Dallas Cowboys As a result of leaving college with eligibility still remaining to be completed (three hours away from a degree), he entered the
supplemental draft in
1974, where he was selected by the
Cincinnati Bengals. On July 3, he was traded to the
Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#122-
Jeff West). He was named the backup
quarterback to
Roger Staubach, after having a strong training camp and
Craig Morton being traded to the
New York Giants. He is best remembered for his performance in a
Thanksgiving Day game in
1974 against the
Washington Redskins. Longley, then a
rookie, came into the game for an injured
Roger Staubach with the Cowboys trailing 16–3 in the third quarter, and facing elimination from the playoffs. After hitting
Billy Joe Dupree for a 35-yard
touchdown pass, he led the Cowboys on a 70-yard drive capped by a 1-yard
Walt Garrison touchdown run. Finally, with the Cowboys behind 23–17 and with only 28 seconds left with no time outs, Longley hit
Drew Pearson at the left sideline for a 50-yard
hail mary pass touchdown which gave the Cowboys a dramatic 24–23 come from behind victory. Because Longley had no expectation of playing in that game and was unprepared, Cowboys lineman
Blaine Nye jokingly called his winning effort "the triumph of the uncluttered mind." The game was named the second-best in the history of
Texas Stadium by
ESPN in 2008. In
1975, he started in the season finale against the
New York Jets, so Staubach could rest for the playoffs. He brought back the team from a 0–14 deficit to win 31–21. On August 30,
1976, after a training room incident in which he sucker-punched
Roger Staubach during the
1976 preseason, the team suspended and eventually traded him to the
San Diego Chargers along with a first round draft pick (#24-
Bob Rush), in exchange for a first (#14-
Steve August) and second round draft choice (#41-
Terry Beeson). The Cowboys used those two picks and two other picks to eventually land the No. 2 overall pick in the 1977 draft, selecting
Tony Dorsett.
San Diego Chargers In
1976, the
San Diego Chargers acquired Longley with the intention of creating a competition with
Dan Fouts. He appeared in three games (one start), completing 12-for-24 passes for 130 yards, along with two
touchdowns and three interceptions while being sacked seven times. He was released on September 8,
1977.
Toronto Argonauts On September 22,
1977, Longley was signed by the
Toronto Argonauts of the
Canadian Football League. He played in eight games before being released.
St. Louis Cardinals On July 5,
1978, Longley was signed as a
free agent by the
St. Louis Cardinals. He was cut on August 22. Longley played shortly thereafter for the minor league Shreveport Steamer during its 1979 summer season.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats On May 24,
1980, he was signed by the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats after being a year out of
football. He was released on June 5. ==Staubach incident==