Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules - Dudes on Howie Long

Episode Date: May 2, 2026

We're covering NFL Hall of Famer, Howie Long! Gronk, and Julian Edelman discuss what makes Howie so great and some of their favorite stories.Support the show: https://hoo.be/dudesondudesSee omnystudio....com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Our 26th I Heart Country Festival presented by Capital One. Tickets are on sale now to see Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Carly Peer, Shaboozy, Dylan Scun, Russell Dickerson, Gretchen Wilson, Chase Matthew, Lauren Elena, special guest George Birch, Saturday, May 2nd at the Moody Center in Austin. Stream live on Disney Plus and Hulu. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.
Starting point is 00:00:34 Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw,
Starting point is 00:00:48 unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok.
Starting point is 00:01:05 2%. That's the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter. I'm on my podcast, 2%. I break down the science of mental toughness, fitness, and building resilience in our strange modern world. Put yourself through some hardships and you will come out on the other side a happier, more fulfilled, healthier person. Listen to 2%. That's TWO% on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me.
Starting point is 00:01:43 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year.
Starting point is 00:02:00 I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to dudes on dudes. I'm Julian Edelman, and we're bringing you one of our favorite segments from the show talking about one of our favorite dudes in the NFL. Let's go. You're looking jacked. Like, I worked out this morning for this episode, man. Look at that.
Starting point is 00:02:29 But you never not look jacked. I know. You know how Camille never not dancing? You're never not jacking. Look at that. Look at that, baby. Should I show you a six-pack right now? Let's see.
Starting point is 00:02:38 We're doing good. Put your dong away. As a dude, you've got to flex. God. I'm really looking at that, baby. How? He still got it. I'm just being a dude, okay?
Starting point is 00:02:51 That's all. Sit down, you big old dude. Trying to be like Dola. Dola is ripped, man. Dola is like playing Patrick Swayze right now on Dancing One Stars. Let's go vote for him. More ripped than you? Yeah, he probably is cutter.
Starting point is 00:03:03 Oh. He's cutter. Oh, you said that. Let's get on to our next contestant. Who's our next guy? Absolute legend. Absolute legend. We'll start the clock in five seconds after I say who he is.
Starting point is 00:03:17 He's just a man's man. Our new teammate, someone that we've all looked up to. You're right. He's not a dude. He's a man. You can't call him dude. So this is dudes on man. Yeah, this is dudes on man.
Starting point is 00:03:30 Howie long. Howie long. Howie Long. What is the Howie Long AI say? Howie Long has a huge slung. Whoa. What the heck? What the heck?
Starting point is 00:03:45 AI. I inappropriate. Inappropriate. Howie Long would be like, geez, geez, you guys are just characters. He would. Yeah, you guys are just characters. Always just, you know, just chopping it up. He always, he always says, just keep being you.
Starting point is 00:04:03 but yeah he would love that line he would he would he would he would even if he has a small one he'd be like thank you yeah i don't know if he does you don't got a last he's got a hammer yeah he's how he long bro talk about he's a man he got a chin he's a freaking man he produced two huge NFL sons huge huge like first round o lyman first round first top 10 pick chris log d lyman kyle long o'aliman And Kyle Long played baseball. It's just a fucking, they just have champion, they have champion sperm. All right. Let me get to AI.
Starting point is 00:04:38 They have champions sperm. He does have championship sperm. Howie Long was a dominant defense event in the NFL, known for his powerful past, rushing ability, and strong run defense. He played primarily for the Oakland Raiders. Who was his second team? I thought he was an Oakland Raider. L.A. Rators? L.A. Rators.
Starting point is 00:04:57 Wait, then that's still the same team. AI. That's really weird. Fucking AI. They're not there yet. I mean, two different cities. He might as well have played for the freaking Las Vegas Raiders. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:05:07 At this point. I mean, he's associated with them. He can still, he looks like he still play. He should be the Raiders owner, not Tom. Just kidding, Tom.
