Steve Bono is a career quality starter β a quarterback whose body of work places Bono in the top half of all players at the position historically. The Knox model values sustained contribution over flash, and Bono's career arc reflects exactly that kind of reliable professional-grade performance.
Steve Bono
Height6'4"
Weight215 lb
BornMay 11, 1962
Age64
CollegeUCLASee College Stats
Rookie yr1985
Draft1985 Β· Rd 6, Pick 142 Β· MIN
All-Time Rank & Honors
career ranks, postseason ranks, awards, title context1x
Pro Bowls
A quality quarterback with a above-average career β a legitimate starter who contributed meaningfully across their career.
Career Value Β· VORP
VORP 64 Β· #1745 Β· Above AverageWorth 64 points of value above a freely-available replacement quarterback β top 39% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 4 of 5 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +16 on average.See board β
Seasons above replacement
4 cleared
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it β adds 0, never a debit
36
Replacement
the KC-H bar
β
4
Seasons over
cleared the bar
Γ
+16
Avg surplus
peak +25
4 seasons Γ ~16 surplus β VORP 64
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at onceβno tab hopping.
3 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Passing | Rushing | Advanced (EPA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | TD% | Int% | Y/A | AdjY/A | TD:INT | Rate | Sk | Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Rec EPA | Pass AirYd | Rec AirYd | |||||
| 1985 | β | MIN | 1 | β | 1 | 10 | 10.0% | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | β | 39.6 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1986 | β | MIN | 1 | β | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | β | 79.2 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1987 | β | PIT | β | β | 34 | 74 | 45.9% | 438 | 5 | 2 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 76.3 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1988 | β | PIT | 2 | β | 10 | 35 | 28.6% | 110 | 1 | 2 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 25.9 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1989 | β | SF | 1 | β | 4 | 5 | 80.0% | 62 | 1 | 0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 12.4 | 16.4 | β | 157.9 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1991 | β | SF | 9 | β | 141 | 237 | 59.5% | 1,617 | 11 | 4 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 2.8 | 88.5 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1992 | β | SF | 16 | β | 36 | 56 | 64.3% | 463 | 2 | 2 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 7.4 | 1.0 | 87.1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1993 | β | SF | 8 | β | 39 | 61 | 63.9% | 416 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 76.9 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1994 | β | KC | 2 | β | 66 | 117 | 56.4% | 796 | 4 | 4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 74.6 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1995 | β | KC | 16 | β | 293 | 520 | 56.3% | 3,121 | 21 | 10 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 2.1 | 79.5 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1996 | β | KC | 14 | β | 235 | 438 | 53.7% | 2,572 | 12 | 13 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 68.0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1997 | β | GB | 2 | β | 5 | 10 | 50.0% | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.9 | β | 56.3 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1998 | β | STL | 2 | β | 69 | 136 | 50.7% | 807 | 5 | 4 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 69.1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1999 | β | CAR | 1 | β | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | β | 39.6 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | -1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1999 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | -0.9 | 0.0 | β | 0 | 0 |
| Career | β | 75 | β | 934 | 1,701 | 54.9% | 10,439 | 62 | 42 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 75.3 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | -1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | -0.9 | 0.0 | β | 0 | 0 | |
Career EPA-0.9Β·-1 passing Β· 0 rushingΒ·-0.9/season
Passing
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | TD% | Int% | Y/A | AdjY/A | TD:INT | Rate | Sk | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 23 | MIN | 1 | β | 1 | 10 | 10.0% | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | β | 39.6 | β | β |
| 1986 | 24 | MIN | 1 | β | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | β | 79.2 | β | β |
| 1987 | 25 | PIT | β | β | 34 | 74 | 45.9% | 438 | 5 | 2 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 76.3 | β | β |
| 1988 | 26 | PIT | 2 | β | 10 | 35 | 28.6% | 110 | 1 | 2 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 25.9 | β | β |
| 1989 | 27 | SF | 1 | β | 4 | 5 | 80.0% | 62 | 1 | 0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 12.4 | 16.4 | β | 157.9 | β | β |
| 1991 | 29 | SF | 9 | β | 141 | 237 | 59.5% | 1,617 | 11 | 4 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 2.8 | 88.5 | β | 8.9 |
| 1992 | 30 | SF | 16 | β | 36 | 56 | 64.3% | 463 | 2 | 2 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 7.4 | 1.0 | 87.1 | β | 9.1 |
| 1993 | 31 | SF | 8 | β | 39 | 61 | 63.9% | 416 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 76.9 | β | 3.8 |
| 1994 | 32 | KC | 2 | β | 66 | 117 | 56.4% | 796 | 4 | 4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 74.6 | β | β |
| 1995 | 33 | KC | 16 | β | 293 | 520 | 56.3% | 3,121 | 21 | 10 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 2.1 | 79.5 | β | 12.6 |
| 1996 | 34 | KC | 14 | β | 235 | 438 | 53.7% | 2,572 | 12 | 13 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 68.0 | β | 8.2 |
| 1997 | 35 | GB | 2 | β | 5 | 10 | 50.0% | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.9 | β | 56.3 | β | β |
| 1998 | 36 | STL | 2 | β | 69 | 136 | 50.7% | 807 | 5 | 4 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 69.1 | β | β |
| 1999 | 37 | CAR | 1 | β | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | β | 39.6 | 0 | β |
| Career | 75 | 934 | 1,701 | 54.9% | 10,439 | 62 | 42 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 6.1 | β | β | 75.3 | 0 | 42.6 |
Rushing
Advanced (EPA)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Rec EPA | Pass AirYd | Rec AirYd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 37 | β | β | β | -0.9 | 0.0 | β | 0 | 0 |
| Career | β | β | β | 0 | 0 |
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 50 Β· SolidA solid career by KV-H: a well-rounded profile that scores 50 of 100, era-normalized against pass yds/g peers across 5 scored seasons.
