Diane Addonizio (also known as Diane Long) is an American attorney, author, and philanthropist best known as the wife of Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long. But she is far more than a football spouse. She earned a law degree from USC, was admitted to the California Bar in 1987, wrote the book He’s Just My Dad!, and raised three sons who built careers in the NFL: Chris, Kyle, and Howie Jr. Despite belonging to one of football’s most famous families, she keeps a private life. This guide covers her age, education, career, family, charity work, and the facts that are confirmed versus only reported.
Diane Addonizio Quick Bio (At a Glance)
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Diane T. Addonizio (publicly known as Diane Long) |
| Date of birth | Reported as March 1962 (exact day disputed) |
| Age | About 64 (2026) |
| Birthplace | Red Bank, New Jersey (reported) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Villanova University (BA, 1982); USC Gould School of Law (JD, 1986) |
| Profession | Former attorney, author, philanthropist |
| Husband | Howie Long |
| Married | 1982 |
| Children | Chris Long, Kyle Long, Howie Long Jr. |
| Book | He’s Just My Dad! (2000) |
| Known for | Law career, authorship, charity work, Long family |
Who Is Diane Addonizio?
Diane Addonizio is a Villanova and USC-educated lawyer who became widely known through her marriage to Howie Long, the Raiders defensive lineman inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. She is also the mother of two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Long and former Chicago Bears lineman Kyle Long. Her own résumé, covering law, writing, and nonprofit leadership, sets her apart from many celebrity spouses.
Diane Addonizio vs. Diane Long: Same Person?
Yes. Addonizio is her maiden name. Since marrying, she has used Diane Long professionally. Her book is credited to “Diane Long,” and Villanova refers to her as Diane T. Long. Searching either name leads to the same person.
Diane Addonizio Age and Date of Birth
How Old Is Diane Addonizio in 2026?
Most biography sites say she was born in 1962, which makes her about 64 in 2026. Some give March 16, 1962, while others say March 1, 1962.
Why Her Birth Date Is Reported but Not Officially Confirmed
No official source, including Villanova, has published her birthday. Because the day varies between sites, treat the 1962 birth year as likely and the exact date as unverified. Her 1982 college graduation fits that timeline.
Early Life and Family Background
Born in Red Bank, New Jersey
Many biographies place her birth in Red Bank, a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey. She has given few interviews about her childhood, so details remain thin.
Diane Addonizio’s Parents
Public records and obituary reports connect her to Frank Addonizio and Marie Cecere. She has not publicly discussed her parents at length, so avoid adding unsourced details.
Diane Addonizio Education
Villanova University (Classical Studies, 1982)
According to Villanova, Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies in 1982. The major combines ancient languages, history, and philosophy, which are strong foundations for law.
USC Gould School of Law (JD, 1986)
She then earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law in 1986, four years after graduating from Villanova.
Diane Addonizio’s Legal Career
Admitted to the California Bar in 1987
Villanova reports she was admitted to the California Bar in 1987 and practiced law for several years. Specific firms and cases are not publicly documented, so be careful with claims beyond that.
Is Diane Addonizio Still a Lawyer?
She is generally described as a former or non-practicing attorney. Her public work since then has centered on family, writing, and nonprofit service.
How Diane Addonizio Met Howie Long
The Villanova Connection
Both attended Villanova in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Howie played for the Wildcats from 1977 to 1980, and several biographies say the couple began dating there, though the exact story is mostly secondhand.
Marriage in 1982
They married in 1982, the year after the Raiders drafted him. Some sites give June 27, 1982 as the date, but that detail is not confirmed by a primary source.
Diane Addonizio and Howie Long’s Marriage
Life During the Raiders Years
Howie spent all 13 of his NFL seasons (1981-1993) with the Raiders in Oakland and Los Angeles. The couple started their family during that period, which meant training camps, travel, and constant media attention.
Howie Long’s Hall of Fame Career (Class of 2000)
Howie was the 48th overall pick in the 1981 draft. He earned eight Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro honors, a Super Bowl XVIII ring, and a spot on the 1980s All-Decade Team. The Hall of Fame credits him with 84 official sacks, plus 7.5 more from 1981 before sacks were official. He was enshrined on July 29, 2000.
Howie Long’s TV Career
Howie later became a studio analyst on Fox NFL Sunday and appeared in films, extending the family’s public profile while Diane stayed largely behind the scenes.
Diane Addonizio’s Children: Meet the Long Sons
Chris Long (Two-Time Super Bowl Champion, Walter Payton Man of the Year)
Chris was the second overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Rams. He later won Super Bowl LI with the Patriots and Super Bowl LII with the Eagles, a rare back-to-back with different teams. He retired in 2019 after 11 seasons with about 70 career sacks. He won the 2018 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award after donating his entire 2017 salary to charity and founded the Chris Long Foundation in 2015.
Kyle Long (Chicago Bears, Three-Time Pro Bowler)
Kyle was drafted 20th overall by the Bears in 2013 out of Oregon and became a three-time Pro Bowl lineman.
Howie Long Jr. (Raiders Front Office)
The youngest son works behind the scenes in player personnel for the Las Vegas Raiders, keeping a lower public profile than his brothers.
Mother of Three NFL-Connected Sons
All three sons built careers in the NFL, a distinction few families can claim. Chris has also spoken about growing up around Charlottesville’s Boys & Girls Club, where his mother served on the board.
Diane Addonizio as an Author: He’s Just My Dad!
What the Book Is About
Published by Harper Entertainment in 2000, He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children is a 164-page hardcover pairing portraits of famous athletes with their kids. John Grisham wrote the foreword and NBA star David Robinson the afterword. The book is now out of print, though used copies remain available.
