Steve Young ranks in the all-time elite tier for quarterbacks β a career that places Young in the top 10% of all players at the position. The Knox value model assigns Young a career score of 68, reflecting sustained impact that most players at the position never approach.
Regular-season all-time ranks
Season honors and record seasons
A top 10% all-time quarterback who consistently made an impact across multiple seasons.
Worth 291 points of value above a freely-available replacement quarterback β top 4% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 12 of 14 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +24.3 on average.See board β
Seasons above replacement
12 seasons Γ ~24.3 surplus β VORP 291
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at onceβno tab hopping.
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Passing | Rushing | Advanced (EPA) | Receiving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D | |||||
| 1985 | β | TB | 5 | β | 72 | 138 | 52.2% | 935 | 3 | 8 | 2.2 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 0.4 | 56.9 | 21 | 40 | 233 | 1 | 5.8 | 2.5 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1986 | β | TB | 14 | β | 195 | 363 | 53.7% | 2,282 | 8 | 13 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 65.5 | 47 | 74 | 425 | 5 | 5.7 | 6.8 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1987 | β | SF | 8 | β | 37 | 69 | 53.6% | 570 | 10 | 0 | 14.5 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 11.2 | β | 120.8 | 3 | 26 | 190 | 1 | 7.3 | 3.8 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1988 | β | SF | 11 | β | 54 | 101 | 53.5% | 680 | 3 | 3 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 72.2 | 13 | 27 | 184 | 1 | 6.8 | 3.7 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1989 | β | SF | 10 | β | 64 | 92 | 69.6% | 1,001 | 8 | 3 | 8.7 | 3.3 | 10.9 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 120.8 | 12 | 38 | 126 | 2 | 3.3 | 5.3 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1990 | β | SF | 6 | β | 38 | 62 | 61.3% | 427 | 2 | 0 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 6.9 | 7.5 | β | 92.6 | 8 | 15 | 159 | 0 | 10.6 | 0.0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1991 | β | SF | 11 | β | 180 | 279 | 64.5% | 2,517 | 17 | 8 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 2.1 | 101.8 | 13 | 66 | 415 | 4 | 6.3 | 6.1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1992 | β | SF | 16 | β | 268 | 402 | 66.7% | 3,465 | 25 | 7 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 3.6 | 107.0 | 29 | 76 | 537 | 4 | 7.1 | 5.3 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1993 | β | SF | 16 | β | 314 | 462 | 68.0% | 4,023 | 29 | 16 | 6.3 | 3.5 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 1.8 | 101.5 | 31 | 69 | 407 | 2 | 5.9 | 2.9 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 2 | 2 | 0 | β | 1.0 | β | β | β |
| 1994 | β | SF | 16 | β | 324 | 461 | 70.3% | 3,969 | 35 | 10 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 8.6 | 9.2 | 3.5 | 112.8 | 31 | 58 | 293 | 7 | 5.1 | 12.1 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1995 | β | SF | 11 | β | 299 | 447 | 66.9% | 3,200 | 20 | 11 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 92.3 | 25 | 50 | 250 | 3 | 5.0 | 6.0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1996 | β | SF | 12 | β | 214 | 316 | 67.7% | 2,410 | 14 | 6 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 2.3 | 97.2 | 34 | 52 | 310 | 4 | 6.0 | 7.7 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1997 | β | SF | 15 | β | 241 | 356 | 67.7% | 3,029 | 19 | 6 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 3.2 | 104.7 | 35 | 50 | 199 | 3 | 4.0 | 6.0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1998 | β | SF | 15 | β | 322 | 517 | 62.3% | 4,170 | 36 | 12 | 7.0 | 2.3 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 3.0 | 101.1 | 48 | 70 | 454 | 6 | 6.5 | 8.6 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| 1999 | β | SF | 3 | β | 45 | 83 | 54.2% | 446 | 3 | 4 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 61.6 | 8 | 10 | 50 | 0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 30.0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | 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 | -22.8 | -1.5 | β | 0 | 0 | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β | β |
