 |
Quarterback Steve Young with Tampa Bay in the '80s. Source: Facebook/NFL Retro (May be subject to copyright) |
It is Steve Young’s birthday today, and the perfect chance to look at how the ‘80s prepared the star quarterback for the success that came later.
College star
Steve Young played his college football at Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1983, where he was a standout. Initially he backed up Jim McMahon who was also a standout and had a successful professional career. In his final year backing up McMahon in 1981, Young appeared in 12 games completing 56 of 112 passes for 731 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 233 yards on 53 attempts. The Cougars finished with an 11-2 record, winning the Western Athletic Conference for the sixth consecutive time, beat Washington State in the Holiday Bowl by a score of 38-36 and finished the season ranked 13th in the Associated Press poll.
Steve Young played his college football at Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1983, where he was a standout. Initially he backed up Jim McMahon who was also a standout and had a successful professional career. In his final year backing up McMahon in 1981, Young appeared in 12 games completing 56 of 112 passes for 731 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 233 yards on 53 attempts. The Cougars finished with an 11-2 record, winning the Western Athletic Conference for the sixth consecutive time, beat Washington State in the Holiday Bowl by a score of 38-36 and finished the season ranked 13th in the Associated Press poll.
When McMahon turned pro, Young became the Cougars starting quarterback for the 1982 season. He completed 230 of 367 passes for 3,100 yards, 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He also rushed for 407 yards on 114 carries, and 10 touchdowns. The Cougars finished with an 8-4 record, winning their seventh straight Western Athletic Conference title, and lost the Holiday Bowl to Ohio State by a score of 47-17. Young was named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-WAC.
In his senior year, the 1983 season, Young completed 306 of 429 passes for 3,902 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His 71.3 completion percentage was an NCAA single-season record. Young also rushed for 444 yards on 102 carries, and eight touchdowns. Brigham Young set an NCAA record by averaging 584.2 yards of total offence per game. Young averaged 370.5 of those yards through his passing and running.
Young was a unanimous All-American, won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award as the country’s best college quarterback; won the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s top passer; and finished second to Nebraska’s Mike Rozier in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
The Cougars finished with a record of 11-1, winning their eighth consecutive Western Athletic Conference championship, defeated Missouri in the Holiday Bowl by a score of 21-17, and finished the season ranked seventh in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ polls. Young scored the winning touchdown in the Holiday Bowl. He was also named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-WAC.
Young finished his college career with 592 completions on 908 attempts for 7,733 yards, 56 touchdowns and 33 interceptions, as well as 1,084 yards rushing on 269 attempts and 18 touchdowns.
Turning Pro
Steve Young would surely be a top pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. Yet, at the time, the United States Football League was courting college prospects. The Los Angeles Express came calling, drafting Young 11th overall in the USFL draft, and signed Young to a then-record $40 million, 10-year contract.
Steve Young would surely be a top pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. Yet, at the time, the United States Football League was courting college prospects. The Los Angeles Express came calling, drafting Young 11th overall in the USFL draft, and signed Young to a then-record $40 million, 10-year contract.
I remember hearing about that contract and how crazy it sounded back then.
Young missed the first six games of the 1984 season because he was taking classes to finish his degree. He joined the Express for the final 12 games, starting them all. He ended up completing 179 of 310 passes for 2,361 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while rushing 79 times for 515 yards and seven touchdowns. One of the highlights of the year was Young becoming the first pro football player to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in a single game.
The 1985 season was a disaster for the Express. Wikipedia explains the league had to take over the team, then cut the budget to the bare minimum. That meant no money was allocated to replace injured players. This became a problem when the Express had a number of injuries. By then, Young and other young players surmised the USFL would not survive, so they played tentatively. They didn’t want to harm their chances to play in the NFL. Before the Express’ final home game, the bus driver refused to leave until he was paid upfront in cash. Young was one of the people who contributed money so the driver took them to their game. In their final game of the season, the Express had no healthy running backs left so Young had to line up at tailback.
Young ended up starting 10 games, completing 137 of 250 passes for 1,741 yards, six touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while rushing 56 times for 368 yards and two touchdowns.
The Express, who had gone to the Western Conference title game the year before, plummeted to 3-15 in 1985.
Young was in football purgatory.
He did manage to get much of the money he was owed by the Express, on his way out of town and to the NFL.
Do you know the way to Tampa Bay
Young ended up buying out his contract with the Express. He immediately signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who had taken Young first overall in a supplemental draft of USFL players.
Young ended up buying out his contract with the Express. He immediately signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who had taken Young first overall in a supplemental draft of USFL players.
Tampa Bay was the NFL, but the Buccaneers were in the middle of what would be 12 straight 10-loss seasons.
Steve Young started five games for Tampa Bay in 1985, winning once and losing four times. He completed 72 of 138 passes for 935 yards, three touchdowns, eight interceptions, and he was sacked 21 times. He also rushed 40 times for 233 yards, one touchdown, fumbled four times and lost three. The Buccaneers finished with a record of 2-14, good enough for fifth and last in the NFC Central Division.
