NFL.com
Tributes to Young
June 12, 2000
DENISE YORK: "Good morning. Today is a bittersweet day. It marks the end of a brilliant career of one of the finest human beings that I have ever known. It is also exciting to see that future opportunity are endless. I think we have been privileged to have you all to ourselves for all these years. So on behalf of the ownership, the management, coaches, staff, and your fans all over the world, I want to thank you, Steve, and God bless you with good health, happiness, and much, much success in the future."
STEVE YOUNG: "I asked Brent and Jerry to come up and say something real quick. So if you guys would do that, I'd appreciate it."
JERRY RICE: "Wow, today is a tough day. You try not to get emotional, but I have had the opportunity to play with this guy. It is real hard. I woke up this morning and I am sure (wife) Jackie, you know, she was dead. She was knocked out. It was about 4:30 and I think it really hit me that this guy is going to retire.
"We had such a great chemistry and a great relationship, so, I was saying to myself, 'What can I say today?' I don't know because I know the clock is ticking for me also. And so I was basically just trying to come up with a concept and I came up with this, so you guys are just going to have to bear with me.
"Sometimes we dream, dreams come true. Sometimes we are made to be leaders, but we don't know what. Searching and searching, finally you get the opportunity, but there is a big, huge fear. The guy before him was one of the best, so you do everything possible to win over the non-believers. But there is still criticism.
"The people are saying, 'He is a good quarterback but he can't win the big ones because the person before him was one of the best.' So you keep pushing; eventually you kick the door in and the monkey is off his back. But there is still criticism.
"I read this article a couple of weeks ago saying you have to be able to let go of your superstars. That is true, but there is a big difference between being a superstar and being a great superstar. You have to look at the entire picture, what this guy does off the field, in the community, and how he conducts himself.
"Plus, off the field I have gotten to know him. We had the opportunity to do many commercials. I remember Steve saying one day, 'You know, I have done everything, but I would like to have a family one day.' Well, Steve, sometimes we dream and dreams come true. Thank you."
BRENT JONES: "You all didn't know Jerry Rice was a writer; did you?
"Well, when you make your grand entrance through the facility's facilities, you have done it all. I have never seen that before. Thirteen-and-a-half years ago I came to the 49ers and spent a couple of great weeks with my one and only friend on the team at that time, working out every single day, Jeff Kemp. Then one day I came to the facility in Redwood City and (Kemp) wasn't there and in walked a left-hander, big shot from the L.A. Express and I said, 'All right, let's see what this guy's got in his arsenal.' He had a couple of things — he had the slow wobbly pass and the deep wobbly pass.
"It was amazing to me to see a guy that with such a high profile, intense competitor and he said that he learned to actually throw a spiral from Jim McMahon at the age of 18. I would strongly disagree with that statement. And he just came out and said, 'Retirement at 38 sucks.' But it does prove that he has been … hanging around Jim McMahon a little bit. But the way that he immersed himself in Bill Walsh's system and knowledge and intensity and just driven to learn the game and to learn to be one of the best quarterbacks of all time was unbelievable. It was an unbelievable transformation and I was there to witness it.
"No quarterback in history has ever prepared for a game in a season in a specific place like Steve Young. I was his roommate. He drove me crazy going over plays that we had known for 10 years that you'd know in your sleep because of his attention to detail. He got that from Bill and from Mike Holmgren and from Mike Shanahan and I guarantee you he sucked it all up. He just immersed himself in it.
"No greater competitor. I was getting a little nervous toward the end here. If there was any more writers that might have speculated that he should retire, he was going to compete against you and come back and play just to prove you wrong. Because that is the type of guy he is. He has got an unquenchable desire for success in every single thing that he does. Unless you are on the inside, unless you are in that huddle, unless you are in that group, it is tough to explain it; it is tough to put into words.
"It is just a feeling and if you have been there, you know and Jerry knows and Steve knows and Joe knows and John Taylor and Ricky Watters and Tom Rathman, William Floyd all the linemen, they all know. I started thinking about the things that set Steve apart in his desire on the field is so intense but his desire off the field is intense as well. You are talking about a Hall of Fame performer on the field, but a Hall of Fame performer off the field.
"How many of you media types — now that I am one — have a personal relationship with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time? I'd say hundreds of you. That in itself is so different than what we are used to. How many times have people stood up at a retirement ceremony and said these two words? Role model.