| Career | β | 169 | β | 2,667 | 4,148 | 64.3% | 33,124 | 232 | 107 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 2.2 | 96.8 | 358 | 721 | 4,232 | 43 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 3 | 0.4 | 0 | -22.8 | -1.5 | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | β | 1.0 | β | β | 0 | |
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | TD% | Int% | Y/A | AdjY/A | TD:INT | Rate | Sk | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 24 | TB | 5 | β | 72 | 138 | 52.2% | 935 | 3 | 8 | 2.2 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 0.4 | 56.9 | 21 | 3.8 |
| 1986 | 25 | TB | 14 | β | 195 | 363 | 53.7% | 2,282 | 8 | 13 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 65.5 | 47 | 12.4 |
| 1987 | 26 | SF | 8 | β | 37 | 69 | 53.6% | 570 | 10 | 0 | 14.5 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 11.2 | β | 120.8 | 3 | 9.1 |
| 1988 | 27 | SF | 11 | β | 54 | 101 | 53.5% | 680 | 3 | 3 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 72.2 | 13 | 6.8 |
| 1989 | 28 | SF | 10 | β | 64 | 92 | 69.6% | 1,001 | 8 | 3 | 8.7 | 3.3 | 10.9 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 120.8 | 12 | 9.8 |
| 1990 | 29 | SF | 6 | β | 38 | 62 | 61.3% | 427 | 2 | 0 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 6.9 | 7.5 | β | 92.6 | 8 | 4.6 |
| 1991 | 30 | SF | 11 | β | 180 | 279 | 64.5% | 2,517 | 17 | 8 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 2.1 | 101.8 | 13 | 14.9 |
| 1992 | 31 | SF | 16 | β | 268 | 402 | 66.7% | 3,465 | 25 | 7 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 3.6 | 107.0 | 29 | 26 |
| 1993 | 32 | SF | 16 | β | 314 | 462 | 68.0% | 4,023 | 29 | 16 | 6.3 | 3.5 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 1.8 | 101.5 | 31 | 22.5 |
| 1994 | 33 | SF | 16 | β | 324 | 461 | 70.3% | 3,969 | 35 | 10 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 8.6 | 9.2 | 3.5 | 112.8 | 31 | 27.5 |
| 1995 | 34 | SF | 11 | β | 299 | 447 | 66.9% | 3,200 | 20 | 11 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 92.3 | 25 | 12.3 |
| 1996 | 35 | SF | 12 | β | 214 | 316 | 67.7% | 2,410 | 14 | 6 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 2.3 | 97.2 | 34 | 14 |
| 1997 | 36 | SF | 15 | β | 241 | 356 | 67.7% | 3,029 | 19 | 6 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 3.2 | 104.7 | 35 | 16.7 |
| 1998 | 37 | SF | 15 | β | 322 | 517 | 62.3% | 4,170 | 36 | 12 | 7.0 | 2.3 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 3.0 | 101.1 | 48 | 24.3 |
| 1999 | 38 | SF | 3 | β | 45 | 83 | 54.2% | 446 | 3 | 4 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 61.6 | 8 | β |
| Career | 169 | 2,667 | 4,148 | 64.3% | 33,124 | 232 | 107 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 8.0 | β | β | 96.8 | 358 | 204.7 |
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 24 | TB | 5 | β | 40 | 233 | 1 | 5.8 | 2.5 | β | β | β |
| 1986 | 25 | TB | 14 | β | 74 | 425 | 5 | 5.7 | 6.8 | β | β | β |
| 1987 | 26 | SF | 8 | β | 26 | 190 | 1 | 7.3 | 3.8 | β | β | β |
| 1988 | 27 | SF | 11 | β | 27 | 184 | 1 | 6.8 | 3.7 | β | β | β |
| 1989 | 28 | SF | 10 | β | 38 | 126 | 2 | 3.3 | 5.3 | β | β | β |
| 1990 | 29 | SF | 6 | β | 15 | 159 | 0 | 10.6 | 0.0 | β | β | β |
| 1991 | 30 | SF | 11 | β | 66 | 415 | 4 | 6.3 | 6.1 | β | β | β |
| 1992 | 31 | SF | 16 | β | 76 | 537 | 4 | 7.1 | 5.3 | β | β | β |
| 1993 | 32 | SF | 16 | β | 69 | 407 | 2 | 5.9 | 2.9 | β | β | β |
| 1994 | 33 | SF | 16 | β | 58 | 293 | 7 | 5.1 | 12.1 | β | β | β |
| 1995 | 34 | SF | 11 | β | 50 | 250 | 3 | 5.0 | 6.0 | β | β | β |
| 1996 | 35 | SF | 12 | β | 52 | 310 | 4 | 6.0 | 7.7 | β | β | β |
| 1997 | 36 | SF | 15 | β | 50 | 199 | 3 | 4.0 | 6.0 | β | β | β |
| 1998 | 37 | SF | 15 | β | 70 | 454 | 6 | 6.5 | 8.6 | β | β | β |
| 1999 | 38 | SF | 3 | β | 10 | 50 | 0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 30.0 | 0 |
| Career | 169 | 721 | 4,232 | 43 | 5.9 | β | 3 | β | 0 |
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Pass EPA | Rush EPA | Rec EPA | Pass AirYd | Rec AirYd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 38 | β | β | β | -22.8 | -1.5 | β | 0 | 0 |
| Career | β | β | β | 0 | 0 |
A strong starter career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 68 of 100, era-normalized against pass yds/g peers across 14 scored seasons.
