#271 – Chris Long

Tommy Riles and Art Eddy bring on Philadelphia Eagles defensive end, Chris Long, to talk about fatherhood, his foundation, playing in the NFL, and the great work he does with his Waterboys organization. Chris Long is currently playing his tenth season in the NFL, and his first as a defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles. The first and only active University of Virginia football player to have his number retired, Long's record in the NFL is also impressive. Drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Long has accumulated 58.5 career sacks (40.5 of them during a 4-year span from 2010-2013). The former second overall draft pick is a four-time Pro Bowl alternate. Chris won his first Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in 2017. In 2013, he married his wife, Megan; in 2016, they welcomed their first child, Waylon. The mission of The Chris Long Foundation is to support bright futures for communities and the individuals that make up those communities.They believe borders do not limit caring about our fellow neighbors. They engage in both international and domestic programs focused around clean water, military appreciation, homelessness and youth. Their programs strive to generate impactful results by creating opportunities and providing resources, financial support and meaningful experiences to those they serve. Visit ChrisLongFoundation.org to find out more about the foundation's work. Waterboys began during a 2013 trip by Long to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Long was struck by the beauty of Tanzania and the vibrancy of its people; he also witnessed great suffering due to a lack of clean water. While in Tanzania, Long met Doug Pitt, Goodwill Ambassador for Tanzania, and John Bongiorno, President of the non-profit WorldServe International, and was further educated on the needs and available solutions to the clean water crisis. Returning home, Long began to envision a pathway to champion the need for clean water in East Africa while engaging other NFL players in the cause. In 2015, Long created the Waterboys Initiative, selecting WorldServe International as its benefiting charity. Waterboys works with WorldServe International to build wells to provide life-giving water and all that comes from it -- the opportunity for education, good health, and economic stability. Follow Chris Long on Twitter at @JOEL9ONE, Waterboys at @WaterboysOrg, and go to Waterboys.org and ChrisLongFoundation.org to learn more about the great work Chris and his colleagues do to help those in need.