 Long with theSt. Louis Rams in 2013 | |||||||
| No. 77, 75, 72 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Offensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1985-05-09)May 9, 1985 (age 40) Lapeer, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 322 lb (146 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Lapeer East | ||||||
| College | Michigan (2003–2007) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2008: 1st round,1st overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Jake Edward Long (born May 9, 1985) is an American former professionalfootball player who was anoffensive tackle in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theMichigan Wolverines, twice earning consensusAll-American honors. Long was selected with thefirst overall pick by theMiami Dolphins in the2008 NFL draft. He also played for theSt. Louis Rams,Atlanta Falcons andMinnesota Vikings.
Long was the first player inLapeer East High School history to earn All-State "Dream Team" honors in football from theDetroit News. He was a two-time first-team All-Flint Metro League player in both basketball and football, where he was honored both on offense and defense. In baseball, he was a two-time second-team All-Flint Metro League selection. In both basketball and football, he led his team to regular and post season success that had not been seen in many years.
At theUniversity of Michigan, heredshirted for a year and then became a starter atoffensive tackle for the football team in the third game of his redshirt freshman season. He earned second-teamAll-Big Ten Conference recognition andRivals.com Freshman All-American recognition. In 2006 and 2007, he earnedBig Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten recognition. In 2006, he was anOutland andLombardi Award watch lists selection and in 2007 he was a finalist for both awards. He was a consensus first-teamAll-American in2006 and aunanimous All-American in2007.
After being drafted by Miami, he became an immediate starter and started every game that the team played. At the conclusion of his rookie season, he was selected to numerous All-Rookie teams and was a substitutePro Bowl selection. Long followed up on a successful rookie season by earning Pro Bowl roster spots in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Long was born inLapeer, Michigan, the son of John and Denise Long.[1] He attendedLapeer East High School, where he was the first player in his high school's history to earn all-state "Dream Team" (all-class state team) honors in football.[2] In baseball, he played first base.[citation needed]
He playedbasketball,baseball andfootball in high school. Long was a 2001Flint, Michigan All-Metro Leaguelineman on both sides of the ball as adefensive end andoffensive lineman.[3] And in Lapeer East's final game of the 2001 season, Long rushed for threetouchdowns.[4][5] As a junior that football season, he was listed at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), 270 pounds (122 kg).[3] In Long's first start as avarsity basketball player on December 4, 2001, he led all scorers although he only scored one first halfpoint.[6] That season, he helped lead Lapeer East to an unbeaten 14–0 Metro League record (17–3) overall as they prepared for theMichigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) tournament.[7] It was the first unbeaten Metro League season by any team since 1989 and Lapeer East's first unbeaten season since 1980.[8] Long was an All-Metro league first team selection,[9] but his team lost in the 2002 Class A district semifinal on the road.[10] By the end of the basketball season, he was listed at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), 290 pounds (132 kg).[10] As a junior, he was a second-team All-Metro League baseball selection as aninfielder.[11] By the end of his junior year, he had already set the schoolhome run record in baseball and was the fifth-rankedhigh school football prospect in the state of Michigan (future Michigan teammate and co-captainLaMarr Woodley was number one).[12]
After his junior year of high school, he attended theUniversity of Michigan football camp, which ran from June 16–21. At the conclusion of the camp,Michigan Wolverines footballhead coachLloyd Carr offered him a scholarship as anoffensive tackle. Long, who was a lifelongMichigan Wolverines fan, responded with a verbal commitment. At the time, Long weighed 305 pounds (138 kg) and Michigan hoped he would bulk up to 330 pounds (150 kg) by the time he arrived. Long had made official visits to Michigan,Michigan State,Notre Dame,Ohio State andPurdue.[13]
