Player Spotlight: St. Louis Rams’ Chris Long

Chris Long has had big shoes to fill ever since he was a little kid. Son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, Chris has worked to make his own name heard, and has done a tremendous job of that.

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Growing up in Virginia, Long led his high school team in sacks with 15 in his senior year and helped lead the team to a state title.

Coming out of high school, Long was ranked as the sixth best defensive end in the nation.

Long choose to stay close to home and enrolled at the University of Virginia where he played four years at defensive end. After a quite freshman year, Long began to make a name for himself by finishing his career at Virginia with 177 tackles, 43 tackles for a loss and 22 sacks.

Long finished his senior year with 14 sacks and received a first-place vote and finished 10th in the 2007 Heisman Trophy voting.

Long’s number 91 jersey is retired at Virginia as well.

Long then entered the 2008 NFL draft where he was selected with the number two overall pick by the St. Louis Rams.  Long agreed to terms on a six-year $56.5 million contract with the Rams with $29 million guaranteed and was named as a starting defensive end right away.

Long started 16 games for the Rams in 2008, recording 4 sacks and leading the team in quarterback pressures, with a high of two sacks against the New England Patriots.

On October 30, 2011, Long had a career-high 3 sacks versus the New Orleans Saints and was named Sports Illustrated’s NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

On July 29, 2012, Long and the Rams agreed to a four-year contract extension. The extension adds $50 million over 4 years, with $27 million is guaranteed.

In 2012 Long led the Rams in sacks with 11.5 and  led the team in quarterback hits (24) and hurries (50).

In 2013, Long ended the season with 8.5 sacks and took his career total to 50.5 sacks.Long was voted first alternate defensive end to the pro bowl, the fourth consecutive season he was an alternate.

Which brings us to a year ago. In 2014, Long missed 10 games due to an ankle injury and only accounted for five tackles and one sack.

From 2008 to 2013, Long started every single game for the Rams.

Heading into 2015, Long is looking to get back to his old form as being one of the biggest threats at the defensive end position. Teammate Robert Quinn who lines up opposite of him on the defensive line has had a very nice carer thus far, but with Long healthy, this give the Rams one of the best pass rushes in the NFL.

Long will also make an appearance on an ESPN Feature tomorrow morning at 10:00 Am where he and teammate William Hayes enter the world of the homeless and experience what life is like with no home.

Earlier this month, Long also launched The Chris Long Foundation which helps raise money for the Waterboys Initiative dedicated to building wells for communities in East Africa.

The 30-year-old Long is under contract with the Rams through the 2017 season and will look to help lead this young Rams defense to the promise land.