Howie Long was drafted No. 48 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Villanova. 179 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #48
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 179
- Years as starter
- 11
- Career AV
- 951st at Villanova
- Pro Bowls
- 8
- All-Pro
- 2
The pick
How Howie Long came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- College
-
Villanova
CAA at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
179 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value
- Games played
- 179
- Seasons as a starter
- 11
- Career approximate value
- 951st among Villanova picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 95100% of career value
- Final season
- 199312 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 2× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl
Around pick 48
Who came off the board on either side of Howie Long.
Alabama State
East Carolina · 1× Pro Bowl
LSU
Auburn
Villanova in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from Villanova
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Howie Long in the 1981 NFL Draft
Howie Long is a Defensive end out of Villanova selected No. 48 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1981 NFL Draft. 179 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value Villanova has produced 8 NFL draft picks since 1981.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Howie Long drafted?
Howie Long was selected No. 48 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/howie-long.
What college did Howie Long play for?
Howie Long played college football at Villanova in the CAA. See every Villanova draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/villanova-wildcats.
How did Howie Long's NFL career turn out?
179 regular-season games · 11 seasons as a starter · 95 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 2× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/howie-long.