In his 2002 senior season, Long helped lead Lapeer East to their first season opener win since 1995 and their first state playoff appearance since 1993.[14][15] That season, the football team set a school record by posting a nine-game winning streak, which started after an October 6, 2001, loss the prior year.[16] The team achieved its first state playoff win in its 27-year history that season.[17] The team's 9–2 record was the best in school history,[8] and Long was again chosen as an All-Metro League selection on both offense and defense.[18] That season, he became the first Lapeer East player selected to the All-state Dream Team in 2002.[2] Although he was All-State as a lineman, Long often lined up atfullback and accumulated four career touchdowns.[2] He finished the season as the number two football prospect in the state behind Woodley according to theDetroit News.[19] Long led the basketball team to a second consecutive undefeated Metro League championship season,[20] which was the first repeat league champion since 1996 and Lapeer East's first repeat championship since 1982.[21] Long was again first-team All-Metro League,[22] and he was selected as an honorable mention 2003Associated Press Class A All-State basketball player.[23] Long was again a second-team All-Metro League selection as afirst baseman.[24] Following his senior season, Long was selected to play in the 23rd annual Michigan High School All-Star Football Game on July 26 atMichigan State University.[25]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Long OL | Lapeer, Michigan | Lapeer East (MI) | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | 5.0 | Jul 8, 2003 |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 11 (OL) Rivals: 21 (OT), 6 (MI), 24 (MW) | ||||||
Sources:
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Long accepted anathletic scholarship to attend theUniversity of Michigan, where he played for head coachLloyd Carr'sMichigan Wolverines football team from 2003 to 2007. As a freshman, Long was on the2003 Michigan Wolverines football team roster,[26] butTony Pape andAdam Stenavich were the starting offensive tackles.[27] He wasredshirted for the year as he bulked up to 330 pounds (150 kg).[28] Long traveled with the team to the2004 Rose Bowl, but did not play in the game.[29]
On June 16, 2004, following his freshman year, he was hospitalized in anintensive-care unit forsmoke inhalation injuries when a house rented by nine Michigan Wolverine players caught fire.[30][31] Long, sleeping in his bedroom on the second floor of the house, awoke to the sound offire alarms. He attempted to exit his room through the door, but was forced back by smoke. Long then knocked out the screen of a window and jumped out of the building. Covered in soot, Long had escaped the fire, landing two stories below on a roommate's parked car. Later at the hospital, Long underwent procedures that required tubes be put down his throat to suction blackphlegm from hislungs.[1][32][33] The tubes also performed Long's breathing while he lay unconscious for the first few days.[34] He was released from theUniversity of Michigan Medical Center and was able to spendFather's Day (June 20) back in Lapeer.[35]
As a sophomore member of the2004 Michigan Wolverines football team, Long competed with senior Dave Schoonover and juniors Mike Kolodzieg,Rueben Riley, and Mike Barishaj for the starting position vacated by the graduated Pape. Long impressed the coaches by playing through aturf toe injury.[36] The battle came down to him and Kolodzieg.[37] Long made his Michigan debut on September 4, 2004, in a 43–10 victory overMiami University.[38] He made the travel squad, but he did not play againstNotre Dame in theMichigan – Notre Dame rivalry game the following week atNotre Dame Stadium.[29] Kolodzieg started the first two games, but Michigan averaged only 85.5 yards rushing, which ranked 94th nationally among 117 Division I teams. Long became a starter in the third game on September 18 against theSan Diego State Aztecs football team.[39] Over the course of the season, he started eight games and Kolodzieg started 4 at right offensive tackle. Kolodzieg also started one game at left tackle.[40] A week after Long was moved into the starting lineup,David Baas was moved from leftoffensive guard—where he had been a 2003 second teamAll-American—tocenter so that Leo Henige Jr. could enter the starting lineup.[41] After the move, Baas was the co-Rimington Trophy winner that season.[42] The team finished the season as the 2004 Big Ten Conference co-champions and were awarded the Big Ten Conference'sBowl Championship SeriesBowl game bid.[43] By the time Michigan was preparing for the2005 Rose Bowl, the team was averaging 156.18 rushing yards per game, which ranked 56th in the nation.[33] Long earned a second teamAll-Big Ten Conference recognition from the coaches, while linemates guardMatt Lentz, tackle Adam Stenavich andtight endTim Massaquoi were first-team selections. Baas was Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.[44] Long also received honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition from the media.[45] Long and teammatesChad Henne andMike Hart were named toRivals.com's 2004 Freshman All-America first team.[46] Long had post-season shoulder surgery and missed 2005 spring practice.[47] In fact, because of the large number of injured players, the team canceled the culminating spring practice intrasquad scrimmage game and instead held an open practice in which players participated in drills.[48]
