Howie Long was the second-round pick of the Raiders out of Villanova in the 1981 NFL Draft. Fast, strong, and explosive off the ball, Howie was a first- or second-team All-Pro choice in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1989, he was also named All-AFC four times. During his 13-year career, Long, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 1980s, recorded 84 career sacks (plus 7.5 sacks in 1981 before the sack was an official NFL statistic). And Howie Long's first sack of his Hall of Fame career couldn't have been any more memorable.
Two legendary players who would both join the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2000, first met on the playing field. A meeting Joe Montana would just as soon forget, Howie recorded his first of his 91.5 career sacks against the 49ers and Joe. Howie would go on to be an eight-time Pro Bowl player with the Raiders. Joe, of course, would go on to win nine divisional titles and four Super Bowls with the 49ers. But on this play, Howie and the Raiders, were the victors over their cross-bay rivals. Nice way to start a career...
This is signed by BOTH Long and Joe Montana.
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