Chase Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chase Young

Young in 2021
No. 99 – New Orleans Saints
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1999-04-14) April 14, 1999 (age 26) Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	264 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Maryland)
College:	Ohio State (2017–2019)
NFL Draft:	2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
Career history
Washington Football Team / Commanders (2020) San Francisco 49ers (2023) New Orleans Saints (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2020) Pro Bowl (2020) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2020) Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2019) Chuck Bednarik Award (2019) Ted Hendricks Award (2019) Unanimous All-American (2019) Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year (2020) Big Ten Most Valuable Player (2019) Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2019) First-team All-Big Ten (2019) Second-team All-Big Ten (2018)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 131 Sacks: 22.0 Forced fumbles: 7 Fumble recoveries: 3 Pass deflections: 12 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Chase Young, born on April 14, 1999, is a professional American football player. He plays as a defensive end for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he was a star player for the Ohio State Buckeyes college team. In 2019, he was recognized as one of the best college players, even breaking a school record for sacks.

Young was chosen as the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He quickly made an impact, winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2021, he had a serious knee injury (an ACL tear) that kept him out for much of the 2022 season. In 2023, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers and played in Super Bowl LVIII. He then signed with the Saints in 2024.

Early Life and High School Football

Chase Young was born on April 14, 1999, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He started playing football when he was a child. He first attended St. Columba School and then St. Vincent Pallotti High School.

At St. Vincent Pallotti, he played different positions like quarterback and tight end. Later that year, he mainly focused on playing defensive end. In 2014, his team won a championship in Maryland. Young was also talented in music, playing the piano, saxophone, and violin.

In 2015, Young moved to DeMatha Catholic High School. There, he became a standout player. He recorded 19 sacks and 27 tackles for loss in one season. This helped his team win the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship.

As a senior in 2016, he continued to excel. He had 19 sacks, 118 tackles, and five forced fumbles. He even scored two defensive touchdowns. His team went undefeated and won another WCAC championship. By this time, he was considered one of the best high school football players in the country. He was invited to play in important high school games like the All-American Bowl. Young also played basketball at DeMatha, alongside future NBA star Markelle Fultz.

College Football Career

A man during a game playing for Ohio State University's football team.

Chase Young received scholarship offers from over 40 universities. In July 2016, he chose to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He liked their family-focused approach and wanted to play for coach Larry Johnson.

As a freshman in 2017, Young had 3.5 sacks and 18 tackles. In his second year, he became a starter. He recorded 10.5 sacks, even though he sprained both ankles. He was named second-team All-Big Ten for his strong performance.

In 2019, Young was named one of the team captains. He had an amazing game against Wisconsin, tying school records for sacks (4) and tackles for loss (5) in a single game. Later that year, he was briefly suspended by the NCAA for a loan he received, which he repaid. After returning, he continued his excellent play, recording three sacks against Penn State.

Young finished the 2019 season with 16.5 sacks. This broke the Ohio State single-season record. He also had 46 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 7 forced fumbles. He received many awards, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, a very prestigious award. Young finished his college career with 30.5 sacks in three seasons. This ranks him second all-time at Ohio State.

College Statistics

Professional NFL Career

Young decided to enter the 2020 NFL draft after his junior year. Many experts believed he was the best overall player available. The draft was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington Football Team / Commanders (2020–2023)

A man running with a football in the process of returning it for a touchdown.

The Washington Redskins (now Commanders) selected Young as the second overall pick. He signed a four-year contract worth over $34 million. He was the fourth defensive lineman drafted by Washington in the first round in four years.

Many people thought Young would win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In his first game, he had 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He missed one game due to a mild groin injury. In a game against the San Francisco 49ers, he had a sack, two passes defended, a forced fumble, and returned a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown. He was the first rookie in NFL history to do all of that in one game. Young finished his rookie season with 7.5 sacks, which was the most among all rookies.

In December 2020, Young was named a team captain. He was also named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award from the Associated Press and Pro Football Writers of America. He was also chosen for the 2021 Pro Bowl.

Young being helped off the field after suffering an ACL tear, 2021

In 2021, Young suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee during a game. This injury required surgery and a long recovery time. He missed the rest of the 2021 season and most of the 2022 season. He returned to play in Week 16 of 2022. Before the 2023 season, the team decided not to extend his contract.

San Francisco 49ers (2023)

On November 1, 2023, Young was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He recorded 2.5 sacks with the 49ers, bringing his total for the 2023 season to 7.5 sacks. He played in Super Bowl LVIII with the 49ers, where he had one sack in their close loss to the Chiefs.

New Orleans Saints (2024–Present)

On March 18, 2024, Young signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. The next day, it was announced he would have neck surgery, which meant he would likely miss part of training camp. On July 18, 2024, Young was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He finished the 2024 season with 31 total tackles and 5.5 sacks. On March 10, 2025, the Saints re-signed Young to a three-year contract.

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life and Interests

Chase Young comes from a family with a background in law enforcement. His father, Greg, played college basketball and worked as a deputy sheriff. His mother, Carla, works for the Office of Investigations for the U.S. Department of Transportation. His sister, Weslie, played college basketball. Young studied criminology at Ohio State, inspired by his family members in law enforcement.

During his time with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Young was nicknamed "the Predator." This was because of his strong performance on the field and how his dreadlocks looked like the creatures from the Predator movies.

Young is represented by Klutch Sports Group, a sports agency. He is also a football ambassador for Klutch Athletics, a sportswear brand. He has appeared in commercials for companies like Chipotle and Under Armour. He has also been a guest on TV shows like The Shop and Celebrity Family Feud. In 2021, he performed guest vocals on a song called "Fire & Ice" by the rapper Wale. In 2022, he was the honorary pace car driver for a NASCAR race.

See also

In Spanish: Chase Young para niños