In August 2005, Long suffered an ankle injury and was sidelined as the2005 Michigan Wolverines football team's season began.[49] The injury had been caused in training camp when he was zone blocking alongside center Mark Bihl, who got tangled up withnose tackleGabe Watson. The two fell against the outside of Long's leg and rolled over it.[50] The injury required surgery.[34] Long did not return to the lineup until October 22 on the third possession against theIowa Hawkeyes.[51] He was the lead blocker on the game-winning overtime touchdown.[52] He started the game the subsequent week against theNorthwestern Wildcats.[50] Two weeks later, following a bye week, Long got injured during the first half against theIndiana Hoosiers, and his foot was put in a protective boot.[53] The second foot injury was expected to end his season.[54] He appeared in the subsequentrivalry game against theOhio State Buckeyes, and during the first play, he opposedBobby Carpenter who broke his leg.[55] After the game, Long appeared to need immediate surgery, which would have caused him to miss the2005 Alamo Bowl.[56] By the time of the game on December 28, though, he was ready to play.[57][58] As the team prepared for 2006 spring practice, the left-handed Long was moved from right tackle to left tackle where he would be protecting the blindside of right-handedquarterbacks.[59]
Long entered the season for the2006 Michigan Wolverines football team listed on numerous preseason conference and national teams as well as watchlists for awards such as theOutland Trophy andLombardi Trophy.[60] He was on the preseason Outland Trophy watch list along withLevi Brown,Joe Thomas,Justin Blalock, andHerbert Taylor.[61] Long was considered the heart of the Michigan offense,[62] and his teammates voted the redshirt junior to be a co-captain along with senior Woodley.[63] Before the season started, Carr replacedoffensive coordinatorTerry Malone withMike DeBord who had previously been offensive coordinator from1997–1999.[64] Following the 7–5 2005 season which was the worst Michigan season since 1984's 6–6-year, there was pressure on Carr to turn things around and he sought a lighter, faster and better conditioned team.[65] During the offseason, Long reduced his weight from 338 pounds (153 kg) to 316 pounds (143 kg) to improve his agility, speed and conditioning.[66] Under the new coordinator and with fitter athletes, the offensive scheme was shifted to concentrate on the zone blocking system.[67] The system was similar to the one used by theDenver Broncos when they won back-to-backSuper Bowls and by theAtlanta Falcons to helpWarrick Dunn achieve a career-high in rushing yards while the team led the NFL in rushing yards in consecutive seasons.[68] By mid-November, Michigan had flourished under the new system with an 11–0 record,[69] and some of the credit for the success was attributed to Long, the team captain and offensive leader.[55] Long was recognized as a first-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media and was selected as theBig Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.[70] Long was also part of a Michigan record-setting threeAmerican Football Coaches Association (AFCA)All-America Team selections along with Woodley andLeon Hall.[71] Long was a consensus (meaning at least half of the recognized lists, which are AP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, and the WCFF selected him)2006 College Football All-America Team first-team selection byAssociated Press (AP),[72] AFCA,Football Writers Association of America (FWAA),Walter Camp Football Foundation,Sports Illustrated,Pro Football Weekly,ESPN,[73]CBS Sports,[74]Rivals.com,[75]Scout.com.[76] He was a second-team All-American selection by theCollege Football News.[77] Long was the first offensive lineman who was a Michigan high school graduate selected to the first-team by the FWAA sincePaul Seymour was selected to the1972 College Football All-America Team.[78] Long was believed to be a likely mid to high first round selection if he had chosen to declare himself eligible for the2007 NFL draft, but he chose to use his last year of collegiate eligibility and stay for a fifth year.[79] His decision to stay was what convinced Hart to stay in college.[80] Michigan opposed the2006 USC Trojans football team in the2007 Rose Bowl and the offensive line that had surrendered 18quarterback sacks in the first 12 games, allowed 6 in the 32–18 loss to finish the season 11–2.[81] Long became a member of senior honorary societyOrder of Angell.[82]
