Terry Long (American football)
| No. 74 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Date of birth: | July 21, 1959 | ||||
| Place of birth: | Columbia, South Carolina | ||||
| Date of death: | June 7, 2005 (aged 45) | ||||
| Place of death: | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | ||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 272 lb (123 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Columbia (SC) Eau Claire | ||||
| College: | East Carolina | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 1984 / Round: 4 / Pick: 111 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Terry Luther Long (July 21, 1959 – June 7, 2005) was an American college and professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons during the 1980s and early 1990s. He played college football for East Carolina University, and thereafter he played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.
Early years
Long was born in Columbia, South Carolina.
College career
Long attended East Carolina University, where he played for the East Carolina Pirates football team from 1980 to 1983. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 1983.
Professional career
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Long in the fourth round (111th pick overall) of the 1984 NFL Draft, and he played for the Steelers from 1984 to 1991. During his eight NFL seasons, he played in 105 games, and started 89 of them.
Death
Long committed suicide in June 2005 from drinking 1 gallon of antifreeze. An autopsy revealed that Long suffered from CTE caused by his football career. His brain was studied by neuropathologist Bennet Omalu.[1] He had previously attempted suicide in 1991, after testing positive for the NFL's steroid test.[2]
Long was buried at the Swansea Methodist Church Cemetery in Swansea, South Carolina.
References
- ↑ "Ex-Steeler Long drank antifreeze to commit suicide". ESPN.com. 2006-01-26. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
- ↑ "Terry Long Says He Attempted Suicide". Los Angeles Times. 1991-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-16.