49
Sustained
career value
Γ.6
52
Peak
best 3 seasons
Γ.4
Γ1
Longevity
career length
Blend 50.2 Γ longevity 1 = KV-H 50Β· confidence 100%
What builds the career mark of 49
On-field 32.2
Availability 16.8
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative pass yds/g)
1991bestavg 481996
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position15
Depth
of 100
Reached 12% of the all-time Passing Yards leader β a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
12% of the all-time Passing Yards leader12
0 categories β₯25% of the all-time leader0
-0.88 EPA/season over 1 season50
A 0β100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data β career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence β so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite β₯ 85 Β· Strong β₯ 65 Β· Solid β₯ 45 Β· Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 84%.
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average Β· KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average QBs aging curve. Group peak age: 29. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
College stats are not imported for this profile yet.
StatVault has the verified college attribution (UCLA), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters β every name is linked.
Top Teammates
Jerry RiceWR4yBill RomanowskiOLB4yJoe PhillipsNT4yWesley WallsTE4yEric DavisFS4ySteve YoungQB4yJamie WilliamsTE4yBrent JonesTE4yTom RathmanRB4yJohn TaylorWR4yTed WashingtonNT3yNeil SmithDE3yMarcus AllenRB3yDale CarterCB3yDerrick ThomasOLB3yGreg ManuskyLB3yLouie AguiarP3yMerton HanksDB3yDexter CarterRB3yTracy SimienILB3yVaughn BookerDE3yKimble AndersRB3yDonnell BennettFB3yDerrick WalkerTE3y
1985 Draft ClassΒ· this player went #142
Franchise Succession
the room, before and afterSteve inherited the San Francisco 49ers QB room from Steve Young (1987β1999), and handed it to Elvis Grbac (1994β1996).
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0β100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 1999team change
Joined CAR (from STL)
- 1999final season
Last recorded season with CAR
- 1998team change
Joined STL (from GB)
- 1997team change
Joined GB (from KC)
- 1994team change
Joined KC (from SF)
- 1989team change
Joined SF (from PIT)
- 1987team change
Joined PIT (from MIN)
- 1985draft
Drafted by MIN β Round 6, Pick 142
Athletic & Unique Profile
verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts6'4" / 215 lb
Frame
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works β
Historical Knox Β· KV-H
Era-normalized career quality β z-scored against 5-season peers. See all β
50
peak 52
Season Report CardsΒ· KV-H era-normalized per season
C+1991
D1992
D1993
B1995
C+1996
Availability
Career durability β games played vs. scheduled, across 13 seasons.
49%
Era Translator
Pass Yds translated to the 2025NFL β each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Pass Yds | Pass Yds/G | β 2025 Pass Yds | β 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1,617 | 179.7 | 3,807+2,190 | 223.9 |
| 1992 | 463 | 28.9 | 2,552+2,089 | 150.1 |
| 1993 | 416 | 52 | 2,650+2,234 | 155.9 |
| 1995 | 3,121 | 195.1 | 3,800+679 | 223.5 |
| 1996 | 2,572 | 183.7 | 3,667+1,095 | 215.7 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), wikipedia:season-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only), nfl.com:official-stats (games-played, facts-only reference) Β· multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle Β· updated 6/18/2026
Career Value Β· VORP
64 career value over replacement β #1745 all-time of 4,642. 12.8/season above a replacement-level QB.
Draft OutcomeValue β
Pick #142 (Rd 6) Β· MIN Β· 1985 Β· +17 vs expected KV-H
50actual
33 expected Β· Ξ+17
Fan Rating
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