Starting point is 00:05:16 Yeah. We need you as a Raiders owner because then you'll be like really rich and then you can get a yacht and Julie and I can come on it. Yeah. Yeah. And then you can give us like cushy like scouting jobs. Yeah. Like a million dollars a year.
Starting point is 00:05:28 Yeah. We love you, Tom. Yeah, we love you. Howie's not the owner. You're the owner. We need you, buddy. We hang out with you more. So we need you to be the owner.
Starting point is 00:05:36 And maybe if we need a job in the future. That's what dudes and dudes do. If you're a bro, like, one dude always gives a job to their like bro. That's called that's a triple D. That's called daydreaming d. All right. Dude daydream. We're back.
Starting point is 00:05:52 We're back. We're back. AI. Where he earned eight Pro Bowl selections and was named to the NFL's all decade team of the 1980s. 80s. 80s decade. I was born in 89, so. 86.
Starting point is 00:06:04 Wow. He probably sacked a guy and got our mother's pregnant from such a big hit. That was awful, awful take. But knowing Howie, probably not. Howie is a stand-up guy. Yeah, knowing howie, you're right. He definitely wouldn't. He goes, yeah, they, they just, our parents just got so turned down from his sack.
Starting point is 00:06:28 From his sack in the 80s. That's why we were. born. It's a bone crushing sack. Yeah. Because my dad's a big fan. Big fan of Howie Long. What dad is not a fan of Howie Long? I think our parents, our dad's got so turned on from Howie Long's hits that we were created. They made us. Very well could be. This is when Howie was bowling. Long was known for his athleticism, intensity, and versatility, which allowed him to excel both in rushing the passer, defending against the run. his impact on the game and his leadership on and off the field solidified his reputation as one of the premier defensive players of his era.
Starting point is 00:07:10 I mean, we threw on the highlights. He's just nasty. He's like the guy you send in. He's like a bomb squad guy. You know, you send Howie it, but he doesn't wear armor. He just goes in and does it with like his teeth. You know, like you send him in there and he'll do it like some shit that no one wants to do. he'll get the job done.
Starting point is 00:07:32 He's so intense. He was like, and you could see it when he played. He was so powerful. He knew the game of football. He was a really smart football player. He looked apart of a Raider with the bull ring. He was like one of the original dudes that wore the bull ring. Like that was like hard nose.
Starting point is 00:07:49 Any kid in Pop Warner when I was a kid that wore a bull ring was like, that did eat cement. And that's what fucking how he, I think I literally saw him at Fox once in between games. were doing. I saw him take a teaspoon of cement when he with his with his coffee. Like that's how manly he is. This guy, if you're going in a back alley and you're about to brawl, you're about to take on 10 other mother efforts. Yeah. And you're by yourself and you had to choose one other guy to go in that back alley. You bring Howie Long with you. And then guess what? You would just sit back because he would take on all 10 of those guys and fucking whoop all their asses. Yeah. For you. But then I I think afterwards he would sit them down and tell them where they need to work on their fighting skills.
Starting point is 00:08:37 And, like, he would sit there after, like, you know, giving him, like, a rag for the nose that he just broke from some dude. Like, he would sit there and he'd be like, yeah, buddy, like, you got to be smarter than that. You can't go against, you know, while, like, looking at his surroundings. I remember the first day I met him on Fox. You know, we had a dinner, like, the Friday before, and it's my first show, and I'm a little nervous. and so I had a dip in at the dinner. And I thought no one saw. I had a little baby dip in.
Starting point is 00:09:05 Two days later, we had our first live show and Howie was in there. And we had a production meeting where we were with the big show, the other show. And all of a sudden, Howie came in and didn't say a word, pulled out a tin, put it right on my thing, put one finger and just slit it to me and give me a head nod and just walked by. That was the first interaction I ever had with him. It couldn't have been any more Howie alone. He might be one of the greatest guys I've ever met. And I don't think it's talked about enough is that he might be the best role model,
Starting point is 00:09:35 you know, out there in NFL history. I mean, the guy's up there. The guy's been through it all. He grew up in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He's an orphan. Yes. So you know, he's a fucking orphan. He's like the movies.
