Best NFL Careers in BYU football history

With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, let's take a look at some of BYU's greatest NFL success stories.

Steve Young slings a pass for the San Francisco 49ers
Steve Young slings a pass for the San Francisco 49ers | Kirby Lee/GettyImages
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Steve Young - Quarterback

Career Highlights: 2005 Football Hall of Fame Inductee, 2x NFL MVP winner, 1x NFL MVP runner-up, 1x Super Bowl Champion, 1x Super Bowl MVP

Steve Young
Steve Young scans the field in a game against the Dallas Cowboys | RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

You knew that Steve Young would be on this list, so you can stop acting surprised. Young was one of the greatest BYU football players to ever take the field in what would later become LaVell Edwards Stadium--named after the legendary coach who oversaw Young's collegiate career. From his first season, Young's talent was apparent to the college football world as he was selected as 1980's.

Young was a lefty gunslinger born in Salt Lake City, but attended high school in Connecticut before returning to the Beehive State. At BYU, he was named a first-team All-American in 1983 and delivered a thrilling Holiday Bowl victory over Missouri to close out his excellent career as a Cougar. His name currently stands near the press box in LaVell Edwards Stadium retired and immortalized in BYU history.

His NFL career was even greater. Though originally drafted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his career lifted off when he took over the starting spot for the San Francisco 49ers. Paired with legendary wide receiver, Jerry Rice, Young led the 49ers to a golden age of football coming off the heels of Joe Montana's run. The former Coug brought home two Most Valuable Player awards, and nearly claimed a third.

While individual awards are great, team success is the mark of a legend of the game. Young led the 49ers to a Super Bowl XXIX victory and received the Super Bowl MVP for his outstanding leadership and performance that took his team to the pinnacle of football.

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