Inside The Life Of Diane Addonizio: All About The Wife of Howie Long

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  • Post last modified:March 1, 2023
Inside The Life Of Diane Addonizio: All About The Wife of Howie Long
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Diane Addonizio is a non-practicing lawyer and a businesswoman; much more famous as the wife of NFL formal defensive end and actor Howie Long. Long and Addonizio have been together for almost four decades during the course of which they became parents to three children.

All of Addonizio’s children are grown now and doing fine in their respective careers. Find out more about Diane’s parents, education, career, and many other details in the article below.

Full Summary

Full NameDiane Addonizio
Date of BirthMarch 16, 1962
Age61
Zodiac SignPisces
ReligionChristianity
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityCaucasian
ParentsFrank Addonizio (father) and Maria Cecere (mother)
Height5ft 10in
Weight67kg
Body Measurement34-24-34
Hair ColorBlonde
Eye ColorBrown
Net Worth$2 million
HusbandHowie Long
ChildrenThree sons (Chris, Kyle, & Howie Long Jr.)
ProfessionLawyer

Diane Addonizio’s Early Life; Her Father Was Diagnosed With Lymphoma 

Diane Addonizio was born on March 16, 1962, in Monmouth County, Town of Red Bank, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Frank Addonizio and Maria Cecere. Diane’s only sibling, a brother, James Addonizio is also into law. He, however, is a practicing lawyer.

Diane Addonizio is the wife of NFL Hall of Fame Howie Long
Diane Addonizio is the wife of NFL Hall of Fame Howie Long. Source: Facebook

Her father was a war veteran and former security director of an Indian Institute of Technology subsidiary. He allegedly was diagnosed with lymphoma in his early 80s. Diane’s father, Frank used to live in a cottage on the Longs’ 65-acre property. Her family was Catholic.

Diane Was The Winner Of A Beauty Pageant; Her School and College

Addonizio attended Red Bank High School and later enrolled at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She is the winner of the Monmouth County Beauty pageant (May 12, 1978). Diane also studied at Middletown Highschool South. During her high school years, Diane took a scholarly interest in political science as well as dramatics.

She finished her college studies with a bachelor’s degree in classical studies in 1985.

Diane then went on to study at the University of Southern California’s School of Law, where the celebrity spouse graduated with a law degree in 1987.

Diane Addonizio Is Also An Author

Addonizio wrote a book featuring athletes, not on their role in sports but on being a father. The book came with the title, He’s Just My Dad. The book was published in 2000. Diane is also a member of the NFL Head UP Football Advisory Committee.

Diane Addonizio’s Relationship With Her Husband Howie Long 

Addonizio and Howie met at Villanova University where both of them were students. The future NFL star was a one-year senior to Diane Addonizio

Howie invited Diane to come to his room and watch an NFL game together on television. It was a little 12-inch, black and white TV that Howard’s grandmother had given to him, said Howard with Vault.

Remembering the early encounters with Howie, Addonizio said she had never met anyone that big who was that good-looking.

Diane Addonizio and her husband, Howie Long attended same University
Diane Addonizio and her husband, Howie Long attended the same University. Source: Facebook

She added he was always like a volcano about to erupt, always driven. Everywhere they went, he thought people were staring at him.

Recalling the same incident Howard said they were watching a Dallas game. He added it was the time when they were still experimenting with Randy White at linebacker.

On one play he got a running start and knocked the ball carrier’s helmet off. Howie then said to Diane,

‘Wow, did you see that!

He revealed he behaved absolutely nuts in front of his future wife on their first date.

Diane Didn’t Receive Valentine’s Gifts From Howie

In the initial days of dating, Addonizio wouldn’t get any Valentine’s Day gifts from Howard which often used to make her angry. Later Howie made her understand how holidays or special days never meant anything special to him.

At Villanova when everyone went home for the holidays or the summer Howard was always the guy who stayed in the dorm. Apparently, it was his unpredictable childhood that made him reluctant to celebrate such days.