Starting point is 00:09:48 He's got that, you know, that Boston Hardo in him. Hardo. He takes no shit at all. But let me tell you. Then he goes to Philly at Philadelphia. Nova and gets a little that more East Coast assy assholes. All-American man. He has great kids.
Starting point is 00:10:03 Great kids. They grew up to be first round NFL players. Do you remember Chris? I remember Chris, man. Great guy. Loved him in the locker room. Loved him in the locker room. He's always be holding court in his little section with Nikovic, like him and
Starting point is 00:10:17 Nick, like him and Niko would be sitting there. Niko would just be sitting there like marveling at Chris because Chris was like so paid and had a sleeve and he was a white dude that had swag. Nico would just do anything. You remember those? Nico copied everything Chris Long did. He was Chris Long's shadow. Everything.
Starting point is 00:10:33 Because by that age, Nico has been like institutionalized by the Patriots where like any outsider, he's like, oh my God, this is what it's like. If you had a problem or situation in life and you needed an answer,
Starting point is 00:10:47 you would hit up Howie Long. 100%. The guy's been through everything from A through Z in life. Just a great role model overall, very positive guy. When it comes to crunch time, he's right there on your side.
Starting point is 00:11:00 He's taken me under his wing at Fox. His knowledge for the game of football is through the roof. If you have any questions, he's there to give you answers, and then he doesn't care if you give him the credit or not. I'm Luke Wilson.
Starting point is 00:11:13 Join me each week for Film Never Lies. Since retiring from the NFL, I've had a lot of my mind, and now I've got my own show. So if you're tired of lazy takes, if you want honest conversations, join us each week. Film Never Lies,
Starting point is 00:11:24 available on all TSN platforms in the IHeartRadio app. 2%. That is the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter, and on my podcast, 2%. I break down the science of mental toughness, fitness, and building resilience in our strange modern world.
Starting point is 00:11:45 I'll be speaking with writers, researchers, and other health and fitness experts, and more to look past the impractical and way too complex pseudoscience. that dominates the wellness industry. We really believe that seed oils were inherently inflammatory. We got it wrong. Many of the problems that we are freaked out about in the world
Starting point is 00:12:05 are the result of stress. Put yourself through some hardships, and you will come out on the other side a happier, more fulfilled, healthier person. Listen to 2%. That's T-W-O-Persent on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Our 2026 I Hard Country Festival presented by Capital One.
Starting point is 00:12:31 Tickets are on sale now to see Luke Bryant, Kane Brown, Riley Green, Carly Pierce, Dylan Scud, Russell Dickerson, Gretchen Wilson, Chase Matthew, Lauren Elena, special guest George Birch, Saturday, May 2nd at the Moody Center in Austin. Stream live on Disney Plus and Hulu. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.
Starting point is 00:13:00 Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment.
Starting point is 00:13:30 and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. And he's fucking great looking too. Look at how Jackty is in that goddamn movie. Still looks the freaking same as he did when he was playing.
Starting point is 00:14:07 I want to say he's got top top three chins all time. Top three chins. Cowards won. Coach Coward. Howie. Brady's got a nice chin. But like this is like man. Like Brady's like pretty chin.
Starting point is 00:14:20 I never looked at. This is like when you used to draw up like old. I never looked at action heroes. I never looked at chin. And 90s. You know how they, They were just big grown men with huge chin like the cartoon. I don't look at chins.
Starting point is 00:14:33 Look at the, like, that's just a man. Yeah, that's a man chin. You're right. And he had the best flat top ever. He still has it. What about that neck roll that he played with? Does that neck roll make you more badass? It kind of reminds me of James Devlin.
Starting point is 00:14:47 Like he was more badass when he had the neck roll on. Neck rolls definitely give you two points on hard-assness. Two points for sure. Who else do we have? Eric Dickerson had a good chin. The all chin team? No, not the, not the, not the chin. He had a neck roll.
Starting point is 00:15:01 What about Brian Bosworth? Oh, what about his neck roll? Neckroll. That was pretty badass. Tom Rathman. What about Mike Allstott? Fucking gnarly. Ultimate neck roll.
