Kyle Long
{{Short description|American football player (born 1988)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kyle Long
| image = Kyle Long.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Long with the Chicago Bears in 2019
| number = 75
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|12|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Ivy, Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school = St. Anne's-Belfield {{nowrap|(Charlottesville, Virginia)}}
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 313
| college = {{ubl|Florida State (2008)|Saddleback (2010–2011)|Oregon (2012)}}
| draftyear = 2013
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 20
| pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2021}})
| status =
| highlights = * Second-team All-Pro (2014)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 77
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 76
| pfr = L/LongKy00
}}
Kyle Howard Long (born December 5, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a guard for seven seasons with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long and the younger brother of former defensive end Chris Long, he played college football for the Oregon Ducks following a stint with the Florida State Seminoles. He was selected by the Bears in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2006 |title=NFL Draft Scout |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=124076&draftyear=2013&genpos=OT |access-date=April 26, 2013 |publisher=NFL Draft Scout}}{{Cite web |title=CBS NFL Draft |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1996164/kyle-long |access-date=April 26, 2013 |work=CBS Sports}}
During his Bears tenure, Long was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls and one second-team All-Pro. After retiring in 2019, he returned with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2021 season, but did not play with them due to injuries. Long was named among the 100 greatest Bears of All-Time in 2019.
Early life
Long was born in Ivy, Virginia.{{Cite web |last=Pompei |first=Dan |date=2013-04-27 |title=All in the family for Longs |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/04/27/all-in-the-family-for-longs-2/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US |issn=1085-6706}} He attended St. Anne's-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Virginia. He played both baseball and football. He was selected to the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.{{cite web | last=Nemec | first=Andrew | title=Oregon Ducks football recruiting: How have U.S. Army All-Americans fared in Eugene? | website=OregonLive | date=2016-01-09 | url=https://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/2016/01/oregon_ducks_football_recruiti_9.html | access-date=2025-04-27}} He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 23rd round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and honored his commitment to Florida State University.{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2008 |title=Chicago White Sox Draft Kyle Long |url=http://www.newsplex.com/sports/headlines/19617739.html |access-date=April 26, 2013 |publisher=Newsplex.com |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202172700/http://www.newsplex.com/sports/headlines/19617739.html |url-status=dead }}
College career
In January 2009, Long left Florida State for academic reasons following an arrest for DWI.{{Cite web |last=Barnes III |first=Lindsay |date=January 8, 2009 |title=Kyle Long, son of Howie, busted for DWI, leaves college |url=http://www.readthehook.com/73171/kyle-long-son-howie-busted-dwi-leaves-college |access-date=April 26, 2013 |newspaper=The Hook}} In 2010, Long enrolled at Saddleback College, a community college in Mission Viejo, California, and returned to playing football. During his first year he played defensive end, recording 16 tackles and one quarterback sack. In 2011, he switched to the offensive line. On December 18, 2011, he committed to play for the Oregon Ducks football team, and subsequently transferred to the University of Oregon.{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2011 |title=Kyle Long commits to Oregon |url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/sports/article_ca605729-c7bd-5bf8-8d22-330a24c8bd17.html |access-date=April 26, 2013 |publisher=Dailyprogress.com}} During the 2012 season, he started six of twelve games for the Ducks on the offensive line. He appealed for an extra year of college eligibility, but his appeal was denied by the NCAA.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Ted |title=NCAA denies Oregon OG Long's appeal |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/51389/ncaa-denies-oregon-og-longs-appeal |access-date=April 26, 2013 |work=ESPN|date=December 19, 2012 }} On March 9, 2024 Long was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6+1/8
| weight = 313
| dash = 4.94
| ten split =
| twenty split =
| shuttle = 4.63
| cone drill = 7.83
| vertical = 28
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 11
| bench =
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 33+3/8
