Steve Young

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Lore & Background

Young's 1994 season was defined by resilience. The following week in Detroit, Young led the 49ers to a 27–21 victory. The team rallied around Young to win 10 straight games.

In Their Own Story

The 1994 season was a turning point for Steve Young. After a lopsided 40–8 loss to the Eagles, where Young was benched for Elvis Grbac, he erupted on the sidelines, shouting profanities at head coach George Seifert. 'I was looking for a fistfight,' Young later admitted. That raw display of emotion changed everything. 'It galvanized the guys behind Steve,' said Brent Jones. The next week in Detroit, trailing 7–0, Young took a brutal hit from three Lions defenders. He was screaming, face dark red, crawling off the field before refusing trainers' help. Two plays later, he returned to lead a 27–21 victory. The team won 10 straight games after that.

Reader's Guide

Steve Young's 1994 season is a masterclass in quarterback resilience and efficiency. After a rocky start that included a 40–8 loss to the Eagles and a sideline confrontation with head coach George Seifert, Young rallied the team to 10 consecutive wins. His passer rating of 112.8 set an NFL record at the time. In Super Bowl XXIX, Young threw a record six touchdown passes and was named the game's MVP. The 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49–26, making San Francisco the first team to win five Super Bowls. As of the 2025 NFL season, this is the last Super Bowl the 49ers have won.

Did You Know?

• Steve Young set the NFL record for highest passer rating in a season in 1994 with 112.8.
• Young threw a record six touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIX.
• Cold Hard Football Facts ranks Young's 1994 season as the greatest passing season in NFL history, ahead of Joe Montana's 1989 season.