Top 70 Howie Long Quotes

I was lucky to make a lot of money in football, and broadcasting is succeeding beyond my wildest dreams, so I’m in the position to say no to a lot of things.

I was a quiet kid. I was very introverted, believe it or not. I never spoke above a whisper. I was always, ‘Yes sir.’ I was raised that way.

I know I’m lucky to be where I am.

I hate to admit it, but my family was on the back burner for a good part of my career. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I took my VCR home, ate dinner, went to my room and watched five games. Four days after the Pro Bowl, I’d be at the gym. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Football was my way out.

I just play hard-hitting football, but at least I look the opponent in the face before I hit him.

I learned about FightSMA from a family in Virginia where I live. I was immediately struck by the great fighting spirit of the children and families involved in this struggle.

I think you get used to being looked at. It used to bother me when I was young. But you get more secure with yourself at least as a man the older you get.

There is no easy way to greatness in any venue. But if you work hard, good things will inevitably happen to you.

I have all the socks and underwear I need.

I come hard every play.

Run into other people for 20 years, you’re gonna have pain. But I’d do it all again… It’s like I say to my kids: ‘Good things that happen are often a byproduct of a sacrifice you’ve made.’

It’s important for kids to realize nothing is given to you.

I enjoy what I do on the field. In fact, I need it. But I don’t have a problem separating my on-field life from my off-field life.

The head coach is the director, the quarterback is the lead actor and the offensive linemen are the grips.

There are always guys that give you a glimpse of the future. Maybe Gene Upshaw. Ted Hendricks. Lawrence Taylor was a glimpse of the future. Kellen Winslow was a glimpse of the future. Mike Haynes.

I’m a Catholic.

I don’t really miss football anymore. I played for a long time, and played it well.

My family members were always there and I was very fortunate for that I mean, I played hockey growing up. That was the sport everyone in Charlestown played back then, and I had skates and the equipment, but I was growing so fast, it became hard to afford new stuff every year. But hockey was it for me.

My philosophy with Hollywood is the same as when I played ball. I try to bring everything I know to whatever I do. If I fail, then it’s not for lack of trying.

I was a big kid who never played any organized sports. You played a lot of sports in the streets and I excelled at that, but I was never confident enough to go out for Little League. I was afraid I might get cut, or I might not be able to hit the ball.

Philadelphia is a football town. Boston is a baseball town.

Some teams hold a little more than others. It’s an art, but it’s not an art I appreciate.

I have this dying desire to be on top. I’m paranoid about it. It’s almost a sickness.

You don’t have to sell the fact that a football player has toughness.

As a kid, my goal was survival.

I won’t have the sacks of a Mark Gastineau and I won’t get all those pursuit tackles. Our responsibilities are different. He’s allowed to freelance all over the field. I have back-side responsibility. I have to play the reverses and cutbacks. Let me know when Gastineau decides to play the run.

I was a street kid, but that meant hopping a ride on the back of the MTA down to Revere Beach – that’s the beach that’s made out of concrete – or sneaking into the Boston Garden to watch the Celtics or the Bruins.

As a broadcaster, I’ve always taken the approach that I want to be informed. I want to understand. It’s easy to mail it in and throw a take out there.

I really did retire to spend more time with my boys.

When I played, I thought I was one of the 10 baddest guys in the world and should change for work in a phone booth. You need to think that way.

You have to lead by example – my 80th play has to look the same as my first play.

When Hall of Fame voters decide who is inducted, it’s a really difficult process. Players have to have an advocate in the room, and it’s typically their own local beat writer.

I really enjoy my time in Montana.

I’m far more nervous watching my kids play than when I played myself.

What it comes down to is, people either want to watch what you’re doing or they don’t.

For a while here in L.A., we had a problem with the wave. They didn’t quite know when to wave.

We had barracuda jackets and alligator shirts with the collars up. We were wearing the collar up before it was cool.

The Raiders hit straight up. And thats the way we expect to get hit.

When I talk to kids, I have a theme: If you work hard, life is easy.

I really don’t know what would have happened if my uncle hadn’t taken me in. He took a hoodlum and turned him into a student-athlete from Milford.

My poor wife, we stopped on the way back to the suite after our wedding reception so I could pick up a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread. I mean, I’m not a real exciting guy.

Growing up in Charlestown, we didn’t have money, but we weren’t poor either.

The beauty of having played pro football for so long is that people haven’t seen me angry, overly happy or despondent – the range of emotions a human being shows.

I usually wear my Hall of Fame ring on a more regular basis because it is more like a college ring. It is a little more understated. The Super Bowl ring is kind of loud, but I take great pride in those two things.

Lack of enthusiasm in the stands tends to be less inspirational on the field. It doesn’t send the chills down your spine. It’s not that magic moment that you dream about growing up.

Do I miss the players? Do I miss the smell of the stadiums? Do I miss the adrenaline that comes from being there? I miss that a lot.

I used to live at Jack-in-the-Box.

Some guys, when they retire, they say they’re doing it to spend more time with their family and then they do five other things.

The week of the Super Bowl takes on a carnival atmosphere. There are so many media commitments. There are so many NFL commitments, buses being shuttled from here to there. You are practicing at unfamiliar places. You are asked to do things that are outside of the norm of your typical game week.

I’m happiest when I’m in a helmet.

God gave me good people around me, and He gave me size. It’s kind of a miracle, really.

I was sick a lot, and doctors told my grandmother I’d never grow up to be big and strong. Isn’t that ironic?

I went to Villanova.

I’m a nervous dad.

I played 13 years. I did quite well in professional football. Therefore, I do not need.

I think people who had made the transition from sports into film, the mistake that they made in the past, they tried to be too much. They tried be the guy in the film.

I don’t think I had one personal foul in my career. Now, that being said, no one can ever say I never brought it.

The identity of the Raiders was linked to Oakland, and the identity of Oakland was linked to the Raiders. They’re synonymous. It’s one and the same.

I’d never played on a team until high school. It gave me a sense of belonging, a focus, and helped build my confidence. I liked the feeling of accomplishment and the respect. Sports ideally teach discipline and commitment. They challenge you and build character for everything you do in life.

When I was playing football, I was offered little parts in movies, but I always said ‘No, thanks.’ It didn’t seem to be the right time.

I don’t believe in beating people up just for the sake of grabbing a headline.

I’ve always been a nice guy, but let’s face it football’s a mean game.

For me, coaching in the NFL doesn’t fit. I coach high-school football, so I get my fix.

Unfortunately, everyone thought that Teri Hatcher was my wife. Matter of fact, I would be with my wife, holding my wife’s hand at a football game, and someone would come up to me and say, ‘Hey, I love those commercials you do with your wife.’ My kids almost had shirts made up that said, ‘Teri Hatcher is not my mom.’

You can recover from a concussion in a week. But a knee injury can end your career.

It’s not like I’m a Buddhist or anything, but I think we’ve all got, to a certain extent, a predestined life. My journey took me from Boston to Philadelphia to Oakland to Los Angeles and then as a broadcaster. I’ve been fortunate.

When I left for Milford I was in the 10th grade and had never read a book from cover to cover. From the fifth grade on I felt if you studied intently something was wrong. The coolest kid in class was regarded as the leader and you fell in behind him or you were frowned upon… and whatever else that entailed.

I was an average football player in college.

Professional athletes, like it or not, have a responsibility to the kids of America.

Teams are often times a reflection of their coach both on the field and in the media.