Southern California, and worked as an attorney before becoming an author and focusing more heavily on family life.
Her relationship with Howie Long began during their college years and continued through his NFL career and later broadcasting work. Together, they raised Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr., each of whom developed a different connection to professional football.
Although Diane has remained less visible than her husband and sons, her education, legal
career, writing, and role in the Long family make her an interesting figure in her own right. Her story is best understood through these documented parts of her life rather than through unsupported details about her private affairs.
