George Young (NFL)
Encyclopedia
George Young was an American football executive. He was named NFL Executive of the Year five times.
, a Catholic high school in Maryland just north of Baltimore. He attended Bucknell University
where he was a starting defensive tackle for three seasons, team captain in 1951, and a member of the Phi Lambda Theta Fraternity, which today is the Chi Phi Fraternity. He was named to the Little All-America first team and All-East first team in his senior year. Selected to play in the Blue-Gray game, he was selected by the Dallas Texans
in the 1952 NFL Draft
.
Young then began a coaching career in the Baltimore area school system, briefly at Calvert Hall and then he took over the Baltimore City College football
team. During a 15-year span, his teams
won six Maryland Scholastic Association championships. Tom Gatewood, tight end, and John Sykes, running back, were two of Coach Young's City athletes who would make it to the NFL, Kurt Schmoke
, quarterback, and Curt Anderson
, linebacker, established themselves in the political realm. Young was especially proud of his years as an educator, during which he taught history and political science. During that time he also earned two Master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Loyola College. In May 1987, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Western Maryland College.
(1968–1974), holding positions of scout, offensive line coach, director of player personnel, and offensive coordinator, and the Miami Dolphins
(1975–1978), serving as director of personnel and pro scouting.
as senior vice president of football operations on February 2, 1998, after serving 19 years as general manager of the New York Giants
. The Giants had not made a postseason appearance in 15 years when Young was hired by the club in 1979. In building the Giants he placed special emphasis on the NFL Draft
. From his inaugural draft in 1979 through the 1995 selection process, he succeeded in signing every player drafted over that span, and from those drafts, a total of 119 players made the club at one time or another. Instrumental in his reversal of the Giants’ fortunes was his drafting of standout players such as Phil Simms
, Lawrence Taylor
, Joe Morris, and Carl Banks
, and selecting Bill Parcells
as the club’s head coach.
and XXV
, and compiled an overall record of 155-139-2. He was named NFL Executive of the Year an unprecedented five times – 1984, 1986, 1990, 1993, and 1997. Young also served as chairman of the NFL’s Competition Committee.
Early life
George Bernard Young was born on September 22, 1930, in Baltimore, Maryland. Young grew up street-smart in Baltimore's 10th Ward in a tough Irish-Catholic neighborhood, living over a bakery that was run by his mother's side of the family, just across the street from his father's bar. He was an outstanding football player at Calvert Hall CollegeCalvert Hall College High School
Calvert Hall College High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys located in Towson, Maryland, United States...
, a Catholic high school in Maryland just north of Baltimore. He attended Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
where he was a starting defensive tackle for three seasons, team captain in 1951, and a member of the Phi Lambda Theta Fraternity, which today is the Chi Phi Fraternity. He was named to the Little All-America first team and All-East first team in his senior year. Selected to play in the Blue-Gray game, he was selected by the Dallas Texans
Dallas Texans (NFL)
The Dallas Texans played in the National Football League for one season, 1952, with a record of 1–11.-History:After the 1951 NFL season, the financially troubled New York Yanks franchise were put on the market. Ted Collins had founded that franchise in 1944 as the Boston Yanks, moved it to New...
in the 1952 NFL Draft
1952 NFL Draft
The 1952 National Football League Draft was held on January 17, 1952. Picks made by New York Yanks were assigned to the new Dallas Texans.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:...
.
Young then began a coaching career in the Baltimore area school system, briefly at Calvert Hall and then he took over the Baltimore City College football
Baltimore City College football
The Baltimore City College football team, known as the "Knights", or formerly, the "Collegians" or "Alamedans", represents the Baltimore City College preparatory school of Baltimore, Maryland...
team. During a 15-year span, his teams
Baltimore City College football
The Baltimore City College football team, known as the "Knights", or formerly, the "Collegians" or "Alamedans", represents the Baltimore City College preparatory school of Baltimore, Maryland...
won six Maryland Scholastic Association championships. Tom Gatewood, tight end, and John Sykes, running back, were two of Coach Young's City athletes who would make it to the NFL, Kurt Schmoke
Kurt Schmoke
Kurt Lidell Schmoke is the Dean of the Howard University School of Law and a former mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. The son of Murray and Irene B. Reid , he attended the public schools of Baltimore...
, quarterback, and Curt Anderson
Curt Anderson
Curtis Stovall Anderson is an American politician, lawyer and former broadcast journalist. Anderson was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1983, is the chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation, and past chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. After serving 12...
, linebacker, established themselves in the political realm. Young was especially proud of his years as an educator, during which he taught history and political science. During that time he also earned two Master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Loyola College. In May 1987, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Western Maryland College.
Before being with the Giants
Prior to joining the Giants, Young was on the staffs of the Baltimore ColtsHistory of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
(1968–1974), holding positions of scout, offensive line coach, director of player personnel, and offensive coordinator, and the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1975–1978), serving as director of personnel and pro scouting.
New York Giants
George Young joined the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
as senior vice president of football operations on February 2, 1998, after serving 19 years as general manager of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Giants had not made a postseason appearance in 15 years when Young was hired by the club in 1979. In building the Giants he placed special emphasis on the NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
. From his inaugural draft in 1979 through the 1995 selection process, he succeeded in signing every player drafted over that span, and from those drafts, a total of 119 players made the club at one time or another. Instrumental in his reversal of the Giants’ fortunes was his drafting of standout players such as Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
, Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
, Joe Morris, and Carl Banks
Carl Banks
Carl E. Banks is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League from 1984 to 1995 for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. He made the Pro Bowl in 1987, had 39.5 career quarterback sacks, and was a member of the NFL's 1980's All-Decade Team...
, and selecting Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
as the club’s head coach.
Success
During Young's tenure, the Giants earned eight playoff berths, highlighted by victories in Super Bowls XXISuper Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI was an American football game played on January 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1986 regular season. The National Football Conference champion New York Giants won their first Super Bowl by defeating...
and XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
, and compiled an overall record of 155-139-2. He was named NFL Executive of the Year an unprecedented five times – 1984, 1986, 1990, 1993, and 1997. Young also served as chairman of the NFL’s Competition Committee.
Decline
Despite Young's incredible success along with Giants Head of Player Personnel Tom Boisture during the 1980s, that success would not carry over into the 1990s. Young, an opponent of free agency seemed to lose his touch following the introduction of the free agency cycle following the 1992 regular season. He struggled to adapt to the system and as a result, signed several players to overvalued contracts while losing much of the Giants core talent to other franchises following free agency's inception. In addition, Young's draft magic seemed to disappear. From 1991-1996, The Giants drafted six consecutive first round busts although his later round selections included elite players, such as defensive end Michael Strahan, linebacker Jessie Armstead, cornerback Jason Sehorn, wide receiver Amani Toomer, and running back Tiki Barber. Young retired following the 1997 season, handing his duties over to long-time assistant Ernie Accorsi.See also
- History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)
- History of the New York Giants (1994-present)
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: HOF 2005 Finalist profile