Ken Long

{{Short description|American football player (1953–2023)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

|name=Ken Long

|number=65

|position=Guard

|birth_date={{Birth date|1953|7|24|mf=y}}

|birth_place=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|2023|12|7|1953|7|24}}

|height_ft=6

|weight_lb=265

|height_in=3

|high_school=Ravenna (OH)

|college=Purdue

|draftyear=1976

|draftround=2

|draftpick=44

|pastteams=* Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1976|1977}})

|highlights=* Second-team All-American (1975)

• Second-team All-Big Ten (1975)

|statlabel1=Games played

|statvalue1=13

|statlabel2=Games started

|statvalue2=0

|pfr=LongKe20

}}

Kenneth Donald Long (July 24, 1953 – December 7, 2023) was an American football player. He played guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) after playing college football at Purdue University.{{cite web|title=Ken Long|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LongKe20.htm|publisher=Pro Football Reference|access-date=September 7, 2015}} He was drafted by the Lions with the 44th pick of the second round of the 1976 NFL draft. He did not sign a contract with the Lions until shortly before the 1976 preseason.{{cite news|title=Lions Finally Sign Long|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19760727&id=fQYuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CawFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3538,2336297&hl=en|newspaper=The Argus-Press|page=15|date=July 27, 1976|access-date=September 7, 2015}} He played 13 games for the Lions in 1976 and returned two kickoffs for 18 yards. He was placed on the injured reserve list before the 1977 season.{{cite news|title=Lions Cut 3, Including Walton|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19770913&id=5700AAAAIBAJ&sjid=iKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3689,985749&hl=en|date=September 13, 1977|newspaper=The Argus-Press|page=15|access-date=September 7, 2015}} Long died on December 7, 2023, at the age of 70.[https://www.sscfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Kenneth-Long Obituary of Kenneth Donald Long], sscfuneralhomes.com