Long was a co-captain of the2007 Michigan Wolverines football team,[83] and he again began the season on the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists.[84] He was elected to serve as tri-captain along with Hart andShawn Crable.[85] Entering the season, the team was picked by the Big Ten media members to win the conference.[86] The season was eagerly anticipated with returning seniors Long, Hart andChad Henne in key roles,[87] but the season quickly began to fall apart when the team lost to thetwo-time defending FCS championAppalachian State Mountaineers inthe opening game.[88] The loss put Long in a position of having to defend his coach and teammates toESPN and the nation.[89] In the second game, the team suffered its worst defeat since 1968 and its first consecutive home losses to start the season since 1959.[90] This presented a leadership challenge to Long as team captain.[91] As Michigan won its next eight games, Long was described in the press as the team's most valuable player and an offensive lineman who should be considered for theHeisman Trophy since he was likely to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft.[92][93][94] In early November, Long was named one of four finalists (along withGlenn Dorsey,Chris Long,James Laurinaitis) for the Lombardi award that Woodley had won the year before.[95] He was named as an Outland Trophy finalist along with Dorsey andAnthony Collins.[96] When the win streak ended the week before his final Michigan–Ohio State game, he accepted the blame on behalf of the offensive line although the team's offensive stars were injured.[97] At the conclusion of the Big Ten Conference schedule, he was selected again as first-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and the media and as the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.[98] Long,Michael Crabtree andDarren McFadden were the only unanimous offensive2007 College Football All-America Team selections by AP,[99] AFCA,[100] FWAA,[101] Walter Camp,[102]Sporting News,[103]Sports Illustrated,[104]Pro Football Weekly, ESPN,[105] CBS Sports,[106]College Football News,[107] Rivals.com,[108] and Scout.com.[109] In coach Carr's final game before retirement and Long's final game as a Wolverine, the team won the2008 Capital One Bowl against theFlorida Gators in a game that included an attempted Jake Longtackle eligiblescreen pass.[110] Long declined an invitation to participate in the2008 Senior Bowl.[111] From February 21–24, 2008, Long attended theNFL Combine, where he excelled.[112][113]
Regarded as the top offensive tackle available in the2008 NFL draft,[114][115] Long drew comparisons toRyan Tucker.[116] His 37 repetitions of 225 pounds on thebench press tiedVernon Gholston for the highest total at the 2008NFL Combine.[117] In addition to being one of eight offensive tackles drafted in the first round that year,[118] Long was only the 3rd offensive tackle ever to be taken with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, after Hall of FamerOrlando Pace (1997, a 5-time All-Pro and All-Decade team for the 2000s) and Hall of FamerRon Yary (1968, an 8-time All-Pro and All-Decade team for the 1970s).[119] The Dolphins drafted Long's college teammate,quarterbackChad Henne, in the second round of the draft with the 57th overall pick.[120]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 313 lb (142 kg) | 35+3⁄4 in (0.91 m) | 11 in (0.28 m) | 5.22 s | 1.76 s | 2.97 s | 4.73 s | 7.44 s | 27.5 in (0.70 m) | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) | 37 reps | 26 |
| All values fromNFL Combine[121][122][123] | ||||||||||||
More than two weeks before the2008 NFL draft, theMiami Dolphins, who owned the right to make the first selection in the draft determined that they wanted to negotiate with Long to be their pick and met withTom Condon, Long'ssports agent.[124] On April 22, 2008, in advance of the April 26 and 27 draft, Long agreed to a five-year, $57.75 million deal with theMiami Dolphins. The deal included $30 million in guaranteed money and made Long the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.[125] This made him, as of that date, the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history.[126] At Dolphins minicamp on May 2, Long was assigned number 79 and he thought he would have to negotiate withDrew Mormino for the number 77 that he had worn since high school.[127] However, after he failed his physical exam, Mormino was released from the team,[128] and before training camp Long was assigned number 77.[129]
