Quarterback Steve Young spent 15 years in the NFL, but he's best remembered for his 13-year tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. Today is the anniversary of the April 24, 1987 trade that sent Young from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the 49ers in exchange for second and fourth-round draft picks.
Young, initially considered a bust after two lackluster seasons with Tampa Bay, transformed into a Hall of Fame quarterback with San Francisco. Throughout his career, he led the league in passer rating six times, earned AP NFL Most Valuable Player honors in 1992 and 1994, was selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls, and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX.
Legendary 49ers head coach Bill Walsh was instrumental in recognizing Young's potential when the Buccaneers could not, orchestrating the quarterback's move to San Francisco.
"[Walsh's] influence is now all over the league, and I was grateful for the formative role he played in my progress," Young acknowledged during his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2005. "He believed in a scrambling lefty. Thanks, Bill."
While Young secured three Super Bowl titles, two of those victories were as a backup to another 49ers legend, Joe Montana. However, Young's standout 1994 season, which featured nearly 4,000 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, just 10 interceptions, and a remarkable 70.3 percent completion rate, culminated in his own Super Bowl triumph.
During that postseason, Young guided the 49ers to a decisive 44-15 victory over the Chicago Bears and led the team past the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship en route to a Super Bowl clash with the San Diego Chargers.
Super Bowl XXIX witnessed Young's record-breaking performance, setting the mark for the most touchdown passes in a single Super Bowl with six, surpassing Montana's previous record of five. With 325 passing yards and 49 rushing yards, Young orchestrated the 49ers' 49-26 triumph over the Chargers, securing the organization a then-record fifth Super Bowl championship.
"My favorite moment still was the five minutes after the Super Bowl when we were alone in the locker room," Young reflected during his Canton speech. "Just the 50 players and coaches kneeling in the Lord's prayer, then looking up at each other and realizing that, yes, we were world champions. No media, no one, just us. That feeling when you do something great together is like no other. No MVP or passing title can compare to that feeling."
In 1999, Young's final season was cut short by a Week 3 sack from cornerback Aeneas Williams, exacerbating numerous concussions sustained throughout his career. This marked the end of Young's illustrious career, and he retired at season's end.
Over his 15 NFL seasons, Young amassed 33,124 passing yards, 232 touchdowns, 107 interceptions, 43 rushing touchdowns, and a career passer rating of 96.8 during regular season play. He ranks fifth all-time in passer rating, fourth in passing yards per completion, and 11th in completion percentage. On October 5, 2008, he became the 11th player in 49ers history to have his number retired by the team.
Three years earlier, during his speech in Canton, Young declared, "I love the faithful fans of San Francisco. I wanted to live up to your amazing expectations. You were the heart of it all. Thank you so very much, even for the boos that motivated me to work harder to gain your trust and confidence. No fans ever deserved it more. They were halcyon days never to be forgotten."
Young began his professional career with the Los Angeles Express of the now-defunct USFL before joining the Buccaneers via a 1985 supplemental draft and eventually landing in San Francisco. He went on to serve as an analyst for ESPN and still lives in the Bay Area.
