Not every NFL scout has the eye to recognize all-time talent and Steve Young's rise to prominence is the perfect example of talent that got away from many football franchises. On the field, Young was a risk-taker and was willing to take the blame for some of the wild throws he would take. But while he knew some of the attempts he was making were irresponsible, he was also aware that some of those passes would ingrain his name as an NFL legend. While at Bringham Young University, the coaching staff considered switching Young to defensive back because of his athletic ability and the struggles he was having getting accumulated as a college quarterback. But after countless hours of work, Young proved he was worthy of the position and set an NCAA single-season record with a completion percentage of 73.1 as a senior in 1983. Young also helped BYU set an NCAA record averaging 584.2 yards per game as well. To close out his college career Young led the Cougars to a 21-17 victory in the 1983 Holiday Bowl against the Missouri Tigers.
Prior to entering the NFL, Steve Young played in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Los Angeles Express for two seasons before the league was dissolved. Young was picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the supplemental draft but went 3-16 with Young as a starter. In 1987, Steve Young was traded to the San Francisco 49ers where he would make history leading the team to three Super Bowl victories (XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX). Young would win Super Bowl MVP honors in Super Bowl XXIX for throwing a Super Bowl record six touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers. Young had a passer rating of over 100 six times throughout his fifteen-season NFL career along with seven Pro Bowl nods and two NFL MVP honors. Steve Young retired following the 1999 NFL season.