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Long's ascension with the Dolphins was part of an effort to overhaul the offensive line that had allowed 42 sacks and produced the 29th-rated of 32 offenses the previous season. The Dolphins hired new coachTony Sparano and employedBill Parcells as Executive Vice President in charge of football operations.[130] Long was immediately slated to play left tackle.[129][131] He was the only rookie expected to be a starter for the2008 Miami Dolphins.[132] According to theSouth Florida Sun-Sentinel, at the end of training camp, Long was one of three rookies listed as first-string on the depth chart.[133]Long was nominated for Rookie of the Week in the tenth week of the 2008 season, but lost out to Broncos WREddie Royal. Other players who were nominated for rookie of the week that same week wereMatt Ryan,Benjarvus Green-Ellis, andJoe Flacco.[134] At the end of the season, Long was selected to nine All-rookie teams by Pro Football Writers Association, Draft.com, Draftsinders.com, Draftseason.com, Sports Network, Fannation, Sporting News, Scout.com and Ourlads Scouting Service.[135] On January 20, 2009, Long was selected to the2009 Pro Bowl, replacingJason Peters for the AFC's squad.[136] Long gave up just 2.5 sacks his rookie season,[137] compared to the 11.5 allowed by Peters in 2008.[138]
In 2009, Long yielded only 4 sacks and was ranked the second best offensive tackle. He was selected as a starter for the2010 Pro Bowl.[139] He was not selected to the first team All-Pro losing out toRyan Clady, who gave up 8 sacks, andJoe Thomas, who was ranked the best offensive tackle in the NFL.[140] Long was selected to the second team All-Pro and was named a starter for the AFC Pro Bowl.[141][142] Long joinsRichmond Webb as the only Dolphins offensive tackles to be named starters in the Pro Bowl and is the first Dolphins offensive lineman to be named to back-to-back Pro Bowls since Webb played in seven straight from 1990 to 1996.[143] Long did not participate in the game due to injury and was replaced on the Pro Bowl roster byD'Brickashaw Ferguson.[144] The following season Long was named as a starter for the2011 Pro Bowl, while Ferguson was named as a reserve.[145] He was ranked 28th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2011.[146]
During the2011 NFL season, Long's 61 games started streak snapped when he suffered a back ailment. Subsequently, he was placed oninjured reserve with a torn right biceps for the final week of the season. The roster move came one day after he was selected to the2012 Pro Bowl. He was named as a Pro Bowl starter for the third consecutive season.[142] He missed the Pro Bowl for the 2011 season.[147] However, he was named the Dolphins'Ed Block Courage Award recipient.[148] In addition, he was listed as the 59th player on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2012.[149][150]
During the 2013 NFL offseason, Long became a free agent. He received two contract offers: an extension from the Miami Dolphins, and a contract from the Rams. On March 17, 2013, Long signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Rams.[151][152] At the October 6, 2013, contest against theJacksonville Jaguars, the Rams gave the first 15,000 fans to arrive at the game free Jake Long figurines.[153] On December 22, 2013, Long sustained a torn ACL against theTampa Bay Buccaneers and he missed the last game of the season.[154] On October 26, 2014, Long sustained another torn ACL against theKansas City Chiefs and he missed the rest of the season.[155] He was released along with centerScott Wells on the eve of free agency on March 9, 2015.[156] Long was coming off of back-to-back seasons with torn ACLs and was about to cost the Rams $10 million against the salary cap.[157]
On September 15, 2015, Long signed a one-year, $1,568,750 contract with theAtlanta Falcons.[158] He played 11 snaps for theFalcons in the 2015 season.[159]
On July 26, 2016, Long agreed on a 1-year deal with theBaltimore Ravens.[160] Due to concerns over his surgically repaired knee, the Ravens requested that Long sign an injury waiver. Long declined the request and never signed the contract, making him a free agent.[159]
On October 11, 2016, Long was signed by the Vikings.[161] He suffered a torn achilles against the Redskins in Week 10 and was placed on injured reserve on November 15, 2016.[162]
On April 24, 2017, Long announced his retirement from the NFL.[163]
After survivingthe fire during his second year of college, Long got a tattoo ofSaint Joseph on his rightbiceps. His aunt had placed a card of the saint under his pillow while he was in the hospital in intensive care. He also has a tattoo of the family name on his other arm.[60] Long has two brothers: John andJoseph ("Joe"). Joe Long attendedWayne State University.[164][165] Jake Long married his college sweetheart, Jacqueline Laurian, on March 10, 2012.[166]
After his accomplished career in high school and collegiate football in the state ofMichigan, Long was enshrined into theMichigan Sports Hall of Fame on October 17, 2024.[167]