Starting point is 00:15:11 Ultimate player. What about Kent State going flash Jack Lambert? Ooh. I think he's a bunker guy. I think he's in a bunker right now. I don't even know what Kent State is. No, I've tried to get in contact. What's Kent State?
Starting point is 00:15:22 They call it. Someone would call it the Harvard of the Midwest. I don't know if you ever heard of it. But yeah, neck rolls, how he longs, he's a huge part of that, like, old school guy that had neck roll made you look tough. And he's Hollywood, he's been in movies. Like, his story about, like, he stopped doing movies
Starting point is 00:15:42 because it just was too much. He told me that. He's like, yeah, you know, I had to get, I just needed more time with my family. He kept on sending me scripts. I was like, man, Howie's so cool. He's like, fuck the movie. Fuck that.
Starting point is 00:15:54 He's a great family. man. And that's why I said, if you have any questions about life, you ask Howie Long. And he, and he has to right answer every time. He really does in any situation. What kind of dude is Howie Long? Well, he's a loyal dude as well. I mean, he's the first one. He started the Fox gig with Terry Bradshaw and Jimmy Johnson. He's been there for 31 years now. Yeah. Yeah, the Fox pregame show. And it's just an honor to be, just to be a part of it. Yeah. A little ounce of it just to be with those guys. I mean, it's incredible what they have done.
Starting point is 00:16:29 They transcended post career after NFL. 100%. They've given an example of how, if you want to get into this industry, how you got to do it. You know, with not just their on-camera chemistry, but the way they freaking prepare,
Starting point is 00:16:46 I get to be a fly in the wall, watching them in between shows, watching you get ready. And those guys are just, he's just a stud. And exactly what I just said. He's a stud. He's a freak.
Starting point is 00:16:56 Yes, he's a freak of nature. He's got the dog in him. He's definitely a dude's dude. He is a dude's dude. But when... Locker room guy, he's a wizard as well. I mean, this guy literally is all five categories. And that's why he's so successful in life.
Starting point is 00:17:09 What do they do with the Kentucky Derby racehorse come? What do they do? They stud them out. They stud them out. That's what fucking Howie Long is. He's a stud. When you look at a racehorse... And it was a proven stud, too.
Starting point is 00:17:24 because he produced two first rounders. Two first rounders. Like when you look at a stud, a horse, how is the human version of a racehorse? A.I. even knew he had a huge slong. Did you hear me read it at the beginning? Howie Long has a huge slong. They didn't really say that.
Starting point is 00:17:41 Yeah, really said that. That's crazy. I think he literally could probably win the Kentucky Derby. He could. Because that's how manly of a man he is. When you call his son. and talked to him on the phone, Chris. What did he say about Howard?
Starting point is 00:17:56 Chris said he's a fucking stud. So he's a stud. Stud. No doubt about us. Stamp it. Stud. Stub. Our first stud.
Starting point is 00:18:05 No. Tony Gonzalez was a stud. Was Tony a stud too? Yeah. Different type of stud. Different stud. This was like a badass stud. Tony's like a smooth stud.
Starting point is 00:18:15 Yeah. Yeah. But both studs. Thanks for listening. Catch brand new episodes of dudes on dudes on YouTube. Apple, Spotify, and everywhere else you get your podcasts. And if you enjoy this, here's a snippet of an episode I think you'll love. Ray Lewis.
Starting point is 00:18:36 Scary, S.O.B. Let's see what AI has to say about them. All right. We got some dude synopsis here. Scary as dude, number one, is Ray Lewis. Let's see what AI has to say. What's AI I got to say? Ray Lewis is rightly regarded.
Starting point is 00:18:52 Ray Lewis is, widely regarded as one of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. Known for his intense playing style and leadership on the field. And off the field, he overcame personal challenges and became a motivational figure. Often speaking
Starting point is 00:19:07 about discipline and perseverance. Lewis had significant impact on the Baltimore Ravens, leading them to two Super Bowl victories and earning the Super Bowl MVP in 2001. Wow. Wow. I was 12 years old in 2001.
