Vince Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Vince Young

Young in 2007
No. 10, 9
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1983-05-18) May 18, 1983 (age 42) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:	Madison (Houston)
College:	Texas (2002–2005)
NFL Draft:	2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
Career history
As player:
Tennessee Titans (2006) Philadelphia Eagles (2011) Buffalo Bills (2012)* Green Bay Packers (2013)* Cleveland Browns (2014)* Saskatchewan Roughriders (2017)*
As coach:
Texas (2021–present) Special assistant
Career highlights and awards
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2006) 2× Pro Bowl (2006, 2009) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2006) BCS national champion (2005) Maxwell Award (2005) Davey O'Brien Award (2005) Manning Award (2005) Consensus All-American (2005) Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2005) Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2003) First-team All-Big 12 (2005) Texas Longhorns No. 10 retired Rose Bowl Hall of Fame (2018)
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 1,304 Passing completions: 755 Completion percentage: 57.9% TD–INT: 46–51 Passing yards: 8,964 Passer rating: 74.4 Rushing yards: 1,459 Rushing touchdowns: 12
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Vincent Paul Young Jr. (born May 18, 1983) is a former American football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. The Tennessee Titans picked Young third overall in the 2006 NFL draft. He was also featured on the cover of the Madden NFL 08 video game.

Young played college football for the Texas Longhorns. Many consider him one of the best college quarterbacks ever. In his junior year, he won the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's best college quarterback. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. After this, Young led his team to a BCS National Championship. They played against the USC Trojans in the 2006 Rose Bowl. This game is famous as one of the greatest in college football history. The University of Texas retired Young's jersey number on August 30, 2008.

He played his first five seasons with the Titans. He had a great record of 30 wins and 17 losses as a starter. In his first year, Young was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was also chosen for the AFC Pro Bowl team. In 2009, Young made his second Pro Bowl. He was also named Sporting News NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Later, he played one year as a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. He also spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns from 2012 to 2014. In 2017, he tried to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. However, he was released before the season started.

Early Life and High School Football

Young grew up in Houston, Texas. His mother and grandmother mostly raised him. Young said they helped him stay away from street gangs. When he was seven, a vehicle hit him while he was riding his bicycle. This accident almost took his life. He was in the hospital for months. Today, he believes this event made him a "tougher" person. Young wore the number 10 jersey to honor his mother, Felicia Young, whose birthday is June 10.

High School Career Highlights

Young played for Ray Seals at Madison High School in Houston. He was the starting quarterback for three years. During his high school career, he gained 12,987 total yards. In his senior year, he led his team to a 61–58 victory over the undefeated Galena Park North Shore Mustangs. He gained over 400 total yards in that game. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more.

Young received many awards in high school, including:

• Parade and Student Sports National Player of the Year.
• 2001 Texas 5A Offensive Player of the Year.
• The Sporting News top high-school prospect.
• The Pete Dawkins Trophy in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Young was also a talented athlete in other sports. He played basketball as a guard/forward. He averaged over 25 points per game. He was also a three-year letterman in track and field. He was part of two district-champion 400-meter relay teams. In baseball, he played for two seasons as an outfielder and pitcher.

College Football Journey

Young during the 2005 Big XII Championship game

Young scores a touchdown in the 2005 Big 12 Championship Game.

Young about to score the go-ahead touchdown in the 2006 Rose Bowl

Young at the White House with George W. Bush, Mack Brown, and members of the 2005 national championship team

Young went to the University of Texas. He played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 2002 to 2005. He was part of a very strong group of new players. This group included future NFL players like Rodrique Wright and Justin Blalock. Young did not play in his first year, which is called redshirting.

2003 Season: First Steps

In the 2003 season, Young was a redshirt freshman. He started as the second-string quarterback. However, he began playing more during the season. Young played in 12 games. He passed for 1,155 yards and six touchdowns. He also ran for 998 yards and 11 touchdowns.

