San Francisco NFL Draft Weekend: Living in the Past with Steve Young

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Speed.

Mobility.

Agility.

Athleticism.

Precision.

Heart.

Intelligence.

These are the characteristics that come to mind when the people of Bay Area think of Steve Young—and were indeed the principles that the man lived by every day during his time as a 49er.

His unrivaled athleticism as a runner, pinpoint accuracy as a passer, and sound judgement as a leader made him one of the most exciting talents to ever grace the ranks of the NFL, and without question my favorite football player of all time.

Steve Young.  Such a simple name, yet one that brings back so many memories…

My first memories of Steve Young however weren’t exactly positive.  For when he initially stepped onto the grass at Candlestick Park, he was largely regarded as the mediocre backup of the great Joe Montana.

I am ashamed to admit that I fell victim to this ridiculous categorization.  Every minute Steve Young played before 1991 was a minute I wished Joe was healthy again.

This seems beyond absurd in hindsight—after all, Young was one of the most effective backups in the league.  His scramble against the Vikings in 1988 will go down in the history books as one of the best plays of professional football lore, and his numbers as the #2 even in the late 80’s foreshadowed a brilliant career as a starter.

But at the time, we Niners fans were in love with another man. We had all been awestruck by #16 for so long that we had no room left in our hearts for any other quarterback wearing red and gold.

The story I am about to share is quite a painful one for me.  It is a disgusting display of a young child’s inability to appreciate the magnitude of greatness that surrounded him and the warped sense of reality that multiple Super Bowl championships can produce in many fans.

That said, this anecdote is a part of my past that I cannot escape.  I’ve wanted to get it off my chest for awhile, and now seems like an ample opportunity.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?