Diane Addonizio is an American lawyer, businesswoman, and author, best known as the wife of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long. She built her own career before stepping back to raise their three sons. Diane earned a law degree from the University of Southern California and later wrote a book about family life inside professional sports. 

She married Howie Long on June 27, 1982, and the couple has stayed together for more than four decades. Diane keeps a private life away from the spotlight, but her legal training, business instincts, and steady presence have shaped one of the most respected families in football.

Who Is Diane Addonizio?

Diane Addonizio was born on March 16, 1962, in Monmouth County, near Red Bank, New Jersey. She turned 64 in 2026. Diane stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 58 kilograms.

She has golden brown hair and brown eyes. Diane is married to Howie Long and has three sons, Chris, Kyle, and Howie Long Jr. She studied at Villanova University before earning her law degree at USC Law.

Diane worked as a lawyer early in her career. She later shifted toward business and writing, publishing the book He’s Just My Dad. Reports place her net worth around $1 million, though some estimates run higher.

Early Life, Family Background, and Parents

Diane grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey, in a Catholic household. Her father, Frank Addonizio, served in the Army during World War II and the Korean War. He later worked as a security officer for an IIT subsidiary.

Her mother was Marie Cecere. Diane’s Italian-American roots come through both sides of her family, reflected in the Addonizio and Cecere names. She grew up alongside her brother James, who also became an attorney.

The family placed a strong value on education and hard work. That foundation carried into Diane’s own choices later in life, from law school to how she raised her children.

Education and Academic Background

Diane attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where she studied Classical Studies. The subject sharpened her analytical thinking and communication skills, tools she would later rely on in law school.

She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California School of Law. At the time, relatively few women pursued demanding legal careers, which made her degree a real academic achievement.

Her legal training gave her more than a job title. It shaped how she approached decisions in business and family life for decades afterward.

Meeting Howie Long and Relationship Timeline

How They Met at Villanova University

Diane and Howie Long met as students at Villanova University in the 1970s. Howie was already playing football on campus. Their friendship started casually, built on shared classes and college life rather than football fame.

Wedding Date and Marriage

The couple married on June 27, 1982, in a ceremony surrounded by family and friends. Their marriage has now lasted more than four decades, spanning Howie’s NFL career, his years as a Fox Sports analyst, and his acting roles.

Diane supported him through every stage. In turn, Howie has credited her steady presence for keeping their family grounded through the pressures of public life.

Legal Career and Law Practice

After graduating, Diane worked as a practicing attorney, focusing on corporate and civil law. Colleagues who worked with her described her as meticulous and deeply professional during that period.

When she married Howie Long, Diane stepped back from active legal practice to raise their children. She did not abandon her legal training completely, though. She used it to manage the family’s financial and legal affairs, including contracts and business matters tied to Howie’s career.

That background gave her practical influence most fans never saw. She functioned as the legal mind behind a very public career.

Business Ventures and Entrepreneurship

Beyond law, Diane built a reputation as a businesswoman. She made strategic investments over the years, though she has kept most specifics about those ventures private.

Her entrepreneurial instincts complemented her legal background. Where her law degree gave her the analytical tools, her business decisions gave her financial independence separate from Howie’s football earnings.

Author: Her Book “He’s Just My Dad!”

In 2000, Diane published He’s Just My Dad! Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children. The book explored relationships between professional athletes and their kids, drawing on her own experience inside an NFL household.

Her son Chris Long later credited both his parents for shaping his upbringing, pointing specifically to lessons about respect and dignity. The book remains her most public creative contribution, blending her legal precision with a personal look at sports culture.

Who Is Howie Long?

Howie Long was born on January 6, 1960. He is a former NFL defensive end who played for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1981 to 1993, after being selected in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft.

He earned eight Pro Bowl selections and won Super Bowl XVIII with the Raiders. The NFL Alumni Association named him Lineman of the Year twice during his career.

After retiring in 1993, Howie became a studio analyst for Fox Sports. He later added pregame and halftime analyst duties for Thursday Night Football in 2018. Howie also appeared in films, including Firestorm and Broken Arrow, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Children: Chris Long, Kyle Long, and Howie Long Jr.

Chris Long

Christopher Howard Long was born on March 28, 1985. He played 11 seasons in the NFL as a defensive end for the St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles, winning two Super Bowl titles and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Chris retired in 2019. He is married to Megan O’Malley, and the two have a son, Waylon James Long, Diane’s grandchild.