Starting point is 00:19:24 Jules, how old were you about? 15? 14, 15? Notably, he is the only player in NFL history with over 40 career sacks and 30 interceptions. Instinctive. Additionally, he was a 12-time pro-baller and a two-time NFL defensive player of the year. Ray Lewis for you, ladies and gentlemen, brought to you by AI.
Starting point is 00:19:47 I think AI is pretty right. I worked with Ray as soon as we... I retired on inside the NFL. And in those pre-production meetings, he would speak. And I felt like I wanted to run through a goddamn brick wall every time he would speak. He sounded like a pastor with the mix of craziness and a mix of a gladiator quote. Ray, don't think I don't know where your quotes come from. We went to Rome together, and I figured out that all of Ray's motivational quotes come from
Starting point is 00:20:21 the movie The Gladiator. It was crazy. I remember playing him. He knocked me out of game first off. What game was that? And what year was that? He knocked you out of the game. It was, remember when Deon Branch came back for the first game back?
Starting point is 00:20:35 So about, was it 2013? Your fourth year? No, this was like 2012? 11 or 12. Yeah, oh, it was 2011. Deon Branch came back on the team. On the team on 10 or 11. Yes, yes.
Starting point is 00:20:49 2010, my rookie year. Randy Moss was traded after the fourth game of the season. And didn't we trade for? We traded back for DM Branch, right, that year? So it was my rookie year. It was your rookie year. Yes, 2010, the same season that Randy Moss got traded. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:21:05 And he hit me on under in the red area. And I remember Helodinata, like picking me up and saying, hey, buddy, your side lines that way. That was at Gillette Stadium. At Gillette. Yes. And it was 2010. 2010.
Starting point is 00:21:19 Yes, it was. He lit me up. And then the year before, this is my second year in the league, year before in the playoffs, he scored and I, on a scramble in the red area. Tom darted it to me. I caught it and I got a touchdown. And Ray was right behind me and he need me so hard in my left butt cheek that like I got a crazy hematoma. And I looked like I had J-Lo booty on.
Starting point is 00:21:44 Like my butt was just, I had one big butt. It was so fucking crazy. See, if we would have, we got smoked that game, but I wouldn't have been able to play the next week because I had like internal bleeding. It was fucking nuts. So that dude has scared the shit out of me. What do you think about?
Starting point is 00:21:59 First off, AI hit it on point, but they didn't, you know, talk about all his characteristics that he brings to the table as well. Yes, great motivational speaker, great player, you know, all the accolades, two-time Super Bowl champion, whatever, 12-time Pro Bowler. But they didn't talk about the characteristics
Starting point is 00:22:18 that makes him himself. Vicious out in the field. Vicious. Absolutely vicious. Intimidating. 100%. I would put my hand down and I was already scared of Ray Lewis when he was lined up in front of me.
Starting point is 00:22:32 When you're scared of a player, you're kind of already beat as well. That's how intimidating he was just the nature of just the way he carried himself, the energy that he brought to the table. You did not want to mess with Ray Lewis. No doubt, no ands, ifs or buts about that. Our 2026, IHard Country Festival presented by Capital One. Tickets are on sale now to see Luke Bryant, Kane Brown, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Shaboozy, Dylan Scott, Russell Dickerson,
Starting point is 00:23:22 Gretchen Wilson, Chase Matthew, Lauren Elena, special guest George Birch, Saturday, May 2nd at the Moody Center in Austin, Stream live on Disney Plus and Hulu. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th.
Starting point is 00:23:39 You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard,
Starting point is 00:23:55 but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Cliford Show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 2%. That's the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter. And on my podcast, 2%. I break down the science of mental toughness, fitness, and building resilience in our strange modern world.
Starting point is 00:24:22 Put yourself through some hardships and you will come out on the other side a happier, more fulfilled, healthier person. Listen to 2%. That's TWO% on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On The Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J.
Starting point is 00:24:48 And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a hear, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. Wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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