Why the Book Matters to Her Story
Who better to explain life as a famous athlete’s child than a mother raising three of them? The book shows her interest in the private side of sports fame.
Diane Addonizio’s Charity Work and Public Service
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia
Villanova describes her as a longtime board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia, which serve roughly 2,500 children. She has also co-chaired the Milbank Society for the Central Virginia clubs.
Capital Campaign in Charlottesville
She served as Honorary Chair of the capital campaign to build a new Boys & Girls Club facility in Charlottesville.
NFL Heads Up Football Advisory Committee
Villanova also notes her service on the NFL Heads Up Football Advisory Committee, which promotes safer youth football.
Connection to the Chris Long Foundation
Her board work and her son’s foundation overlap in Charlottesville. In 2017, Chris funded scholarships for Boys & Girls Club kids from his hometown, showing how the family’s giving runs through the same community.
In 2015, Diane and Howie also committed $1 million to Villanova, funding the Howie Long Strength Training Center. The school named its annual defensive player of the year award after Howie.
Diane Addonizio Net Worth
What Can Be Verified
No reliable source has verified her net worth. The one documented financial figure is the $1 million Villanova gift in 2015, made jointly with her husband.
Why Online Net Worth Estimates Are Unreliable
Websites float figures from $500,000 to $1 million with no supporting evidence. Several of these sites also contain clear errors, such as calling her an actress or model or claiming she founded a “Howie Long Foundation.” Nothing in Villanova’s account supports those claims.
Howie Long’s Reported Net Worth (Context)
Howie’s net worth is commonly estimated at around $16 million. Like all celebrity estimates, it is unverified and should be read as a rough guide.
Diane Addonizio Social Media: Is She Online?
She has no verified public social media presence. Be cautious with accounts using her name, as many are fan or fake profiles.
Diane Addonizio’s Personal Life and Privacy
Where Does She Live Today?
Reports consistently link the family to the Charlottesville, Virginia area, where she has done community work for years. Her exact address is private and not worth speculating about.
Why She Stays Out of the Spotlight
She has never courted attention. Her public roles are tied to causes and the family, not celebrity.
Diane Addonizio Today (2026)
In 2026, she remains private, with no major interviews or media ventures. Her name appears mostly in coverage of the Long family, her book, and her Central Virginia charity work.
Fact Check: Confirmed vs. Reported Details
| Detail | Status | Source |
| BA in Classical Studies, Villanova, 1982 | Confirmed | Villanova University |
| JD, USC Gould School of Law, 1986 | Confirmed | Villanova University |
| Admitted to California Bar, 1987 | Confirmed | Villanova University |
| Author of He’s Just My Dad! (2000) | Confirmed | Publisher and book reviews |
| Boys & Girls Clubs board member | Confirmed | Villanova University |
| Three sons in the NFL | Confirmed | NFL.com, Villanova |
| Married in 1982 | Widely reported | Biographies |
| Exact wedding date (June 27) | Unverified | Secondary sites |
| Birth date (March 1962) | Unverified | Secondary sites |
| Born in Red Bank, NJ | Reported | Biographies |
| Net worth ($500K-$1M) | Unverified | Secondary sites |
| Actress or model; Howie Long Foundation | Not supported | Contradicted by Villanova’s account |
Quick Facts About Diane Addonizio (Key Takeaways)
- She is a former attorney with a 1986 JD from USC Gould School of Law.
- She earned a Villanova BA in Classical Studies in 1982.
- She was admitted to the California Bar in 1987.
- She married Howie Long in 1982.
- Her book He’s Just My Dad! was published in 2000.
- She has three sons: Chris, Kyle, and Howie Jr.
- She is a longtime Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia board member.
- She and Howie gave $1 million to Villanova in 2015.
- Her age and net worth are reported, not confirmed.
- She keeps a private life and has no verified social media.
Why Do People Search for Diane Addonizio?
People want to know who Howie Long’s wife is, how old she is, and how she raised two Super Bowl-level sons. Others are curious about the lawyer-turned-author behind a famous football family.
Conclusion
Diane Addonizio’s story is one of education, family, and service. A Villanova graduate and USC-trained lawyer, she wrote a book about athletes’ children, raised three NFL sons, and spent years supporting youth programs in Central Virginia. Much online about her age, wealth, and past is repeated without proof, so stick to documented facts. The verified record shows a capable woman who built her own legacy away from the spotlight.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Diane Addonizio
Who is Diane Addonizio?
She is an American former attorney, author, and philanthropist, and the wife of Hall of Famer Howie Long.
Is Diane Addonizio a lawyer?
Yes. She earned her JD from USC in 1986 and was admitted to the California Bar in 1987. She is generally described as no longer practicing.
How old is Diane Addonizio?
She is reported to have been born in 1962, making her about 64 in 2026. The exact birth date is unconfirmed.
When did Diane Addonizio marry Howie Long?
They married in 1982.
How many children does Diane Addonizio have?
She has three sons.
What are the names of Diane Addonizio’s sons?
Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr.
Did Diane Addonizio write a book?
Yes. He’s Just My Dad!: Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children was published in 2000, with a foreword by John Grisham.
Where did Diane Addonizio go to school?
She attended Villanova University (BA, 1982) and USC Gould School of Law (JD, 1986).
Where was Diane Addonizio born?
Most sources say Red Bank, New Jersey, though official confirmation is limited.
What is Diane Addonizio’s net worth?
It is not verified. Online estimates range from $500,000 to $1 million, but none are backed by reliable sources.
Is Diane Addonizio on social media?
No verified personal accounts are known, so treat profiles using her name with caution.
Is Diane Addonizio related to Chris Long and Kyle Long?
Yes. She is their mother, and Howie Long is their father.
