A two-time NFL MVP and multi-time Super Bowl winner, Steve Young is one of the most decorated players in NFL history.
First backing up Joe Montana and then becoming a dominant force himself, Young was integral to several San Francisco 49ers teams which were among the NFL betting favourites to win the Super Bowl.
Following a glittering college career, Young briefly played for the Los Angeles Express in the USFL. The defunct league can no longer be found on the 888Sport betting pages.
Young, who had been given a record-breaking contract to play in the USFL, was the first pick in the supplemental draft in 1986, joining the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After a torrid couple of years in Florida, Young was traded to the San Francisco 49ers to backup Joe Montana.
His 3-16 record as a starter with the Buccs didn’t suggest Young was heading for a successful NFL career, but that soon changed in north California.
How Much Is Steve Young Worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Steve Young’s net worth is around £150 million.
Across his football-playing career with the Los Angeles Express, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers, Young accumulated millions of dollars in on-field income. Endorsements along the way will have helped to boost his net worth, too.
Since retiring, Young has made money through business, acting, and media work. He was a fixture of ESPN’s NFL coverage until he was laid off in 2023.
Success as a businessman has helped Young elevate his net worth into a territory few of his peers can rival.
NFL players made much less money during Young’s era than they do today, making his wealth something of an anomaly compared to other stars from the 1990s.
Wife
Steve Young is married to Barbara Graham. The couple tied the knot in 2000. They have four children.
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Young has been a prominent voice when it comes to major issues in the US. He is one of the most well-known Mormons in the country, which made it all the more significant when he and his wife spoke out in favour of gay rights.
Young and Graham have four children. Young has been the assistant coach for one of his daughter’s flag football teams.
Speaking about both of his daughters taking an interest in football, Young said, “I never thought one of my daughters would come to me and ask me to teach them how to throw a football. It was super important for them to play, and I love that they wanted to.”
He has been a consistent supporter of women’s flag football as the sport grows around the country.
“Flag football will be a wonderful opportunity for young women to show their talent. Football is a great team game that teaches tremendous life lessons. I want to help build women’s flag football.”
Post-Football Career
Steve Young co-founded Huntsman Gay Global Capital with Robert C. Gay and Jon M. Huntsman in 2007.
Young was directly involved in the private equity firm’s business ventures before serving as their managing director. The company has been part of the Integrity Marketing Group since 2022, an organisation which Young is chairman of.
There have also been forays into acting with Frasier, Beverley Hills 90210, and various other shows, and Young was even offered a part in There’s Something About Mary, but he turned the opportunity down.
Young was a foundational component of ESPN’s NFL broadcasts until 2023. He worked for the company for over 20 years, including a regular place on NFL Countdown.
In 2017, Young gave an interview to Bloomberg about Huntsman Gay Global Capital. Based in Palo Alto, there was a studio in the offices so Young could make television appearances without leaving work.
His comments about his lack of preparation for his ESPN commitments raised eyebrows around the NFL-supporting community.
Having been open about using Monday Night Football to entertain clients, Young was forced to defend his interest in football.
"I participated in this story to encourage athletes to think about their futures because I want to inspire them to think this way. I have worked hard to build an expertise in two different fields, and I am proud of that
"I have built one over the course of 35 years as a football player and analyst. The other, in private equity, I've established over 18 years. I'm focused on being excellent at both — and without sacrificing one for the other.
"Staying connected to the game and working for ESPN are very meaningful to me. In no way did I intend to suggest otherwise."
Super Bowl Wins
Steve Young won the Super Bowl on three occasions. Twice as a backup to Joe Montana and once as the starter, Young was part of title-winning Niners teams in 1988, 1989, and 1994.
Even in the first two, when Joe Montana was the starter, Young delivered some important performances for San Francisco, including the 1988 win over the Minnesota Vikings after Montana suffered an injury.
The Niners were dominant throughout the 1994 season. Young led San Francisco to 10 consecutive regular season wins.
His numbers were impressive enough for MVP, but they would have been even better if he wasn’t regularly removed from games early due to their sizeable leads.
The Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys were dispatched in the first two rounds of the postseason. The Niners then blew out the San Diego Chargers 49-26. Young set a Super Bowl record with six passing touchdowns, breaking the previous high set by Montana.
Records tumbled in the 1994 season for Young, including the highest passing completion percentage of the 1990s. In the Super Bowl, he became the first player to have the most passing and rushing yards in the Big Game.
Steve Young NFL Records
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10th-highest career passer rating
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8th-highest pass completion percentage among retired players
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One of seven quarterbacks to lead the league in touchdown passes in four seasons
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Most touchdown passes in a single Super Bowl
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Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a postseason career
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Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a postseason career
Honours
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Three-time Super Bowl champion
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Super Bowl MVP
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Two-time NFL MVP
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NFL Offensive Player of the Year
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Three-time First Team All-Pro
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Three-time Second Team All-Pro
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Seven-time Pro Bowler
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Four-time NFL passing touchdowns leader
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Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
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College Football Hall of Fame inductee
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Unanimous All-American
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Two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year
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Sammy Baugh Trophy
Career Stats
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169 regular-season games
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64.3% pass completion percentage
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33,124 passing yards
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232 passing touchdowns
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8 yards per attempt
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196 passing yards per game
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13 fourth-quarter comebacks
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16 game-winning drives
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