"You don't hear it and I am seeing it today. I am speaking of it today because he is a role model not only for kids; not only for adults; not only players in the locker room; but for the whole league, the management, the whole structure. The guy is a role model and he's committed to people. He talked about his very first coach loving football, but loving people more. That is what I think of when I think of Steve.
"I was trying figure out what is the defining aspect in Steve Young's playing ability; what sets him apart. You always hear people talk about a guy who wants to win. He wants to win badly. Everybody wants to win. Everything at this level, they wouldn't be here if they didn't want to win. The big difference with Steve Young? He is desperate to win. He plays with desperation. You don't hear that. Have you seen that grimace on his face? You saw it when he went back to pass, that scowl. He is desperate win. He needs to win. And he always has and that puts him on a different plane than most people.
"He loves playing the game. How many people have walked away when they could still be and All-Pro player. The only other quarterback I could come up with that would be an All-Pro when he retired was Roger Staubach and that is why it is so tough and here is a million reasons why he should play and there is a million reasons why he should quit. I talked to him every day. We have gone over it a thousand times. I probably couldn't put my hand or my finger on exactly why he is retiring and maybe he doesn't know as well. It is a lot of things combined.
"Mike Shanahan said this week that he is one of the top five quarterbacks of all-time. I definitely agree. But I know one thing: none of those other four, whoever they may be, followed a Hall of Famer, and that, to me, is the single greatest accomplishment that I have seen in sports. So Steve, speaking as a fan, a Bay Area native, a friend, a roommate, and 49er forever, we love you, we are going to miss you, brother. (Applause.)
YOUNG: "As usual I forget people that I see that should be (mentioned) — Brent mentioned guys that are my friends. I want to make sure that everybody that is here knows how I feel about them. I am grateful for the people that flew in. A lot of people went through a lot of trouble. I hope that people know that my time here has been fun to me. It has made all the difference in my life. When I walk down the street of San Francisco, we forged a relationship. And I mean forged. Those are the best ones. Those are the ones that matter. And so when I see people downtown or even anywhere in the Bay Area or anywhere, you know, it is like there is something between us.
"I was in the airport a couple of weeks ago and I said, 'Hey!' to everybody walking down the concourse. I got to my gate, got down there and there was an older lady reading the paper. I sat down next to her. She read the paper, looked over, glanced over, read the paper, glanced over again. You kind of know what is coming sometimes. I bet she was 80. I don't want to say because she looked great. She goes, 'You look a lot like Steve Young.' I said, 'You know, a lot of people say that.' She goes back to reading the paper.
"She looked back, she goes, 'It is funny, I watched him for a lot of years and it is like it is as if I know him and that is why I probably thought that you were him. I know him, I feel like he is my family and I watch so much.' I thought, 'I don't know what to do because she is kind of confessing to me.' It is funny when you don't know somebody, but you feel part of their family. Funny thing is that she stopped and I said, 'Well, you know what, I am sure that he feels the same way.' And it really is. That is the way it has been forged for me in this relationship. So I am very proud to retire a San Francisco 49er.
"I think — oh, yeah, I don't know how, Coach Mariucci. Coach is going to say something and, well, he should because I have never had more fun throwing a football than for Coach. I would say an anecdote. We were in an intense game one time, getting kind of intense, and so we had a timeout and it was frustrating, I walked over and was screaming. He crowds my face asking his classic, 'Is this fun or what?' I was like, you know, I wanted to punch him. But Coach, I want you to — you know I chose you so I want you to come on up here."
STEVE MARIUCCI: "Steve, if friendship is based on relationship, then look around this room. You are amongst friends and I know you know that. From teammates, ex-teammates, and ownership and front office and current teammates and the media and everybody in between and the fans who are watching on television, you have developed certain relationships as you know they are so uniqu. They really are. So I know you consider everybody here a true friend."
"There have been a lot of great 49er players come through these doors. A lot of great people. And many jerseys have been retired. In fact, the last one that we had was Joe Montana. On Monday Night Football against Denver against Mike Shanahan's team, when he came in and there was a big game, right, you remember that? And Steve, what do you think? Steve, Jerry and Brent Jones asked me at halftime, 'Coach, can we skip the halftime stuff; we'd like to go out and watch the ceremony.' They weren't even around when we were trying to game plan for the second half; they were out showing their respect and watching the ceremony.
