Jake Long
A cornerstone left tackle whose brute strength and technical skill made him the first overall draft pick and a four-time Pro Bowler.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American football player·Birthday: May 9·Millennials
Biography
Jake Long emerged from the powerhouse University of Michigan football program as a can't-miss prospect, a mountain of a man with the footwork of a dancer. The Miami Dolphins made him the top pick in 2008, an investment he immediately validated by starting every game and earning a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie season. For several years, Long was the immovable object on the Dolphins' offensive line, a protector whose presence allowed the team's offense to function. His career, however, became a testament to the physical toll of the trenches; a series of significant knee and Achilles injuries robbed him of his peak athleticism and led to stints with several other teams. His story is one of brilliant, if shortened, dominance, a reminder of how a single elite lineman can define an entire unit's identity.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jake was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Jake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected first overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2008 NFL Draft.
- Earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first four professional seasons (2008-2011).
- Twice named a consensus First-Team All-American at the University of Michigan.
- Started 80 consecutive games to begin his NFL career, a rarity for an offensive lineman.
Did You Know?
He was a standout high school tight end and defensive end before moving to offensive tackle at Michigan.
Long and his wife have twins, a boy and a girl.
He was a three-time state champion wrestler in high school in Michigan.
“I take pride in being the first overall pick and protecting my quarterback.”
