Chris Long

“Football, for me, wasn't a foregone conclusion. My parents didn't force me into it, and quite the opposite happened.”

“I'm always trying to play for respect. I don't play the game for much else.”

“I've been through nine camps, and they're all a little bit different, but at the end of the day, it's just football.”

“My wife and I have been passionate about education being a gateway for upward mobility and equality.”

“My mother has been really instrumental in raising a lot of money through the Boys & Girls Club in my hometown.”

“I'm a worker. I'm a grinder.”

“There are always more people to prove wrong.”

“The 24-hour news cycle is kind of insatiable. Players in the '80s and '90s didn't have to deal with that scrutiny.”

“If we're saying there are incidents of oppression in this country, systematically or individually in this country, I don't think saying, 'Well, in country X, Y or Z it's 10 times worse' is making things any better. I think that may be true, but why can't we improve?”

“It's unbelievable how far my career has taken me.”

“Earlier in my career, I wanted to do a lot of things under the radar because I felt uncomfortable in engaging with the fans because then they're thinking, 'Well, you're doing it for publicity,' or whatever.”

“Some people are tired of hearing me tweet because they want me to stick to football but I like to use social media like I was a regular guy because I think I am.”

“I love Philadelphia.”

“I think a lot of winning a Super Bowl is being at the right place at the right time. It's sacrifice, it's making team plays and being an impactful player is part of it.”

“Ties in the NFL absolutely suck. Trust me, I was involved with a tie against the San Francisco 49ers when I was with the Rams in 2012 and it felt pointless.”

“I was a Panthers fan growing up, being close to Carolina.”

“I'm a bit biased with my love for Kyle Long. I would say he's the best bald guard in football.”

“For all the evils in the world, I think apathy is one of the most dangerous.”

“Wherever I go and whoever I go play for, I'm a football player. I enjoy playing football, I enjoy the game, I enjoy being a teammate.”

“I joke that every time I'm in the playoffs, it feels like I'm in the Super Bowl.”