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Kevin Long (running back)

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American football player (1955–2024)

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American football player
Kevin Long
No. 33
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born:(1955-01-20)January 20, 1955
Clinton, South Carolina, U.S.
Died:September 10, 2024(2024-09-10) (aged 69)
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Clinton
College:South Carolina
NFL draft:1977 / round: 7 / pick: 195
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:574
Rushing yards:2,190
Rushing TDs:25
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kevin Fernando Long (January 20, 1955 – September 10, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

College

Long attended the University of South Carolina and was a standout fullback for the Gamecocks. He rushed for 2,372 yards, ranked eighth overall on Carolina's all-time list as of 2006. His average per rush was 5.3 yards and he was the first Gamecock player to compile 1,000 yards in a season (1975). In 2002, Long was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2003, into the State of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

NFL/USFL

Long was selected in the 7th round (195th overall) by the New York Jets in the 1977 NFL draft and played five solid seasons for the Jets, until 1981. However, he is probably best remembered as a former USFL player. He played three seasons in the newly formed league, first for the Chicago Blitz in 1983, and then for the Arizona Wranglers in 1984. Due to the full-team trade that occurred during the first off-season between Chicago and Arizona, the 1984 Arizona team was basically the same team that had played in Chicago in 1983. After the 1984 season, Arizona then merged with the Oklahoma Outlaws franchise, and he played for the new Arizona Outlaws team in 1985.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1977 NYJ 14 4 56 170 3.0 12 0 5 17 3.4 7 0
1978 NYJ 16 16 214 954 4.5 27 10 26 204 7.8 17 0
1979 NYJ 12 6 116 442 3.8 25 7 10 115 11.5 27 0
1980 NYJ 15 7 115 355 3.1 18 6 20 137 6.9 16 0
1981 NYJ 16 0 73 269 3.7 19 2 13 66 5.1 18 3
73 33 574 2,190 3.8 27 25 74 539 7.3 27 3

Playoffs

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1981 NYJ 1 0 8 28 3.5 8 1 0 0 0.0 0 0
1 0 8 28 3.5 8 1 0 0 0.0 0 0

Personal life and death

Long worked in sales for a vending machine company. He was married and had three daughters. His eldest daughter won a track and field scholarship to the University of Georgia. His second daughter plays volleyball at the College of Charleston. Long died on September 10, 2024, at the age of 69.

References

  1. Gamecocks mourn the Passing of Hall of Fame running back Kevin Long

External links

  1. NFL Profile
  2. PFR Profile
  3. Daily Gamecock article
  4. 1983 USFL Statistics
  5. Small profile on Kevin Long
New York Jets 1977 NFL draft selections


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