Steve Young facts for kids
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Young in 2012
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| No. 8 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | October 11, 1961 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Greenwich (Greenwich, Connecticut) |
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| College: | BYU (1980–1983) | ||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental draft: | 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is a famous American former football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most famously with the San Francisco 49ers. Before joining the NFL, Young played for the Los Angeles Express in the United States Football League (USFL). He also played college football for the BYU Cougars, where he set many records.
Steve Young was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1992 and 1994. He was also the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX, leading the 49ers to victory with a record six touchdown passes. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Young was known for being a very accurate passer and a great runner. He led the league in passer rating six times and had many rushing touchdowns for a quarterback.
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Early Life and High School Football
Steve Young was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He went to Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Connecticut. There, he played quarterback for the Cardinals football team.
In high school, Steve was a star athlete. In his junior year, he was named to the All-FCIAC West Division First Team. In his senior year, he rushed for 13 touchdowns and was named to the CIAC All-State team. He was also a co-captain for the football, basketball, and baseball teams. In baseball, he was a pitcher and center fielder, even throwing a no-hitter!
College Football Career
Young chose to play college football at BYU (Brigham Young University). At first, he found it hard to throw the ball accurately. The coaches even thought about moving him to a different position because he was so athletic. But Steve worked very hard to improve his passing skills.
He eventually became the starting quarterback after Jim McMahon. In his best college season, Young threw for 3,902 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also ran for 544 yards. With Steve as quarterback, BYU's offense was amazing, averaging 584.2 yards per game. He was named a unanimous All-American and won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. He finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Steve ended his college career by scoring the winning touchdown in the 1983 Holiday Bowl.
He finished his college career with 7,733 passing yards and 56 touchdowns. He also had 1,048 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. In 2001, he was honored by being put into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Journey
When Steve Young finished college, he had a big choice. He could join the new USFL or the established NFL.
Playing in the USFL
The USFL's Los Angeles Express picked Steve Young in their 1984 draft. They offered him a huge 10-year contract worth $40 million. Steve signed with them in March 1984.
He missed the first six games of his rookie season to finish college. But in his first year, he became the first pro football player to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in a single game. Even with talented players, the Express struggled to get fans in Los Angeles. The team also faced financial problems, which made things difficult for the players.
Time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steve Young became unhappy with the problems in the USFL. He eventually bought out his contract and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. The Buccaneers had picked him first in a special draft for USFL and CFL players a year earlier.
The Buccaneers were not a strong team at the time. They had a tough record during Steve's two seasons there. He threw for 11 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with the team.
Joining the San Francisco 49ers
On April 24, 1987, Steve Young was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He was meant to be the backup quarterback to the legendary Joe Montana. The 49ers coach, Bill Walsh, saw Steve's natural talent. He believed Steve's struggles in Tampa Bay were because of the team around him.
Backup to a Legend: 1987–1990
Steve Young played behind Joe Montana for four years. Even as a backup, he showed how good he was. In 1987, he threw four touchdown passes in a game against the Chicago Bears. In 1988, he ran for a 49-yard game-winning touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. This win was very important and helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XXIII.
In 1989, Steve had a great season, completing 69% of his passes for 1,001 yards and eight touchdowns. He even had a perfect passer rating in a game against the New England Patriots. In his four seasons as a backup, Young threw 23 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.
Becoming the Starter: 1991 Season
After Joe Montana got injured in 1990, Steve Young got his chance to lead the 49ers. He started strong, throwing a 97-yard touchdown pass. However, he then got a knee injury. Another backup, Steve Bono, played well in his place. When Young recovered, he still finished the season with an NFL-best 101.8 passer rating. He threw for 2,517 yards and 17 touchdowns. Even with Steve's great play, the 49ers missed the playoffs that year.
First MVP Season: 1992
At the start of the 1992 season, it was unclear if Steve would be the starter. Joe Montana was recovering from his injury. Steve started the season with a concussion. But he quickly recovered and led the 49ers on a five-game winning streak.
He finished the season with 3,465 passing yards and 537 rushing yards. He also led the NFL with 25 touchdown passes and a 107.0 passer rating. This earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and his first Pro Bowl selection. Steve was the first quarterback to have a triple-digit passer rating in two seasons in a row.
1993 Season Challenges
Before the 1993 season, there was a lot of talk about who would be the 49ers' starting quarterback. Joe Montana was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, making Steve Young the definite starter. Steve had a tough start to the season with a swollen thumb, throwing eight interceptions in the first four games. But once his thumb healed, he played incredibly well. He threw 16 touchdown passes with only two interceptions in seven games.
