How Many Years Did Steve Young Play In The Nfl?
Steve Young played 15 seasons in the NFL, winning one Super Bowl and being named the league’s MVP in 1992.
Steve Young’s NFL Career
Steve Young played in the NFL for 15 years, beginning his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1985 and ending it with the San Francisco 49ers in 1999. During his time in the NFL, Young was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1992 and 1994. He also won three Super Bowls, one with the Buccaneers and two with the 49ers.
Drafted in 1984
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Steve Young in the 1984 NFL Draft. However, he was unhappy with the situation in Tampa and requested a trade. The Buccaneers eventually traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for second and fourth-round draft picks in the 1987 NFL Draft.
Traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1987
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded Steve Young to the San Francisco 49ers for second- and fourth-round draft picks in 1987. The move came as something of a surprise because Young had been the Buccaneers’ first-round pick only three years earlier, and because he had just finished his best season to date, setting career highs in completions (192), attempts (357), passing yards (2,636), and touchdown passes (15).
Named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1992
In 1992, Young had his breakout year, completing324 of 491 passes for 3,969 yards and a league-leading 35 touchdown passes, while also rushing for 537 yards and 7 TDs. He was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player by the AP and UPI, and was also named Offensive Player of the Year by the Sporting News. He was selected to his second Pro Bowl, and led the 49ers to a 14–2 record and their second consecutive NFC West title. In the NFC Divisional Playoffs against the Washington Redskins, Young completed 18 of 26 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns as San Francisco won 28–10. In the NFC Championship Game against Dallas, he completing 15 of 28 passes for 175 yards as the 49ers won 30–20 to advance to Super Bowl XXVII.
Won Super Bowl XXIX in 1995
Steve Young played football for 15 seasons in the NFL. He was born October 11, 1961, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Young’s parents divorced when he was three, and he was raised by his mother and her parents. Young quarterbacked for Brigham Young University (BYU), where he was Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1983 and 1984. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the first round of the NFL draft in 1987.
Young replaced Joe Montana as the 49ers’ starting quarterback during the 1991 season. He led the team to victory in Super Bowl XXIX in 1995, after which he was named Super Bowl MVP. Young was also named NFL MVP in 1992 and 1994. He retired from football after suffering a series of concussions during the 1999 season.
Steve Young’s Retirement
In 1999, after 15 seasons in the NFL, Steve Young decided to retire from football. Young had an amazing career, setting records and earning multiple MVP awards, but he was starting to feel the effects of all the hits he had taken over the years. After much deliberation, Young ultimately decided that it was time to walk away from the game while he still could.
Announced his retirement in 1999
On June 14, 1999, Steve Young announced his retirement from the National Football League after a distinguished career that spanned 15 seasons. He played the first 12 of those seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in April of 2001. He spent his final three seasons with the 49ers, winning a Super Bowl title in 1994.
Young’s retirement came as a surprise to many, as he had just turned 36 years old and was still considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, he had been dealing with nagging injuries for several years and decided that it was time to walk away from the game. In his press conference announcing his retirement, Young said that he wanted to be able to “watch my kids grow up” and that he was “at peace” with his decision.
Since retiring from football, Young has remained active in various business ventures and philanthropic causes. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and his No. 8 jersey was retired by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.
Cited concussions as the reason for his retirement
In 1999, after sustaining his 7th concussion, Young was persuaded to retire by his wife Barbara Graham. Citing concerns over the long-term effects of concussions, she told him that if he could not promise her he would no longer play football, their marriage was over. He retired the next day.
After Football
Steve Young, best known for his years playing quarterback in the NFL, has had a post-football career that includes business, philanthropy, and broadcasting. Young played for the San Francisco 49ers for most of his NFL career and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After football, Steve Young has been involved in various businesses and has also been very philanthropic.
Worked as a commentator for ESPN
In 2002, one year after his final season, ESPN hired Young as a NFL game analyst, where he worked until 2009.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005
In his prime, Steve Young was one of the most elusive quarterbacks in NFL history. He was known for his scrambling ability and his trademark spin move, which helped him gain yards even when he was about to be tackled. Young was also an accurate passer, and he holds the record for the highest career passing rating in NFL history.
Young played football for Brigham Young University before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He played for the Buccaneers for two seasons, but he saw limited action due to injuries. In 1986, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he became the backup quarterback behind Joe Montana.
When Montana was injured during the 1990 season, Young stepped in and led the 49ers to victory in Super Bowl XXIII. He was named the league’s Most Valuable Player that year, and he went on to win two more MVP awards in 1992 and 1994. He also led the 49ers to victory in Super Bowl XXIX, making him the only quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl while also being named Super Bowl MVP.
Young retired from football after suffering a concussion during the 1999 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
