Steve Young Announces Retirement

Steve Young announced his retirement from the NFL at a press conference Monday in the San Francisco 49ers' locker room at club headquarters. Young made official the speculation that he would retire due to a series of head injuries that he has suffered over the past few years. "The fire still burns, but not enough" he said referring to the risks he would be taking by playing again. Steve spent the last 13 years with the 49ers.

Steve Young actually began his professional football career by bucking the NFL system and signing with the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League. Despite being coveted by most NFL teams, he opted to accept a $40 million contract from the Express at a time when the USFL was trying to out-bid the NFL for the best collegiate players.

Young did not sign with Los Angeles until after the sixth game of the season, but he still started 12 games for them in his first season. During his rookie season he also became the first professional football player to rush for over 100 yards and throw for over 300 yards in the same game.

Steve was only with Los Angeles until September of 1985 when he was released from his contract and was then drafted by Tampa Bay in the 1984 NFL supplemental draft. He spent two seasons with the Buccaneers, starting 19 games before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a second and fourth-round draft pick.

After several frustrating seasons of waiting for the immortal Joe Montana to hang it up, Young finally got his chance as the full-time starting quarterback for the 49ers. He showed signs of how great he could be on the occasions that he filled in for Montana due to injuries, but he soon developed into one of the premier quarterbacks in the league once he was handed the reigns.

Steve young piled up many awards and honors throughout his fantastic career. In 1992 he was named NFL Most Valuable Player and was named starting quarterback in the Pro Bowl. He was also named Player of the Year by The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. In 1994 he was again named NFL Player of the Year and a starter in the Pro Bowl. He also set a single-season NFL record for quarterback rating with a score of 112.8. That's something even the legendary Joe Montana couldn't top.

Ending his career with a quarterback rating 97.6, Young has the highest career rating in the history of the National Football League. He is the only quarterback to have a rating of over 100 in six seasons. Steve was also named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XXIX.

Over the years Steve has thrilled us with his accurate passing ability and his dazzling running ability We have admired his courage to stand in the pocket and take a big hit. Unfortunately for Steve and his fans, the big hit is what is forcing him out of the game.

I'm sure we will see Steve Young in the broadcast booth somewhere this season, but it just won't be the same as watching him on the field. You can bet there are many defensive lineman around the league that are sleeping much better these days knowing their days of chasing Steve all over the field are over.

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