By the end of the year, Young set team records for passing yards (4,023) and consecutive passes without an interception (189). He led the NFL in touchdown passes (29) and passer rating (101.5). The 49ers made it to the NFC Championship game but lost to the Dallas Cowboys again.
Super Bowl Victory and Second MVP: 1994
The 1994 season was amazing for Steve Young and the 49ers. They signed key players and started strong. After a loss to Joe Montana's Chiefs, the 49ers won 10 games in a row. They finished with a 13–3 record, the best in the NFL.
After easily winning their first playoff game, the 49ers faced the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship. They won 38–28, sending Steve to his first Super Bowl as a starting quarterback.
In Super Bowl XXIX, Steve Young had an incredible performance. He threw six touchdown passes, breaking Joe Montana's Super Bowl record of five. The 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49–26. Steve was named the Super Bowl MVP. He also threw for 325 yards and rushed for 49 yards.
This victory capped off an amazing year for Young. He threw for 3,969 yards and a team-record 35 touchdown passes. He also set an NFL record with a 112.8 passer rating. For his outstanding season, Steve won his second NFL MVP award.
Later Years and Retirement
After their Super Bowl win, the 49ers were stopped in the playoffs by the Green Bay Packers for three years in a row. Steve also dealt with several injuries from 1995 to 1997.
In 1998, at age 37, many wondered if Steve's skills were fading. But he proved them wrong, throwing for a career-high 4,170 yards and 36 touchdown passes. The 49ers finally beat the Packers in the playoffs that year. Steve threw the winning touchdown pass to Terrell Owens with only three seconds left. This play is famously known as "The Catch II". However, the 49ers lost the next game.
The 1999 season was Steve Young's last in the NFL. He had many concussions throughout his career. In a game against the Arizona Cardinals, he suffered a severe concussion and missed the rest of the season. This was reportedly his seventh concussion. Because of these repeated concussions, Steve decided to retire from football. He was even offered a starting job with the Denver Broncos, but he chose his health.
Career Achievements and Records
Even though Steve Young didn't become a full-time starter until his seventh NFL season, he had a huge impact. He completed 2,667 passes for 33,124 yards and 232 touchdowns. He also had 43 rushing touchdowns.
His career passer rating of 96.8 is one of the highest in NFL history. His 4,239 rushing yards are the sixth most ever gained by a quarterback. He led the NFL in passer rating six times and in touchdown passes four times.
NFL Records
- Most times led the league in passer rating, career – 6 (tied with Sammy Baugh)
- Most consecutive times led the league in passer rating – 4 (1991–94)
- Most touchdown passes in one Super Bowl – 6
- Most rushing yards by a quarterback, postseason career – 594
- Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, postseason career – 8
San Francisco 49ers Records
- Most touchdown passes (season): 36 (1998)
- Best completion percentage (season): 70.3 (1994)
- Best passer rating (season): 112.8 (1994)
- Best passer rating (career): 101.4
- Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (career): 43
In 2005, Steve Young was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first left-handed quarterback to receive this honor. On October 5, 2008, the San Francisco 49ers retired his No. 8 jersey. He is the only 49er in team history to wear that number.
Life After Football
Business and Law Career
In 1994, Steve Young earned a law degree from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School.
In 2007, he helped start a private equity firm called Huntsman Gay Global Capital (HGGC). He continues to work there as a managing director.
Acting and Broadcasting
Steve Young has appeared in a few TV shows, often playing himself. He was on shows like Frasier, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, and Dharma & Greg.
For over two decades, Steve was a popular football analyst for ESPN. He appeared on shows like "NFL Countdown." He left ESPN in 2023.
Helping Others
Steve Young is a National Advisor for ASCEND: A Humanitarian Alliance. This group helps children in Africa and South America with education, health, and life skills.
In 1993, he started the Forever Young Foundation. This charity helps children who are facing big physical, emotional, and financial challenges. It gives them chances for learning, sports, and therapy that they might not get otherwise.
Personal Life
Steve Young is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is a great-great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, who was an early leader of the church and for whom BYU is named.
Steve married Barbara Graham in 2000. They have two sons and two daughters. He wrote his autobiography, QB: My Life Behind the Spiral, as a private story for his children. The book was published in 2016. Steve Young lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
See also
In Spanish: Steve Young para niños
- Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
- List of NFL quarterbacks who have posted a perfect passer rating
