Steve Young conquered the college ranks before overcoming early professional hurdles to forge a legendary, record-setting career as the leader of the San Francisco 49ers.
Football Bio
October 11, 1961 – Steve Young, a former BYU quarterback and NFL quarterback, was born.
Steve was also an outstanding quarterback for BYU, setting school and NCAA records, finishing as the 1983 Heisman Trophy runner-up, and earning consensus All-American honors.
The College Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 2001. [National Football Foundation]
The LA Express of the USFL drafted Young with a first-round pick in the 1984 draft.
After the fledgling League folded, Steve joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a first-round pick of a special draft for displaced USFL players.
In 1987, the Bucs traded Young to the San Francisco 49ers.
He didn’t play much for the Niners over the next four seasons, as they had a guy named Montana with a pretty good career.
In 1991, he got his break when Joe Montana suffered an injury, and Young earned his first of six League passing titles.
Profootballhof.com tells us how Steve Young had an incredible performance in San Francisco’s 49-26 win over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.
Young passed for 325 yards and threw a Super Bowl record six touchdowns. He also led the game in rushing with 49 yards on five carries.
For his efforts, he was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Steve Young in 2005. [National Football Foundation]
Steve Young secured his football legacy by combining unmatched precision passing with elite mobility, cementing his place among the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Check out this podcast we did on the 49ers history.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1983.
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Three-time Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX).
- Super Bowl XXIX MVP.
- Two-time NFL Most Valuable Player (1992, 1994).
- Selected to 7 Pro Bowls (1992–1998).
- Named First-Team All-Pro 3 times (1992–1994).
- Led the NFL in passer rating 6 times (1991–1994, 1996, 1997).
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