| hand span = 11
| note = All values from NFL Scouting Combine{{Cite web |title=Kyle Long Draft Profile |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/kyle-long?id=2539933 |access-date=April 25, 2013 |website=National Football League}}
}}
=Chicago Bears=
Long was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 20th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Farrar |first=Doug |date=April 25, 2013 |title=Chicago Bears select Oregon OT Kyle Long with the 20th overall pick |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/chicago-bears-select-oregon-ot-kyle-long-20th-023204368--nfl.html |access-date=April 25, 2013 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports}} He was the first guard to be drafted by the team in the first round since Roger Davis in 1960.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=April 29, 2013 |title=Who was last guard Bears picked in first round? |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalk-talk/article-1/Who-was-last-guard-Bears-picked-in-first-round/a5dc84a1-378f-478c-95f5-c05c0689ed71 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127203236/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalk-talk/article-1/Who-was-last-guard-Bears-picked-in-first-round/a5dc84a1-378f-478c-95f5-c05c0689ed71 |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |access-date=April 30, 2013 |publisher=Chicago Bears}} Long signed on May 17, the last member of Chicago's 2013 draft class to do so.{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2013 |title=Bears Sign Four-Year Deal With Draft Pick Kyle Long |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/05/17/bears-sign-four-year-deal-with-kyle-long/ |access-date=May 17, 2013 |website=WBBM-TV}}
Long attended the rookie minicamp from May 10–12, but missed much of the offseason program due to a league rule prohibiting rookies from working out until their college class graduates. He returned to team activities on June 17.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=June 20, 2013 |title=Long thrilled to rejoin fellow rookies at Halas Hall |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-thrilled-to-rejoin-fellow-rookies-at-Halas-Hall/0e166c35-e587-4102-9477-0e78cc17745d |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623210652/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-thrilled-to-rejoin-fellow-rookies-at-Halas-Hall/0e166c35-e587-4102-9477-0e78cc17745d |archive-date=June 23, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2013 |publisher=Chicago Bears}} Long started the 2013 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals at right guard, becoming the first rookie in team history to start a season opener at the position in the Super Bowl era.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=September 5, 2013 |title=Kyle Long focusing on task at hand |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Kyle-Long-focusing-on-task-at-hand/48c33cc4-93c0-4f06-b784-d9e1c19acf6c |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109014903/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Kyle-Long-focusing-on-task-at-hand/48c33cc4-93c0-4f06-b784-d9e1c19acf6c |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=September 5, 2013 |publisher=Chicago Bears}} On January 8, 2014, Long was named to Pro Football Focus' All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=January 8, 2014 |title=Long named to PFF All-Rookie Team |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-named-to-PFF-All-Rookie-Team/f1d360be-db5b-4d85-b8b8-ded4a3ac6af0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109014955/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-named-to-PFF-All-Rookie-Team/f1d360be-db5b-4d85-b8b8-ded4a3ac6af0 |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Chicago Bears}} He was subsequently named to NFL.com's All-Rookie Team on January 15.{{Cite web |last=Brandt |first=Gil |date=January 15, 2014 |title=Eddie Lacy, Keenan Allen, Ziggy Ansah make All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/eddie-lacy-keenan-allen-ziggy-ansah-make-all-rookie-team-0ap2000000313808 |access-date=January 16, 2014 |publisher=National Football League}} On January 20, 2014, he earned a spot in the 2014 Pro Bowl due to the injury of original Pro Bowl left guard Mike Iupati in the 2014 NFC Championship Game.{{Cite news |last=Biggs |first=Brad |date=January 20, 2014 |title=Bears' Jennings, Long named to Pro Bowl |work=Chicago Tribune |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-bears-tim-jennings-pro-bowl-20140120,0,1774021.story |access-date=January 20, 2014}} Long became the first Bears rookie to make the Pro Bowl since Johnny Knox in 2009. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2013.htm |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
He made the Pro Bowl again following the 2014 season and was also named as a second-team All-Pro guard.
At the start of the 2015 season, Long made the switch from guard to tackle. He started all 16 regular season games in 2015 and was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.