Explaining her husband’s disinterest, Diane said,

“You know how a child’s bed is special to him? Well, he never had his own. It was always a couch or something, while he was bouncing around from relative to relative. He was always living out of a suitcase, he always had his possessions on him”

They dated for several years and got engaged shortly after graduation. Howie bought an engagement ring for Diane after he had signed an NFL contract for the amount of $38,000 in 1981.

Their Wedding

The husband and wife married in June 1982. In a book, titled, A Farewell to Arms, Legs, and Jockstraps: A Sportswriter’s Memoir, Diane reveals she learned a lot about street smarts from her husband while he, in turn, learned about diplomacy from her.

Addonizio lives with her family in Albemarle County, Virginia.

Her Children; One Is A SuperBowl Winner

Howie and Addozinio are parents to three children. They welcomed their first child, a son named, Christopher Howard on 28th March 1985 in Santa Monica, California. After three years, the couple had their second son, Kyle Howard on 5th December 1988. Their youngest son, Matthew Howard, was born sometime in 1990.

All of her sons are following in their father’s footsteps in the NFL; Christopher played for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles as the NFL defensive end.

Diane Addonizio with her sons, Howard Jr (left), Chris Long (middle), and husband, Howie Long
Diane Addonizio with her sons, Howard Jr (left), Chris Long (middle), and husband, Howie Long in August 2015. Source: AP Photo/Ben Margot

The eldest son of Howard and Diane won two Super Bowls, LI, and LII first as a member of the New England Patriots and then with the Philadelphia Eagles. He last played for the Philadelphia Eagles. After the 2018 season, Chris announced his retirement on May 18, 2019.

Likewise, her second son Kyle played for the Chicago Bears of the NFL from 2013-2019. The former collegiate footballer for the University of Oregon currently serves as a guard for Kansas City Chiefs.

The youngest member of the family, Mathew is a scouting assistant and personal assistant for the Raiders. He also works as a premium sales consultant at Legends Las Vegas Stadium. He formerly used to play lacrosse at Virginia.

Howie Long's wife Diane Addonizio
Diane with her husband and son.

The Long couple also has two grandsons, Waylon James Long and Luke Redding Long from their oldest son Chris’ marriage to Megan O’Malley.

She Has Spoken About Her Sons’ Safety And Other Footballers

En route to supporting her sons in their footballing careers, Addonizio took part in a panel discussion held at the Walter Payton Center. The event was for over three hundred mothers of football players. Its major agenda was to promote football safety.

Diane has advocated several times about player safety, including an aforesaid panel discussion at the Walter Payton Center, hosted by the Chicago Bears in 2014. In the event, Diane emphasized tackling techniques from Heads Up Football as well as playing in the heat, hydration, and proper equipment.

Her Family Experienced an Earthquake

Mrs. Long lived in L.A. for 12 years with her family. Diane was a corporate lawyer while her husband played for the Raiders at that time.

However, after the Northridge 6.7 Richter scale earthquake hit the area, the family spent several sleepless nights in their Suburban.

Addonizio and her family later uprooted themselves to Charlottesville, Virginia.

What is Diane Addonizio’s Net Worth?

As of 2023, her net worth is $2 million. In the meantime, her husband Howie, who stands at the height of 6ft 5in has an estimated fortune of $16 million. And his salary was $4 million. Needless to mention, Diane has racked up a considerable amount of wealth from his football career.

FAQs

Who is Howie Long’s first wife Diane Addonizio?

His first spouse Diane is a lawyer. She graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of Law.

Are Howie Long and his wife Diane Addonizio still married?

Yes, they are still married. Coming up to 2023, it’s been over four decades since they got married and their marital relationship is going so strong.

Where did Howie Long meet his wife Diane?

Long met his spouse while at Villanova University. They are college sweethearts.

What is Diane Addonizio Height?

Her height is 5ft 10in while her husband Howie’s stature is 6ft 5in.

Where is Diane Now?

She currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with her spouse, children, and grandchildren.

Source: Celebsuburb.com

David

Narayan Shankar, who goes by the name David, is a seasoned writer and editor, who has a passion for covering the entertainment industry. He has years of experience writing content, especially in the entertainment niche. He is currently an editor and writer for celebsuburb.com along with other websites under our organization named Pandora Group of Companies.