2004 Season: Dual-Threat Quarterback

As a redshirt sophomore in the 2004 season, Young started every game. He led the Longhorns to an 11–1 record. They reached the Rose Bowl for the first time ever. They beat the University of Michigan in that game. Young became known as a dual-threat quarterback. He passed for 1,849 yards and rushed for 1,189 yards.

2005 Season: National Championship Victory

In the 2005 season, Young led the Longhorns to an undefeated 11–0 regular season. Texas won the Big 12 championship game 70–3 against Colorado. This earned them a spot in the National Championship Rose Bowl game. They faced the USC Trojans. USC was on a 34-game winning streak. They had two Heisman Trophy winners: quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush.

In the 2006 Rose Bowl, Young had an amazing game. He gained 467 total yards (200 rushing, 267 passing). He scored three rushing touchdowns. One was a 9-yard touchdown run on fourth down with only 19 seconds left. This led the Longhorns to a 41–38 victory. Young won the Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player award. He finished the season with 3,036 passing yards and 1,050 rushing yards. He also won the Davey O'Brien Award. He was named an All-American. In 2018, Young was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Young had a fantastic record as a starter, with 30 wins and only 2 losses. This was the most wins by a University of Texas quarterback at the time. His winning percentage of .938 is one of the best in Division I history. Young's career passing completion percentage of 60.8% is the best in Texas history. The University of Texas retired Young's number 10 jersey on August 30, 2008.

College Statistics Overview

College Achievements and Records

• Young was the first player in NCAA I-A history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.
• He holds five of the top seven single-game quarterback rushing performances in UT history.
• Young is the only two-time winner of the Rose Bowl MVP award.
• He set Rose Bowl and BCS Championship Game records for total yards (467).
• He set a Rose Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback (200).
• Young set a BCS Championship Game record for rushing touchdowns (3).
• He set a UT record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game (267).
• His 30–2 win/loss record as a starter is one of the best in NCAA Division I history.

College Awards and Honors

• 2006 – ESPY Award for Best Championship Performance
• 2006 – ESPY Award for Best Game (2006 Rose Bowl)
• 2006 – Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year
• 2006 – Manning Award winner
• 2006 – Rose Bowl MVP (for 2005 season)
• 2005 – BCS National Championship
• 2005 – The Cingular All-America Player of the Year Award
• 2005 – Consensus All-American
• 2005 – The Maxwell Award – College Player of the Year
• 2005 – Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
• 2005 – 1st Team All-Big 12 Conference honors
• 2005 – Rose Bowl Most Valuable Player (for 2004 season)
• 2003 – Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year
• Texas Longhorns #10 retired

Professional Football Career

After winning the BCS National Championship, Young decided to enter the 2006 NFL Draft. Many expected him to be picked early in the first round. Some experts wondered if his unique throwing style would work in the NFL.

The Tennessee Titans drafted Young as the 3rd overall pick. He was the first quarterback chosen in that draft. On July 27, 2006, Young signed his first contract with the Titans. It was a five-year deal worth up to $58 million, with $25.7 million guaranteed.

2006 Season: Rookie Success

Young during the 2007 Pro Bowl, wearing red/white #10

Young made his first NFL start on October 1, 2006. He led his first NFL fourth-quarter comeback on November 26, 2006, against the New York Giants. The Giants were leading 21–0. Young led the Titans to a 24–21 victory. He threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown.

A week later, Young led another comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts. This was the first time a rookie quarterback led two 14+ point comebacks in the same season. The next week, in his hometown of Houston, Young led a third straight fourth-quarter comeback. He scored a 39-yard game-winning touchdown run in overtime.

On December 24, 2006, Young led another comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills. He finished his rookie season with 552 rushing yards, an NFL record for a rookie quarterback at the time. He won the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of The Year award.

On February 3, 2007, Young was named to the 2007 Pro Bowl. He replaced an injured player. Young had the best record as a starter among the 2006 rookie quarterbacks. He led the Titans to eight wins, including six straight. He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated multiple times. Young's performance also earned him the honor of being the cover athlete for the video game Madden NFL 08.

