Chris Long never forgot about St. Louis.
After spending the first eight years of his pro football career with the Rams during one of the franchise's most abysmal periods of performance, Long went on to win a pair of Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. He received the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in February for his outstanding volunteer and charity work. He accomplished a lot after leaving St. Louis. Yet, Long never forgot about where his career started.
Saturday night, via Twitter, Long announced his retirement from the NFL, hanging his cleats up at the age of 34. The latest in a long line of smart moves from the defensive end, a class act who mixed business and pleasure every time he took the field. The son of fierce NFL great, Howie Long, Chris had his work cut out for him long before he was drafted second overall in the 2008 draft, but you never saw it on his face after a game.
If the Rams lost by 25 points, Long would be there talking to reporters. He'd give answers, wouldn't duck the hard ones, and stood up for his team. You never heard him get bitter about the record, blame the fans, or take unnecessary pot shots at people just to ease the pain of constant losing seasons. Some players did. Long didn't. That is what makes him a special human being.
Trust me, I don't discount the 70 career sacks, including a career high 11 in 2011, or the 15 forced fumbles. I don't disregard the 332 career tackles and 103 starts. Long made a dent in this league, and while he won't reach the Hall of Fame, he can rest easy at night knowing the impact that will be left behind on the gridiron.
However, for my money, it's the other stuff he did that will stand out the most in 30 years. The endless charity work, a lot taking place in St. Louis. The volunteer work that knew no bounds. Long went out of his way to give a piece of himself to the less fortunate, and that speaks volumes about his character and where he came from.
The man could spin social media for a loop as well, talking about world-weary issues, cracking jokes about the game, or just having fun. While some athletes get in trouble with what they tweet, Long was one of the guys who set the standard on how to best use a large following. I'm glad he's not retiring from Twitter.
He always kept an eye on St. Louis, lending the city a part of his heart. Only a handful of athletes would stick around mentally in a place where turbulent times took place, but Long never really left. The charity work in the impoverished areas of the city, and the cheer he showed for fellow teams. He's singing the praises of the St. Louis Blues this past month. Call me crazy for getting hooked on a feeling, but that's just cool.
Some players are traded or sign elsewhere, and they run fast from a city. To them, that's the past and the old times that are now gone. And then there are players like Long who show first class treatment to the St. Louis football fans who lost the Rams in 2016. Count him among the most vocal about Stan Kroenke moving the team. He didn't have to be, but there he was, lighting a fire. Thanks, Chris.
Long retires with two Super Bowl rings and a respectable career built around multiple teams. Heck, he recorded 6.5 sacks last year and started 16 games in each of the past three seasons. He could go on, but sometimes, health is more important than another day in the light of the battlefield. He's getting out with his head and heart intact.
That's Chris Long. A guy who cares about the little things with big hearts. A guy who showed class in the beginning, the middle, and the end. He's truly one of a kind. You see, for him, it's always been about family. All kinds of family, both close and distant.
There are times where I play revisionist history, and imagine Long being on better Rams teams. I think about him raising the Lombardi Trophy in St. Louis among a sea of blue and gold. It's a fine dream, bittersweet in aftertaste because of the painful reality.
Maybe he'll come back. I hope not. Far too many players leave too late to the party, past the point of remembering where you put the keys. I hope Long finds solace in retirement. There's not much deserve in the brutal reality of pro sports, but I think Long has earned a spot in the memory of this game.
Young athletes should take a long look. Do what this guy did. Come into the league firing on all cylinders, keep your head but stay low, and make an impact no matter what the team record is. Do it all, give back to the community, and retire on top.
If young football players need a role model, skip the predictable marquee stars and examine Chris Long first. He did it right.
Long may you run, sir.