"There will be others, other jerseys retired, from Ronnie Lott and some day Jerry and maybe Brent Jones and certainly Steve Young. And we are going to do that on a day when the entire country can watch it and enjoy it and be there with you, but that is going to happen. But what we can do today, Steve, is we can retire something. All right. These will never be worn again by anybody, including Steve. These little mini-shoulder pads that you wore at BYU. He continued to wear these — did you wear these in the USFL?
"Sure, when I was coaching in the USFL for the (Orlando) Renegades and he was with with the (Los Angeles) Express, last game of the season, he starts at quarterback, finishes at tailback. These little — I don't think Nick wants to use these unless you want to give them to like my kids or Pop Warner or something. These are probably not legal anymore. These are 20 years old. But these shoulder pads will be. We are going to have a 49er Hall of Fame. Certainly those will be the first to be inducted.
"How about this T-shirt? He has worn this T-shirt for two years. This is after the scrimmage we had with the Chargers in Stockton — somebody pressed this because usually it is a heck of a lot more wrinkled. But he has worn this every day in this locker room for two years. That is it, Steve, it is retired. You wonder why he gets up so slow. Look at these, little Band-Aid rib pads that he wore. Where did you get these? These are not legal anymore either because they just don't protect and we found those in his locker.
"Found this in your locker too, Steve. A Power Bar. He would try to irritate me in meetings and he would eat these; he thought this was very nutritious. He would have this in the morning, nine o'clock during installation meetings. But what he would do first, he would warm it up under his arm, put it under his arm for about 20 minutes, it was part of his routine, then he would proceed to eat a Power Bar. I don't know what this hat is. I don't know what 'Don't Bonk' means.
"Here is something else; we are going to retire this. In the building we have mailboxes. Little flaps in the wall for every employee, including myself, everybody. Steve Young's mailbox is this … okay … this is full. Hundreds of letters every week. I suppose we should leave it up there for a while. Steve, people are going to still write, but he has his own crate because of all the fans that he has, all over the world, not just in the Bay Area, but all over the world. Every week this is full. We will retire that — maybe we will just put a cardboard box or something else to replace this, but this is also going to go into the Hall of Fame.
"Now, a couple things real quick, Steve had invited a lot of friends, family and coaches here, and I, as one of Steve's coaches, have had the privilege of sharing the same sideline with Steve Young. And Steve has made us all better coaches. I was here for three years with Steve. As he says, two or three years and I was there — I had a chance to share in some of your brilliant moments; some of the last-second wins; a throw against the Packers; the six games in a row for 300 yards passing; all the excitement that he has given us; all the records that he has and expanded on with Jerry and Brent and his assault on the NFL record books, I was privileged to be around for that time.
"But those are going to be carved in history and in the books for everybody to share. But the things that, I think, mean the most to me, Steve, are the behind the scenes, the private times, the time that doesn't get written about or videotaped. Those are the moments that I know Steve is talking about with his teammates, in this room right here. What goes on on the sideline is always an experience.
"The fact that I was around when you fell in love, that was an experience. To be at your wedding and I thought he was more nervous there then he was for any game that he's ever played and he handled it so beautifully. And I have an empty seat on the bus and airplanes and Steve is the only guy that ever comes up and sits with me because — I don't know why. But he does that. I remember him before last year's Raider game, the preseason game, we were driving in together. There was this sort of heavy-set guy walking on the sidewalk going into the stadium with a No. 8 jersey on and Steve said, 'That guy is going to get hit harder tonight than I am.'
"And the Christmas Eve dinners at my home and he playing chess with my kids. And Christmas gifts that he gave me. The every episode of the Seinfeld on video-type shows. His warped sense of humor and riding his horses up in his ranch backwards. And sharing in his foundation tournaments. Those are the things that I am going to remember most because I have said this before how great he is as a football player. He is going to be an even greater husband, Barb, and even greater father or CEO or lawyer, God forbid, Monday Night Football announcer … What is up with that?
"Or anything that he chooses to do, he is going to be even better than he was as a football player. If that is possible, but it is possible. I know that. Steve, I know that it was important for you to have your kids see you play. We have been through that one before, but more importantly, I promise you, believe me, you are going to enjoy watching your kids play and that is far, far more important. Everybody here loves you, Steve. We all do. We are going to miss you, but you are not going to be too far away. We love everything about you, what you have done and who you are. Don't ever change that. And Barb, good luck with everything, we love you guys. Thank you very, very much."
