*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?

Latest answer — October 09, 2026

57 Across

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Howie Long, former NFL player and football analyst.

Clue explained

The NFL analyst is Howie Long, and the clue gives his surname a second reading: a “long face” is a sad or downcast expression. That makes Howie Long the name that supplies the clue’s “sad demeanor.” It also fits the theme, “put a face to a name”: the starred entries pair names with face-related expressions, including Emma Stone and George Smiley.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Friday, October 09, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1C in shop class?
  2. 6Blu-ray precursor
  3. 9South Asian crepes
  4. 14Hispaniola nation
  5. 15Outdoor co-op with an "Uncommon Path" blog
  6. 16Loosen, as laces
  7. 17*Two-time Oscar winner with a stoic bearing?
  8. 19Recline atop
  9. 20Charge
  10. 21Horn sound
  11. 22Briquettes
  12. 23*Nursery rhyme lad with one eye closed?
  13. 26Talk into a bigger purchase
  14. 29Warped Tour sponsor
  15. 30Protective trench
  16. 31Golfing goof
  17. 33Lid
  18. 36Finally meet in person, or how to make the starred clues match their answers
  19. 40Grads-to-be
  20. 41Sarge's superior
  21. 42Hieroglyphic snakes
  22. 43Insider's argot
  23. 44Check
  24. 46*Fictional spy sporting a big yellow button?
  25. 51Partygoer who might stock up on glow sticks
  26. 52Many a Yemeni
  27. 53Sweets
  28. 56Carne __ burrito
  29. 57*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?
  30. 59Romantic poet who died fighting for Greek independence
  31. 60"Eddington" director Aster
  32. 61Caused
  33. 62Utter, as thou might
  34. 63Pewter component
  35. 64Eye sores

Down

  1. 1Many a cooking show host
  2. 2Fabric with metallic threads
  3. 3Love, in French
  4. 4NYC transit org.
  5. 5Flower part
  6. 6Salivate
  7. 7Starbucks order
  8. 8Drop to 0%
  9. 9Woman of La Mancha?
  10. 10Mirepoix vegetables
  11. 11Swordfish cut
  12. 12Garlicky mayo
  13. 13Intuit
  14. 18Per-axle charge
  15. 23Large New Zealand cricket in the name of an Oscar-winning digital effects company
  16. 24Paperless Post alternative
  17. 25Baylor University city
  18. 26Pros who work at home
  19. 27Really come down
  20. 28College Board exams
  21. 31Many Highland Games participants
  22. 32Fragrant garland
  23. 33Instance
  24. 34Boxes in an arena?
  25. 35Annoyance
  26. 37Like a foul that might earn an automatic ejection
  27. 38Super-duper
  28. 39Less than hardly, quaintly
  29. 43Assertions of faith
  30. 44Jai __
  31. 45Fights back
  32. 46Snatches
  33. 47GPA booster
  34. 48Egg-producing organ
  35. 49Language of a haka chant
  36. 50Conservationist Bindi
  37. 53Hair quality
  38. 54Upfront stake
  39. 55Obstacles to teamwork
  40. 57Lid
  41. 58Permit

The answer to “*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?” in the The Washington Post crossword is HOWIELONG — a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 9, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 57-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?” answer

HOWIELONG (9 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is HOWIELONG.

When else has “*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?” appeared?

The Washington Post reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 9, 2026 (most recent) → HOWIELONG. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?”?

The answer is HOWIELONG, a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 9, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?”?

9 letters: HOWIELONG.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 9, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 57-Across.

Can “*NFL analyst with a sad demeanor?” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for October 9, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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