On March 10, 2016, the Bears signed right tackle Bobby Massie from the Arizona Cardinals, and Long was moved back to guard.{{Cite web |last=Dickerson |first=Jeff |date=March 10, 2016 |title=Chicago Bears' Kyle Long embraces move back to right guard |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4702152/kyle-long-embraces-move-back-to-right-guard |access-date=April 22, 2016 |publisher=ESPN}} On April 15, 2016, the Bears exercised the fifth-year option on Long's rookie deal, a move that would have kept Long under his original contract through 2017.{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |title=Bears exercise contract option to keep Kyle Long through 2017 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-kyle-long-contract-20160415-story.html |access-date=May 5, 2016 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=April 15, 2016 }}
On September 7, 2016, Long signed a four-year $40 million contract extension with the Bears through 2021.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=September 7, 2016 |title=Long inks new deal through 2021 |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-inks-new-deal-through-2021/ec37fe2b-d570-458e-a39a-e62d957b88f8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910042704/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-inks-new-deal-through-2021/ec37fe2b-d570-458e-a39a-e62d957b88f8 |archive-date=September 10, 2016 |access-date=September 11, 2016 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}
Long suffered multiple injuries during the 2016 season. He played the first seven games of the season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.{{Cite news |last=Schefter |first=Adam |date=September 11, 2016 |title=Bears guard Kyle Long to play season with torn labrum in left shoulder |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17519458/chicago-bears-guard-kyle-long-play-season-torn-labrum-left-shoulder |access-date=November 14, 2016}} He missed the Bears' Week 8 contest against the Minnesota Vikings due to a strained triceps.{{Cite news |date=October 31, 2016 |title=Bears' Long, Sitton out for Vikings game because of injuries |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2016/10/31/bears-long-sitton-out-for-vikings-game-because-of-injuries/93092264/ |access-date=November 14, 2016}} Long then severely injured his right ankle two weeks later against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was carted off the field.{{Cite news |last=Neveau |first=James |date=November 14, 2016 |title=Kyle Long Out for Rest of Season: Report |work=NBC Chicago |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Kyle-Long-Out-for-Rest-of-Season-Report-401164026.html |access-date=November 14, 2016}} He was placed on injured reserve on November 15.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=November 15, 2016 |title=Bears put Long on IR, activate Wilson |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Bears-put-Long-on-IR-activate-Wilson/7370850b-7fb8-43ff-8cc8-76ebe5349508 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905001243/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Bears-put-Long-on-IR-activate-Wilson/7370850b-7fb8-43ff-8cc8-76ebe5349508 |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}
On December 5, 2017, Long was placed on injured reserve after aggravating a shoulder injury in Week 13, while also being bothered by ankle and finger injuries throughout the season.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=December 5, 2017 |title=Bears put veterans Long, Unrein on IR |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-put-veterans-long-unrein-on-ir-19913484 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}
File:Kyle Long 2019 (cropped).jpg with the Bears]]
Long started the first eight games of the 2018 season, but suffered a foot injury in Week 8 against the New York Jets and was ruled out 6–8 weeks just a few days later. He was placed on injured reserve on November 3, 2018.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=November 3, 2018 |title=Bears place Long on IR, promote Mizzell |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-place-long-on-ir-promote-mizzell |website=ChicagoBears.com}} He was activated off injured reserve on December 29, 2018.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=December 29, 2018 |title=Roster Moves: Long activated for regular-season finale |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-long-activated-for-regular-season-finale |website=ChicagoBears.com}}
Early in 2019, Long suffered a hip injury that forced him to miss the Week 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings.{{Cite news |last=Finley |first=Patrick |date=September 29, 2019 |title=Bears' Akiem Hicks, Roquan Smith, Kyle Long out against Vikings |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2019/9/29/20889687/bears-vikings-outakiem-hicks-roquan-smith-kyle-long-mike-davis |access-date=September 29, 2019}} Although he returned for the following week's Oakland Raiders game, the injury persisted and he was placed on injured reserve on October 14.{{Cite news |date=October 14, 2019 |title=Bears put Kyle Long on IR, promote Abdullah Anderson |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=AP |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/bears-put-kyle-long-on-ir-promote-abdullah-anderson/2019/10/14/573c1526-eeac-11e9-bb7e-d2026ee0c199_story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014180546/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/bears-put-kyle-long-on-ir-promote-abdullah-anderson/2019/10/14/573c1526-eeac-11e9-bb7e-d2026ee0c199_story.html |archive-date=October 14, 2019}}
