About Steve Young
A former professional American football quarterback with an estimated net worth of $225 million, Jon Steven Young was born on October 11, 1961. Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon Church, is directly descended from Jon Steven Young, who was born in Salt Lake City in 1961. He graduated from a Connecticut high school. He served as the baseball, basketball, and football teams’ captain his senior year. Due to his quickness, North Carolina attempted to entice him to Chapel Hill, but he selected Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, instead. The sly left-hander from BYU nearly won the Heisman trophy during his final year while setting NCAA records.
Young Selects UFL
Despite having a strong senior year, Young chose to sign with the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League rather than the NFL. However, the Express filed for bankruptcy during Young’s second season with them, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the first overall pick in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft.
In 1987, Young was transferred to the San Francisco 49ers to serve as Joe Montana‘s backup because the Buccaneers were unable to win more than three games in each of his two seasons with them. Young got his first Super Bowl ring in 1989 as the Niners defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, despite supporting Montana (24).
Young Takes over in San Francisco
When Montana sustained an elbow injury in 1991, Young was forced to take over as the starter. However, Young himself was injured for about half of the season. Young led the league in passer rating at the end of 1991 and still threw for more than 2,500 yards. Young had more than 500 rushing yards, nearly 3,500 passing yards, and 25 passing touchdowns in 1992. He received enough praise to win the NFL MVP award.
Young Stars in the Super Bowl
The final obstacle to Young’s starting position was removed with the 1993 Joe Montana trade to the Kansas City Chiefs. He started for the Niners in 1994, the year they won their first Super Bowl. Young threw a Super Bowl XXIX record six touchdown passes as they defeated the San Diego Chargers (29). He set a new season high for passing rating and was named another NFL MVP.
Steve Young declared his retirement in 1999, which turned out to be his final season in the league despite being marred by numerous concussions and San Francisco’s assurance that he would not be reinstated.
Playing Technique and Achievements
Young’s number 8 was retired by San Francisco in 2008 after he was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2005. He was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times, and among retired players, he holds the best career passing rating. Young has the record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and was one of the first genuinely mobile quarterbacks.
Young has been a Monday Night Football analyst for ESPN since his retirement.
Summary
Steve Young defied the NFL system and signed with the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League to start his professional football career. At a time when the USFL was attempting to outbid the NFL for the finest collegiate players, he chose to take a $40 million contract from the Express despite being desired by the majority of NFL teams.
Young joined Los Angeles after the sixth game of the season, but he still made 12 starts for them during his first campaign. He made history as the first professional football player to dash for more than 100 yards and throw for more than 300 yards in the same game during his first season.
Young only played for Los Angeles from September 1985 until his contract was released, at which point the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft. He played for the Bucs for two seasons, making 19 starts, before being sent to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for second- and fourth-round draft picks.
Young finally got his chance to start for the 49ers on a regular basis after several difficult seasons of waiting for the immortal Joe Montana to retire. When he filled in for Montana when he was injured or in a mop-up position, he demonstrated his potential to be a great quarterback, and once he was given the chance to start on a regular basis, he swiftly rose to become one of the league’s top quarterbacks.
During his Hall of Fame career, Young racked up a lot of accolades. He was selected as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1992, and he started at quarterback in the Pro Bowl. He was also voted Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. He won the NFL Player of the Year award once more in 1994 and started for his team in the Pro Bowl. He also achieved a quarterback rating of 112.8, a single-season NFL record.
Young has the greatest career QB rating in the history of the National Football League, finishing with a record of 97.6. Additionally, he is the only quarterback in six seasons with a rating of above 100. Steve received the Super Bowl XXIX Most Valuable Player award as well.
