Steve Young

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Lore & Background

Young joined the Buccaneers in 1985 after the USFL season ended, playing for Tampa Bay in 1985 and 1986. 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 starting quarterback Joe Montana, who had previously led San Francisco to four Super Bowl championships (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV). Young became the 49ers' full-time starting quarterback in 1991. He was named the AP's NFL Most Valuable Player in 1992 and 1994, and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX where he led the 49ers to a victory over the San Diego Chargers with a record six touchdown passes. During his 1994 MVP campaign, Young set a new 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.

In Their Own Story

The roar of Candlestick Park was a physical weight, pressing against Steve Young's shoulders as he stepped into the huddle. The clock ticked down on the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXIX, but the score told a different story: a 49-20 blowout that felt more like a showcase than a battle. He scanned the defense, seeing the Chargers' secondary shift nervously. With a calmness that belied the chaos, he called an audible, his eyes locking onto Jerry Rice breaking free down the sideline. The snap came. Young dropped back, but the pocket collapsed instantly. Instead of panicking, he spun away from the sack, his legs carrying him forward with explosive power. He planted his foot, pivoted, and launched a spiraling missile that seemed to hang in the air forever before finding Rice's hands for another touchdown. The crowd erupted, not just for the score, but for the sheer artistry of the play. Young smiled, tapping his helmet, knowing he had finally etched his name into the pantheon alongside the greats.

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 the time of his retirement, Young had the highest passer rating among NFL quarterbacks with at least 1,500 passing attempts (96.8). As of 2025, he was ranked fourteenth all time in passer rating, and was ranked fourth-highest amongst retired players, behind only Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Tony Romo. Young's 43 career rushing touchdowns are fourth among quarterbacks, while his 4,239 rushing yards ranks sixth all time.

Did You Know?

• Young was selected by the USFL Los Angeles Express in the first round (11th overall) of the 1984 draft held that January.
• He became the first pro football player ever to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 in a single game.
• Young finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1983, behind Nebraska running back Mike Rozier.
• He set an NCAA single-season record with a 71.3% completion percentage in his senior year at BYU.