Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM PRESEASON 2025 81 In 1998, Young was well on his way to another magnificent season. In 12 games, he had registered 9.5 sacks — best in the NFL among defensive tack- les — along with 8 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles. But a devastating leg injury ended his season — and threat- ened his career. Young rebounded in stunning fash- ion, however, and returned to action by the 1999 season opener. He recorded 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss on his way to winning the Comeback Player of the Year Award from both the Associated Press and the Pro Football Writers of America. He also was named the 49ers' winner of the league-wide Ed Block Courage Award and won the team's Matt Hazeltine Award for inspirational play. He followed that with the 2000 George Halas Award, given to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. For his career, he totaled 89.5 sacks. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022. After retiring as a player, Young spent one season (2009) as a graduate assis- tant coach at Notre Dame, then served as an assistant at San Jose State (2010), the University of Florida (2011-12) and the Atlanta Falcons (2017-19). Young and his wife, Kristin, have raised a family of six children, including Bryce. In 2014, they learned the devastating news that their second child, Colby, had a rare brain cancer. For the next two years, they exhausted every treatment option in hopes of a cure. On Oct. 11, 2016, Colby died at the age of 15 after a long fight that touched the lives of people far and wide. In the ensuing years, the Youngs have continued to advocate for the children and families affected by pediatric can- cer. Bryant is now a special ambassador for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Founda- tion where Kristin serves on the na- tional board of directors. Young will add to his long list of hon- ors on Friday, Sept. 19, when he receives the 2025 Rockne CHAMPION Award at the ninth annual Knute Rockne Spirit of Sports Awards Celebration at The History Museum of South Bend. For more information, please visit: www.RockneSociety.org. ✦ Reserve your table/ticket TODAY by visiting: www.RockneSociety.org/shop You Are Invited To Attend The Ninth Annual Knute Rockne Spirit of Sports Awards 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 19 The History Museum South Bend Honoring these sports and media figures… Bryant Young….ND All-American, Pro Hall of Famer Coach Digger Phelps… hoops coaching legend Hannah Storm…. groundbreaking sportscaster Coach Jeff Jackson….national hockey leader Tricia Sloma…. long-serving WNDU anchor Dr. Bill Hurd…. ND athlete, doctor, musician Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre Dame author and leads the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. He can be reached at: jim@ndfootballhistory.com In 2022, Young, who ended his 14-year NFL career at defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers with 89.5 sacks and four Pro Bowl nods, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS