Chris Long Explains Joining Patriots Over Falcons Before SB LI

NFL fans will remember Super Bowl LI as an incredible game. For most of us, it’s the most memorable game in NFL history. A former New England Patriots player sees things differently. New England had an amazing comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons. They trailed the Falcons 28-3, and for Chris Long, this was an unforgettable experience. It’s not what you think.

Long had an importing decision to make. Where should he go? He had New England and Atlanta on the table. It was a hard decision for him, but his father, NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long advised him to go to New England. Wonder why? New England is the place to be if he wants to win a Super Bowl.

Chris Long made a bold move

Long’s dad watched the big game. He was worried about the advice he had for his son. The Falcons dominated the game, and Long was pretty worried. Can you imagine the horror on his face if Atlanta players took the trophy home?

“It’s something more you reflect on afterward,” Long told Nick Wright on FS1. “It was pretty interesting to me as the smoke cleared that game, looking back and saying, ‘Wow, it did come down to meeting in Atlanta with (head coach) Dan Quinn and then popping up to New England.’ ”

Long took the advice his father gave him.

“But the good thing is, like most kids, we listen to our parents, but we kind of make decisions on our own,” he said. “So, I wouldn’t have blamed my dad. When I came from the Rams, we averaged four wins over eight years, and for me, I felt like my career was a bit of a waste without winning. So, I was ready to shamelessly do whatever it took as far as hopping on a team that had a good shot.”

Long spent the first eight years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams. He came to Foxboro to play with the Patriots but left the team after a year. He then joined the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that actually defeated New England in Super Bowl LII.