Long announced his retirement from professional football on January 6, 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-06 |title=Bears guard Long, 31, 'stepping away' from NFL |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28430075/bears-guard-kyle-long-31-steps-away-game-7-seasons |access-date=2020-01-06 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Bears declined his contract option for 2020, making him an unrestricted free agent on March 18, 2020.{{Cite web |title=NFL Transactions March 2020 |url=http://www.nfl.com/transactions?transactionMonth=3&transactionYear=2020&transactionTeamAbbr= |access-date=March 22, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
On March 18, 2021, Long signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, after deciding to come out of retirement.{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Chiefs Sign Guard Kyle Long |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-sign-guard-kyle-long |website=Chiefs.com}} He injured his knee during OTAs on June 10.{{Cite web |title=Former Bear Kyle Long injured in OTAs |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/chiefs-kyle-long-suffered-leg-injury-otas |website=NBCSports.com|date=June 10, 2021 }} Long was placed on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) on August 31, due to the injury.{{Cite web |title=Chiefs Announce Roster Moves to Meet NFL-Mandated 53 Players |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-announce-roster-moves-to-meet-nfl-mandated-53-players |website=Chiefs.com}} He was activated on November 30. Long was put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on December 21.{{cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs add Tyreek Hill, 6 others to reserve/COVID-19 list |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32918325/kansas-city-chiefs-add-tyreek-hill-reserve-covid-19-list-sources-say |website=ESPN|date=December 21, 2021 }} He was activated on December 27.{{cite web |title=Latest update on Chiefs' COVID-19 situation heading into Week 17 |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/27/kansas-city-chiefs-covd-19-nick-bolton-kyle-long-lucas-niang-gehrig-dieter-activated/ |website=USA Today|date=December 27, 2021 }} Long did not play a single snap for the Chiefs, largely due to his knee injury and the emergence of rookie guard Trey Smith.
Personal life
Long is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long and the younger brother of retired defensive end Chris Long.{{Cite web |title=The Long Family {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2013/06/news-the-long-family |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814034708/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2013/06/news-the-long-family/ |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=pfhof |language=en}}
He is a part-owner of esports team Mode Motorsports in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series,{{Cite press release |title=Kyle Long and Mode Motorsports to join the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series |date=March 8, 2019 |publisher=Speedway Digest |url=https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/48725-kyle-long-and-mode-motorsports-to-join-the-enascar-peak-antifreeze-iracing-series |access-date=August 24, 2020 |work=Mode Motorsports}} and as of September 16, 2020, co-hosts (with Paul Swan) a weekly talk show on NASCAR.com's YouTube channel.{{Cite press release |title=Kyle Long, Paul Swan to host weekly show on NASCAR's YouTube channel |date=September 15, 2020 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/09/15/kyle-long-paul-swan-to-host-weekly-show-on-nascars-youtube-channel/ |access-date=September 18, 2020 |work=NASCAR.com}} In 2020, Long became a studio analyst for CBS Sports Network's That Other Pregame Show.{{Cite press release |title=Kyle Long Named Studio Analyst for "That Other Pregame Show" |date=August 24, 2020 |url=https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports-network/releases/view?id=55812 |access-date=August 24, 2020 |work=ViacomCBS |archive-date=August 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825115226/https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports-network/releases/view?id=55812 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205504199 Oregon Ducks bio]
- [https://archive.today/20130203015300/http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/long_kyle00.html Florida State Seminoles bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110528024132/http://www.saddleback.edu/athletics/Football/10klong.html Saddleback College Gauchos bio]
{{2013 NFL Draft}}
{{BearsFirstPick}}
{{Bears2013DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Long, Kyle}}
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:Oregon Ducks football players
Category:Saddleback Gauchos football players
Category:People from Ivy, Virginia
Category:Players of American football from Virginia
Category:Unconferenced Pro Bowl players