Kyle Long

Kyle Long was born on December 5, 1988. He played as an offensive guard for the Chicago Bears, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections despite battling injuries throughout his career. Kyle now works as a podcast host alongside his brother on Green Light with Chris Long.

Howie Long Jr.

Howard Long Jr. was born in 1990. Unlike his brothers, he chose the business side of football, working in operations and scouting for the Las Vegas Raiders, including a role as Manager of Premium Sales.

Physical Appearance: Height, Weight, and Style

Diane stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 58 kilograms. She has dark brown eyes and golden brown hair, and she favors a simple, understated style over flashy fashion choices.

Net Worth and Financial Life

Diane Addonizio’s estimated net worth sits around $1 million, built through her legal work, business ventures, and book royalties. Howie Long’s net worth is estimated at $16 million, drawn from his NFL career, broadcasting work, and acting roles.

Together, the couple maintains financial stability built on separate income streams rather than a single household paycheck.

Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Diane has taken part in community causes tied to youth football safety, including a panel discussion at the Walter Payton Center for parents of young players. She has also supported the Boys & Girls Club, where her son Chris Long noted she spent hands-on time with kids rather than simply organizing events from a distance.

Public Appearances and Media Presence

Diane rarely appears in the press. One notable exception was the Friars’ Club Roast of Terry Bradshaw in Phoenix, Arizona, where she joined Howie for the celebration honoring his broadcasting career.

She stays off social media entirely. Her public appearances tend to align with Howie’s professional milestones rather than personal publicity.

Clarifying Misconceptions: Ex-Wife Rumors and Teri Hatcher

Diane Addonizio is not Howie Long’s ex-wife. The two have been married since 1982 and remain together. A separate rumor connecting Howie to actress Teri Hatcher is also false. Howie Long has never been married to Teri Hatcher, and no credible source supports that claim.

Does Diane Addonizio Have a Wikipedia Page?

Diane does not have a dedicated Wikipedia page. Details about her life instead appear across biographical sites and articles focused on Howie Long and their family, compiled from interviews and public records rather than a single verified profile.

Current Life in Albemarle County, Virginia

Diane and Howie now live in Albemarle County, Virginia. She continues to support their sons’ careers and helps manage behind-the-scenes responsibilities tied to Howie’s broadcasting work, while staying involved in community and philanthropic activities close to home.

Legacy, Influence, and Achievements

Diane’s clearest achievement is the family she helped build. Two of her three sons reached the NFL, and all three carried forward the values she and Howie instilled early on. Her decision to step back from law rather than abandon it entirely shaped a household that balanced ambition with stability for more than 40 years.

Conclusion

Diane Addonizio’s story goes well beyond being Howie Long’s wife. She built a legal career, raised three accomplished sons, wrote a book grounded in her own experience, and kept her family stable through decades in the public eye. Her choices reflect a deliberate balance between personal ambition and family life, one that has held steady since 1982.

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FAQs

Is Diane Addonizio Howie Long’s ex-wife? 

No, Diane Addonizio is not Howie Long’s ex-wife. They married in 1982 and remain married today, with no history of divorce between them.

Does Diane Addonizio have a Wikipedia page? 

Diane Addonizio does not have her own dedicated Wikipedia page. Information about her life appears in biographical sources and articles focused on her husband and family.

What is Diane Addonizio’s net worth? 

Diane Addonizio’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million, built through her legal career, business ventures, and book royalties over the years.

How old is Diane Addonizio? 

Diane Addonizio was born on March 16, 1962, which makes her 64 years old as of 2026.

Did Diane Addonizio ever practice law? 

Yes, Diane Addonizio practiced law as a corporate and civil attorney after earning her law degree from USC before stepping back to raise her family.

How many wives did Howie Long have? 

Howie Long has been married once, to Diane Addonizio. Rumors linking him to actress Teri Hatcher are false and unsupported.

What does Diane Addonizio do for a living? 

Diane Addonizio works as a lawyer, businesswoman, and author, best known for writing the book He’s Just My Dad!

Has Diane Addonizio written any other books? 

He’s Just My Dad! Portraits of Celebrity Athletes and Their Children remains Diane Addonizio’s only published book to date.