Young along with Congressman Al Green at the Vince Young Parade in Houston on February 11, 2006

2007 Season: Playoff Appearance

In 2007, Young played in 15 games. He threw for 2,459 yards with 9 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns. In Week 17, Young helped the Titans beat the Indianapolis Colts 16–10. This win secured a playoff spot for the Titans. In his first playoff game, the Titans lost to the Chargers 17–6.

2008 Season: Backup Role

Young with the Tennessee Titans in 2008

In the first game of the 2008 season, Young injured his knee. Coach Jeff Fisher decided to make Kerry Collins the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. The Titans finished with a great 13–3 record, with Young as the backup.

2009 Season: Comeback Player

Before the 2009 season, Coach Fisher said Kerry Collins would remain the starter. However, after a tough 0–6 start, Young replaced Collins as the starter on October 29, 2009.

Young won eight of his ten starts in 2009. The 2009 Titans became the first NFL team to win five straight games after losing their first six. On November 29, 2009, Young led a 99-yard drive against the Arizona Cardinals. He threw a 10-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Kenny Britt as time ran out. The Titans won 20–17. Young had a career-high 387 passing yards in that game.

Young was named the Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year. He also played in the 2010 Pro Bowl.

2010 Season: Final Year with Titans

Young led the Titans to a 4–5 record in their first ten games of the 2010 season. He threw for ten touchdowns. During a game against the Washington Redskins, Young injured his right thumb. After the game, he had a disagreement with Coach Fisher. Fisher then announced that Rusty Smith would be the new starting quarterback.

On January 5, 2011, the Titans announced that Young would no longer be on the team for the 2011 season. Young finished his Titans career with a 30–17 record over five years. He was released by the Titans on July 28, 2011.

Philadelphia Eagles Experience

Young on the sidelines during an Eagles game in 2011.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Young to a one-year contract on July 29, 2011. Young's first start as an Eagle was on November 20, 2011, against the New York Giants. The Eagles won 17–10. Young finished that game with 258 passing yards and two touchdowns. He made three starts for the Eagles in 2011.

Later NFL Teams and CFL Attempt

Young signed with the Buffalo Bills on May 11, 2012, but was released in August 2012. He then signed with the Green Bay Packers in August 2013, but was released later that month. On May 1, 2014, Young signed with the Cleveland Browns, but was released on May 12, 2014.

In March 2017, Young signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). However, he suffered a hamstring injury during training camp. He was released by the Roughriders on June 17, 2017.

NFL Career Statistics

Professional Awards and Honors

• 2x Pro Bowl selection (2006, 2009)
• Cover of Madden NFL 08
• 2006 NFL Rookie of the Week Awards (four separate weekly awards)
• 2006 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
• 2006 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year

Life After Football

On June 14, 2014, Young announced his retirement from professional football. He later said he would consider returning if he received a "guaranteed offer." Young also planned to work at the University of Texas. On August 14, 2014, he was hired by the University of Texas. He worked in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. His job was to help with alumni relations and raise money for programs. These programs supported college students who were the first in their family to attend college or had low incomes. His employment with the University of Texas ended on March 9, 2019. In 2021, he was hired again by the University of Texas as a special assistant in the athletic department.

Personal Life and Education

Because of his strong performance, January 10, 2006, was named "Vince Young Day" in his hometown of Houston. The Texas Senate also declared February 20, 2007, "Vince Young Day" across the entire state.

Young appeared in several television commercials. These included ads for Madden 08, Reebok, and Campbell's Chunky Soup. He also appeared in rapper Mike Jones's music video, "My 64".

Young went back to the University of Texas in 2008. In 2013, he graduated with a degree in youth and community studies. This degree was from the College of Education. Young continues to live in Houston.

Images for kids

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  Young in 2007

See also

In Spanish: Vince Young para niños