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After 13 seasons, Bryant Young still believes he has something left to offer the NFL. He also believes the 49ers are on the cusp of doing something special, and after meshing those two beliefs together, Young opted to ink a one-year extension with San Francisco.
“A lot of it was where we were as a team,” said Young. “I feel like we’re on the verge of being right there. I felt like we left some on the table last year and with the addition of a few more pieces to the puzzle we’ll be right there in the mix. I just wanted to be a part of it and finish my work.”
Young is the last player remaining from the 1995 roster when the team brought home its last Lombardi Trophy. After enduring a few tumultuous seasons, he plans to go out with his team back on top.
“I’d like to leave the organization the way I found it,” said Young who was drafted by the 49ers in the first round in 1994. “I really want to give back to what this team has given me – being a mentor to young guys and benefiting someone else by telling them about the ins and outs of how to survive in the league.”
Young has not only survived, he’s thrived – even late in his career. The esteemed linemen started all 16 games for the seventh time in his career and finished with 60 total tackles and 5.5 sacks this past season. He was also named an alternate to the 2006 Pro Bowl.
He also won the Len Eshmont Award, the team’s most prestigious award for the seventh time. The award is given to the player who best exemplifies the inspirational and courageous play of Len Eshmont, an original member of the 1946 49ers team. Eshmont, who coached at Navy and Virginia following his career in San Francisco, died in 1957.
Over his career, he’s enjoyed four trips to the Pro Bowl and amassed 83 sacks to currently rank third on the all-time sack leaders in team history.
Having him back for the 2007 campaign gives the 49ers an experienced and talented defender, and a phenomenal locker room presence.
“We are excited about retaining Bryant as member of the 49ers team,” said head coach Mike Nolan. “We were diligent in our efforts to retain Bryant as a member of the San Francisco 49ers and we are pleased that we were able to reach an agreement that reflects his value to the team while addressing future needs of the club. He is the definition of a leader and helps show the young players what it is supposed to look like.”
Young admitted that he did contemplate and discuss retirement with his family, but eventually decided that his body is still able and his mind is more than willing.
“There’s a lot of room and work that needs to be done, a huge number of things in the locker room that I’d like to accomplish as well as on the field,” said Young. “There are still things that I’d like to do.”
Young does however expect his role on the field to be reduced somewhat in his 14th campaign.
“When I hear that I think it’s me not playing 85-90 snaps a game and instead taking advantage of personnel that we will have, and keeping guys fresh,” said Young. “By doing that, I think you get a lot more out of each person who is in there. I welcome that because everybody has a role to play and I realize I can’t do it all by myself.”
With free agency kicking off tonight at 9PM PST Young doesn’t mind taking on one immediate role, and that’s serving as an advocate for his franchise.
“I’d be happy to talk to anybody who wants to get a feel for what is going on in the organization,” said Young. “For anybody who is considering coming to the 49ers, it’s a great place to be and they’ll be involved with a team right there in the mix. I think it would be in the best interest of any free agent to be part of it because I think something special is going to happen here. I believe that.”