Young started 14 games for Tampa Bay in 1986, winning two and losing 12. He completed 195 of 363 passes for 2,282 yards, eight touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and he was sacked 47 times. He also rushed 74 times for 425 yards, five touchdowns, fumbled 11 times and lost nine of them. The Buccaneers again finished 2-14, fifth and last in the NFC Central Division yet again.
Young was still in football purgatory.
Are you going to San Francisco?
The Buccaneers gave up on Young after the season, drafting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde first overall in the 1987 NFL Draft. They traded Young to San Francisco just before the draft. The 49ers planned to use Young to back up Joe Montana, their star quarterback. San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh saw Young’s potential, and believed his lack of success was due in large part to the team that had surrounded him.
The Buccaneers gave up on Young after the season, drafting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde first overall in the 1987 NFL Draft. They traded Young to San Francisco just before the draft. The 49ers planned to use Young to back up Joe Montana, their star quarterback. San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh saw Young’s potential, and believed his lack of success was due in large part to the team that had surrounded him.
Steve Young would spend the next four seasons, and close out the ‘80s, as Montana’s back up. However, when given the opportunity he performed well in spot duty.
He appeared in eight games for the Niners, starting three in 1987, winning two and losing one. He completed 37 of 69 passes for 570 yards, 10 touchdowns, no interceptions, and he was sacked three times. He also rushed 26 times for 190 yards, one touchdown, and didn’t fumble. San Francisco won their second straight NFC West Division title with a record of 13-2, but were upset in the NFC Divisional Game by Minnesota.
In 1988, Young appeared in 11 games for San Francisco, starting three, winning two and losing one. He completed 54 of 101 passes for 680 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and he was sacked 13 times. He also rushed 27 times for 184 yards, one touchdown, fumbled five times and lost three. San Francisco won their third straight NFC West Division title with a record of 10-6, defeated Minnesota in an NFC Divisional Game re-match, beat Chicago in the NFC Championship Game, and won the Super Bowl by beating Cincinnati.
In 1989, Young appeared in 10 games for the 49ers, starting three, winning them all. He completed 64 of 92 passes for 1,001 yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and he was sacked 12 times. He also rushed 38 times for 126 yards, two touchdowns, fumbled two times and lost one. San Francisco won their fourth consecutive NFC West Division title with a record of 14-2, defeated Minnesota in an NFC Divisional Game for the second straight year, beat the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, and won the Super Bowl by blowing out the Denver Broncos.
As the ‘80s ended, Steve Young was no longer in football purgatory as his team had won the last two Super Bowls. However, he was stuck behind a legend and was still in his own personal purgatory.
That would change in the ‘90s, as he would get his chance and emerge as a legend himself.
The years after
Steve Young would spend one more year backing up Joe Montana. He finally did get his chance when Montana was hurt in the 1990 NFC Championship Game – and Young made the most of it.
Steve Young would spend one more year backing up Joe Montana. He finally did get his chance when Montana was hurt in the 1990 NFC Championship Game – and Young made the most of it.
He would play nine more years for the 49ers, retiring at the conclusion of the 1999 season, after suffering repeated concussions. He cemented his legacy by leading the 49ers to a championship following the 1994 season, where he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl.
Young was also the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1992 and 1994; NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1992; United Press International NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994; won the Bert Bell Award as the NFL’s Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994; a First Team All-Pro in 1992, 1993, and 1994; a Second Team All-Pro in 1995, 1997, and 1998; named to the 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 Pro Bowl; led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1998; led the NFL in passer rating in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997; and led the NFL in completion percentage in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997.
Young retired completing 2,667 passes on 4,149 attempts for 33,124 yards, 232 touchdowns, and 107 interceptions. He also rushed for 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns on 722 carries.
He was inducted in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Parting thoughts
Steve Young is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is fitting the faith has a concept called “Spirit Prison” which is similar to purgatory. Once he left BYU, Young was in football purgatory for a long time.
Steve Young is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is fitting the faith has a concept called “Spirit Prison” which is similar to purgatory. Once he left BYU, Young was in football purgatory for a long time.
It started when he chose to go to the USFL and ended up embroiled in the disaster the Los Angeles Express franchise was. However, had he chosen the NFL instead, he may have been drafted by Tampa Bay anyway.
When he went to the Buccaneers, he was confined to the NFL’s version of purgatory. It seemed as if Steve Young would never catch a break. Pro football in the 1980s was not good to him.
Then the journey on the road to redemption began.
It is remarkable to me that anyone who saw Steve Young play could not see how great he could be. That’s why it confounds me the Tampa Bay Buccaneers considered him a bust and traded him for two draft picks. It’s also why the Buccaneers were mired in such a horrible slump for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, Young showed class and patience, biding his time, and waiting for his opportunity.
When he got it, he made the most of it.
By the end of his career, Steve Young’s road to football redemption was complete.
No comments:
Post a Comment