Blend 66 Γ longevity 1 = KV-H 68Β· confidence 96%
Season-by-season quality (era-relative pass yds/g)
Reached 37% of the all-time Passing Yards leader β a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
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: 86%.
Amber = 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 (BYU), 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.
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters β every name is linked.
Steve opened the San Francisco 49ers QB lineage the corpus knows, and handed it to Steve Bono (1989β1993).
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0β100%).
Last recorded season with SF
Joined SF (from TB)
Drafted by TB β Round 1, Pick 1
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works β
Era-normalized career quality β z-scored against 14-season peers. See all β
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 935 | 187 | 3,980+3,045 | 234.1 |
| 1986 | 2,282 | 163 | 3,723+1,441 | 219 |
| 1987 | 570 | 71.3 | 2,960+2,390 | 174.1 |
| 1988 | 680 | 61.8 | 2,913+2,233 | 171.3 |
| 1989 | 1,001 | 100.1 | 3,177+2,176 | 186.9 |
| 1990 | 427 | 71.2 | 2,965+2,538 | 174.4 |
| 1991 | 2,517 | 228.8 | 4,185+1,668 | 246.2 |
| 1992 | 3,465 | 216.6 | 4,122+657 | 242.5 |
| 1993 | 4,023 | 251.4 | 4,404+381 | 259 |
| 1994 | 3,969 | 248.1 | 4,340+371 | 255.3 |
| 1995 | 3,200 | 290.9 | 4,856+1,656 | 285.6 |
| 1996 | 2,410 | 200.8 | 3,870+1,460 | 227.6 |
| 1997 | 3,029 | 201.9 | 3,862+833 | 227.2 |
| 1998 | 4,170 | 278 | 4,966+796 | 292.1 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats, nflverse:advanced-epa (CC-BY 4.0), wikipedia:season-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only), nfl.com:official-stats (facts-only reference), espn.com:stats-api (games-played, facts-only reference) Β· multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle Β· updated 6/18/2026
Career Value Β· VORP
291 career value over replacement β #148 all-time of 4,642. 20.8/season above a replacement-level QB.
Pick #1 (Rd 1) Β· TB Β· 1984 Β· +6.2 vs expected KV-H
Fan Rating
Rate Steve Young β All-Time
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Similar Players
Career durability β games played vs. scheduled, across 15 seasons.
Composite score across availability, IR frequency, and injury severity. See all β
Calibrated Hall-of-Fame probability β fit against actual enshrinement. See all β
What carries the case
Monitor score 32.5 Β· components sum to the score (All-Pro Γ12 Β· Pro Bowl Γ3 Β· League Lead Γ4 Β· ranks/era/longevity weighted).
Career Fingerprint
Statistical profile across 5 dimensions
Best single season, projected to Passing Yards in a modern 17-game schedule. See all β
This player carries the statistical signature of a Hall-of-Fame candidate whose career was cut short by injury or circumstance. The gap between their ceiling and actual production is quantified below.
Steve opened the Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB lineage the corpus knows, and handed it to Vinny Testaverde (1987β1992).
The room is reconstructed from arrival order among durable members (β₯4 seasons with the club) at the playerβs position group β a lineage by arrival, not a week-by-week depth chart. Distinct from the league-wide positional GOAT torch.
Jalen Hurts
QB
85% match
1985 Draft ClassmatesFull class β
Famous Partnership
Jerry Rice
11 shared seasons Β· combined KV-H 1525