Steve Young
Steve Young is a Hall of Fame quarterback who revolutionized the position with his dual-threat abilities. Born October 11, 1961, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Young attended Greenwich High School in Connecticut before playing at BYU, where he set NCAA records in his senior season, leading the nation in passing yards (3,902), touchdowns (33), and completion percentage (71.3%). He won the Davey O'Brien Award and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. After two seasons in the USFL with the Los Angeles Express, Young joined the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-1986), struggling through two difficult seasons before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1987. Young spent four years backing up Joe Montana, finally becoming the full-time starter in 1991. Young's combination of pinpoint accuracy and explosive mobility made him one of the most efficient quarterbacks in NFL history. He led the league in passer rating a record six times and completion percentage five times, demonstrating exceptional passing precision while also rushing for 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career. His 96.8 career passer rating ranks fourth among retired players. Young won two NFL MVP awards (1992, 1994) and three Super Bowl championships. His crowning achievement came in Super Bowl XXIX, where he threw a record six touchdown passes while adding 49 rushing yards, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. Another signature moment was "The Catch II" in the 1998 Wild Card playoff against Green Bay, when Young threw a game-winning touchdown to Terrell Owens with three seconds remaining. After retiring due to concussion concerns in 1999, Young earned his J.D. from BYU and became a successful businessman, co-founding private equity firm Huntsman Gay Global Capital in 2007. He also worked as an NFL analyst for ESPN for over two decades. Young was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005 as the first left-handed quarterback to receive the honor. The 49ers retired his No. 8 jersey in 2008.
Known For
Credits
- 2026 · Rise of the 49ers as Self
- 2024 · Evolution of the Black Quarterback as Self
- 2022 · Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure as Self
- 2021 · NFL Icons as Self
- 2020 · Tua as Self
- 2013 · League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis as Self
- 2012 · The San Francisco 49ers Team of the '80s as Self
- 2009 · 30 for 30 as
- 2007 · Cosmo: Reloaded as Self
- 2006 · America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions as Self
- 2006 · America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions as Self (archive footage)
- 2006 · NFL History of the San Francisco 49ers as Self
- 2004 · Listen Up! as Steve Young
- 2003 · NFL Greatest Games: Dallas Cowboys 1992 NFC Championship Game as Self
- 2002 · The Singles Ward as Brother Niner
- 1997 · Dharma & Greg as Self
- 1995 · NFL Films Presents Quarterbacks on Quarterbacks as Self
- 1993 · Frasier as Blake (voice)
- 1993 · Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as Joe Malloy
- 1990 · Beverly Hills, 90210 as Steve Young
- 1990 · Wings as Steve Young