Steve Young Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction
Hall of Fame quarterback who led the 49ers to a Super Bowl victory and set multiple NFL passing records.
Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the NFL for 15 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. A three-time Super Bowl champion, Young was named NFL MVP in 1992 and 1994. He previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him. Prior to his NFL career, Young played for the Los Angeles Express of the USFL for two seasons. He played college football for BYU, setting school and NCAA records. Young was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Quick Facts
- Career completion percentage record
- Retired with a career completion percentage of 64.3%
Lore & Background
Young left the USFL after the 1985 season to join the Buccaneers. Two seasons of underwhelming play led Tampa Bay to trade him to the 49ers in 1987. A quarterback controversy ensued as he spent several seasons backing up Joe Montana. Young became the 49ers' full-time starter in 1991. He was named AP NFL MVP in 1992 and 1994, and was MVP of Super Bowl XXIX, where he led the 49ers to victory over the San Diego Chargers with a record six touchdown passes. In 1994, he set an NFL record for passer rating at 112.8. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Reader's Guide
Young was an extremely efficient passer, leading the league in passer rating a record six times and completion percentage and yards per attempt five times. At retirement, he had the highest passer rating among NFL quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts (96.8). He was ranked fourteenth all time in passer rating, and fourth-highest among retired players, behind Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Tony Romo. His 43 career rushing touchdowns are fourth among quarterbacks, and his 4,239 rushing yards rank sixth all time.
Did You Know?
- Young was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and attended Greenwich High School in Connecticut.
- In his senior year at BYU, Young led the nation in passing yards (3,902), passing touchdowns (33), and set an NCAA single-season record with a 71.3% completion percentage.
- Young was selected by the USFL Los Angeles Express in the first round (11th overall) of the 1984 draft.
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