Bryant Young Interview

By Ivette Ricco

August 3, 2006

Bryant Young, #97, is the 49er with the longest tenure on the team.

Often described as a dominant and disruptive force on the football field, he is also described as a gentleman and community leader, off the football field.

Bryant won the prestigious Len Eshmont Award in 2005 for the second consecutive time, making him the recipient of this award six times overall. The Len Eshmont Award is presented to the player by his teammates. It is an especially meaningful award as it exemplifies courage and team leadership. No other 49er has ever received the Len Eshmont more than twice in the 49ers 60 year history.

Off the field he is actively involved in his community, devoting his time to his foundation, the Young Dream Foundation, located in the San Francisco Bay Area..
The Young Dreams Foundation seeks to strengthen the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay and Chicago-land areas.

Bryant Young has played his entire career in a 49er uniform. Entering his 13 th season as a defensive end with a team that was ranked last in defense in 2005 I was curious to gauge his feelings about this young team for 2006.

With the media’s focus on the negative aspects of football players’ actions, it is appropriate and timely to spotlight a player who strives to be the very best that he can be on and off the football field.

Bryant Young was gracious enough to grant us an exclusive interview.

He answered these questions from Femmefan.com immediately following practice at the 49ers facility on Thursday August 3, 2006.

Q.) Bryant, you started your NFL career as a first-round pick out of Notre Dame in 1994. You tasted success early with the 49ers fifth Super Bowl victory that same year. As you look back on your career, what has been the highlight of your professional career to date?

A.) “Winning the Super Bowl was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career. Another one was in ’99 when I came back from my injury and won ‘Comeback Player of the Year.’”

Q.) As the 49ers bring in young players and work to re-establish their dominance in the NFC West, how do you see your role changing?

A.) “I’m just trying to be the best leader that I can for this team and join forces with the other veteran guys on this team. I really want to set an example for the young guys, just show them what it takes to win in this league, and just offer whatever advice I can to them.”

Q.) What are your expectations for the 2006 49ers?

A.) “I think we definitely have a lot of potential, but at this point everybody does. I really think that we are a better team than we were last year. We will win more games than we did last year. As long as we continue to get better in training camp and really try to find our identity, I think we can do some good things this year.”

Q.) I witnessed your career-threatening injury in 1998. Your recovery has been nothing short of inspiring. What motivates you to overcome injuries and losses?

A.) “It’s just part of life. When you get knocked down, you’ve got to find a way to get back up. We all have to face adversity. You can’t go around it. You just have to stare it right in the face and take it head on. For me, it was a challenge in my life. It really tested my love for the game. I just wanted to overcome it.”

Q.) You’re a native of Chicago-Heights, IL., Will you remain in the Bay Area when you retire or move back home?

A.) “As of right now, we love it out here. I think this is home. There’s a lot of opportunity after I’m done playing, so we’ll see what happens.”

Q.) What are your plans for life after football?

A.) “To spend a lot of time with my family. I don’t have any other specific thing right now. I have some options at this point, but I think maybe I’ll be involved in real estate to some capacity.”

Q.) You have been in the unique position of watching the 49ers go from Super Bowl Champions in 1994 to the worst team, statistically, in the NFL in 2005. How do you maintain a positive outlook and enthusiasm for every season?

A.) “I think it’s like life. There will be ebbs and flows. This organization has been on top for a long time. When you go through those mountain experiences, it’s inevitable that you’ll have to go through the valleys. Those are the times when it really tests you and you just have to understand that there are better days or years ahead. You just have to try to really stick it out and fight through those tough years as best as possible.”

Q.) You balked at Coach Nolan’s attempt to rest you during training camp. Why?

A.) “For me, I just really wanted to be out there with my teammates and just kind of go through what they’re going through. It was just a tough position for me. I was able-bodied, but was just standing around watching practice and I felt kind of awkward out there. At this point in my career, I need to learn to be a bit wiser and really take advantage of what coach is trying to do. I understand what he’s trying to do, but I guess that’s just my mentality, how I approach the game. But I’m working on it.”

Q.) What do you see as your greatest asset as a football player?

A.) “I think it’s my passion for the game, just wanting to go out there and do my very best. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to work and to win. I think my passion is one of my greatest assets.”

Q.) What do you consider your greatest asset as a husband and father?

A.) “Patience. With little ones you have to be patient. It’s a lot of things, too – love and caring. It’s a unique thing to be able to be a parent, to have a wife and a family. You don’t ever want to take that for granted.”

Q.) As a father and a husband, would you change anything about the NFL experience for your family?

A.) “No. I think it’s been okay, thus far. I think my family has enjoyed the experience, so there’s not one thing I would change.”

Q.) Your foundation, the Young Dreams Foundation, works to help the underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago-land areas. Is strengthening the development of these youth something you will continue to pursue when your football days are over?

A.) “Our foundation will continue after I’m done because the kids we adopted a couple of years ago have two more years of high school to go and then they’ll be going to college, so our foundation will continue for at least another seven years.”

Q.) The foundation offers scholarships for kids at risk who attend the 49ers Academy. Have you developed personal bonds with any of these kids?

A.) “There’s one kid that I’ve kept in touch with, more so than some of the other kids. He and I talk, because he plays football, too. I try to offer him some advice every now and then. I’d like to really bond with all of them a little more, but sometimes time doesn’t allow that.

Q.) Can you provide a website link for the Young Dreams Foundation so that I can add it to my story. I was unable to find it on the net.

• (Ed. Note – There is not currently a website for the Young Dreams Foundation, however readers can call (408) 238-8746, if they would like to help or get more information)

Bryant Young is more, much more, than a great football player, he is a caring human being. That is clearly evident by his actions.
I will watch the 49ers with a new appreciation of #97, the 6-3, 291-pound DE, Bryant Young, the man.

 

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