Diane Addonizio is a former attorney and author best known as the wife of former NFL star and football analyst Howie Long. The couple met while studying at Villanova University and married in 1982.
Diane and Howie have three sons: Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howard “Howie” Long Jr. Chris and Kyle became NFL players, while Howard Jr. built a career connected to professional football. Diane also worked as an attorney before stepping away from full-time legal work to focus on her family.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Diane Addonizio |
| Known for | Wife of Howie Long |
| Birthplace | Red Bank, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Villanova University; University of Southern California School of Law |
| Field of study | Classical Studies; Law |
| Profession | Former attorney, author |
| Husband | Howie Long |
| Marriage date | June 27, 1982 |
| Children | Chris Long, Kyle Long, Howard “Howie” Long Jr. |
| Book | He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children |
| Book published | 2000 |
Diane Addonizio’s Early Life
Diane Addonizio is from Red Bank, New Jersey. Some reports state that she was born on March 16, 1962, but detailed public records confirming her birth information are limited.
Some biography sources identify her parents as Frank Addonizio and Marie Cecere and report that she grew up with a brother named James. These family details are not as widely documented as the information about her education, marriage, and children.
Reports also describe her family as having Italian-American roots. However, Diane has generally kept information about her childhood and extended family away from public attention.
Her Education at Villanova and USC
Diane attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where she studied Classical Studies. Villanova became an important part of her personal life because it was where she met her future husband, Howie Long.
After finishing her studies at Villanova, Diane continued her education in California. She attended the University of Southern California School of Law and earned a law degree.
Her education allowed her to begin a professional legal career before family life became her main focus.
Diane Addonizio’s Legal Career
After completing law school, Diane worked as a practicing attorney. Reports state that she practiced law in Los Angeles for several years.
Some sources describe her work as involving corporate and civil law, although the exact details of her legal practice are not widely documented.
Diane eventually stepped away from regular legal work while raising her children. Her husband was building a demanding NFL career at the time, and Diane became more focused on their home and three sons.
How Diane Addonizio Met Howie Long
Diane met Howie Long while they were students at Villanova University. Their relationship began before Howie became a professional football star.
Diane later spoke about their college relationship in an interview published by Sports Illustrated in 1985. She remembered Howie as physically imposing, attractive, intense, and strongly driven.
One account of their early relationship says their first real date involved Howie inviting Diane to his room to watch an NFL game on television.
The relationship continued throughout their college years and eventually led to marriage.
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long’s Marriage
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long married on June 27, 1982. Their marriage began around the same period that Howie was establishing himself as one of the leading defensive players in professional football.
They remained together while Howie built his NFL career and later moved into television.
Despite being married to a major sports figure, Diane has generally maintained a private public profile. She has occasionally attended premieres, sports-related events, and other public appearances with her husband.
Who Is Howie Long?
Howie Long is a former professional football player who became one of the most recognizable defensive players of his generation.
He spent his NFL career with the Raiders organization and became known as a defensive end. His achievements eventually earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After retiring from professional football, Howie moved into broadcasting. He became a television football analyst and remained closely connected to the NFL.
His football career also influenced the paths chosen by the couple’s children. Two of their sons became NFL players, while another worked within the professional football business.
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long’s Children
Diane and Howie Long have three sons: Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howard “Howie” Long Jr.
Their children grew up around professional football, and all three eventually developed careers connected to the sport in different ways.
Diane spent much of their childhood focused on family life after leaving regular legal practice.
Chris Long
Christopher “Chris” Long was born on March 28, 1985. He followed his father into professional football and became an NFL defensive end.
During his career, Chris played for the St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles. He later retired from professional football.
Chris has also shared family moments involving Diane publicly. In 2022, he included his mother in an Instagram post featuring her spending time with him and his sons, Waylon and Luke.
This means Diane is also a grandmother.
Kyle Long
Kyle Long was born on December 5, 1988. Like his father and older brother, he became a professional football player.
Kyle was an offensive lineman and became especially associated with the Chicago Bears during his NFL career.
He has also publicly shown appreciation for his mother. In 2020, Kyle reportedly shared a Mother’s Day post honoring Diane.
Howard “Howie” Long Jr.
Howard Long Jr., often called Howie Long Jr., did not become an NFL player like his father and brothers.
Instead, he pursued work on the business side of professional football. Reports have linked him with the Raiders organization in roles involving premium sales and management.
Howard Jr. reportedly attended the University of Virginia before beginning his professional career.
Some online articles incorrectly describe him as an NFL player. Available information instead indicates that his career has been connected to football through business and organizational roles.
Diane Addonizio Is Also an Author
Diane has another professional credit outside her legal background and family life.
In 2000, she released a book titled He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children.
The book focused on relationships between well-known male athletes and their children. Diane interviewed athletes and their families to explore what famous sports figures were like as fathers away from competition.
The project reportedly included around 200 photographs showing athletes with their children at home and behind the scenes. A photography team led by photographer Sam Abell worked on the images.
Diane’s interest in sports, family relationships, fatherhood, and photography reportedly helped inspire the project.
Diane Addonizio’s Public Appearances
Diane has attended several public events with Howie Long over the years, although she does not maintain the same level of public visibility as her husband.
She attended the Broken Arrow premiere in Westwood, California, in February 1996. She also appeared with Howie at the Firestorm premiere in January 1998.
In January 2015, Diane and Howie attended the Friars Club Roast of Terry Bradshaw in Phoenix, Arizona.
Much of her public exposure has come through events involving Howie or appearances in family photographs.
Where Does Diane Addonizio Live?
Diane and her family have been reported as living in Albemarle County, Virginia.
Earlier photographs also documented the family living in California while Howie was still active in professional football.
Diane has kept her current daily activities largely private, so there is limited reliable information about her present professional work.
Is Diane Addonizio on Social Media?
Diane does not appear to maintain a widely known verified public social media account.
She sometimes appears in posts shared by members of her family, particularly her sons.
Because several unofficial profiles and biography pages use her name online, accounts should not be treated as belonging to Diane unless their identity is independently verified.
Diane Addonizio’s Net Worth
Diane Addonizio’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some websites publish estimated figures, but there is not enough verified financial information to confirm her individual wealth. Her finances should also not automatically be treated as the same as Howie Long’s earnings or net worth.
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Facts About Diane Addonizio
- Diane Addonizio is from Red Bank, New Jersey.
- She studied Classical Studies at Villanova University.
- She met Howie Long while they were attending Villanova.
- She later studied law at the University of Southern California.
- Diane worked as an attorney before focusing more heavily on raising her family.
- She married Howie Long on June 27, 1982.
- They have three sons: Chris, Kyle, and Howard Long Jr.
- Chris Long and Kyle Long both became NFL players.
- Howard Long Jr. pursued a career connected to the business side of football.
- Diane became an author with the publication of He’s Just My Dad! in 2000.
- She has appeared with Howie at several public events but generally keeps her personal life private.
- Her individual net worth has not been reliably confirmed.
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