Now in his fourth NFL season, Hunter Long has a lot to offer the Los Angeles Rams.
Not only is the Exeter, New Hampshire native a tight end for the offense, Long's on all the kicking units and just led the Rams in special teams snaps in a Week 14 win over Buffalo.
And best of all, if you need IT help, he's a computer science graduate from Boston College, so he can block a punt on Sunday and maybe a cyber-attack on his off day.
"I learned fairly young – which I was lucky to learn – that with a good Google search and a YouTube video, you can teach yourself just about anything that you care about," Long tells us on a new episode of Rams Revealed. "Which is how I taught myself to build computers; how I taught myself to code when I started getting into the software side of things.
"I love the idea of creating something and pouring your time into it."
Long says he dreams of inventing a product and building his own company, and as it turns out his football career was a start-up project, as well.
"(Off the internet) was how I learned football. I never had a personal trainer. I never had some football guru to teach me the way."
Without a scholarship offer at the end of his high school career, Long leaned into his "delusional confidence" to take a prep year to develop, eventually catching the eye of the B.C. Eagles and performing in the ACC.
He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 third round, then traded to the Rams as part of the 2023 Jalen Ramsey deal.
Now 26 years old, Long just scored his first NFL touchdown on a 22-yard scoop and score. Admittedly, it was not how he envisioned his first professional touchdown. And credit for the block goes to reserve linebacker Jacob Hummel. Nonetheless, the Rams are not 7-6 without that tandem. And next up, a rivalry showdown in the NFC West in Santa Clara.
On this week's Rams Revealed, we broke down that unforgettable moment from the most recent victory, discussed the trade that brough him to California, and the injuries he had to overcome with the Dolphins and Rams to get this chance. Plus, don't overlook another of Long's not-so-hidden talents.
"I would argue I'm one of the best Call of Duty players in the NFL," says the avid gamer.
Rams Revealed presented by Sleep Number is also available on YouTube or in audio format wherever you get your podcasts.
