The San Francisco 49ers are another one of those iconic teams not just in the NFL, but in all of sports. I always say when the legendary teams are doing well, it’s been for the sport overall as a whole. Over the years, the Niners have had a few players become household names and earned their way to Canton, Ohio as members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, and Steve Young all became legends of the game and are all members of the Hall of Fame. In the mid-90s, there was a guy named Bryant Young. After ten tries, he finally learned he will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.
Bryant was a first-round pick by the 49ers back in 1994 with the seventh overall selection. When he was drafted, he had an immediate impact on a title contender. For such a big guy, he had a quick first step off the snap and got anywhere he wanted with his speed, strength, and determination. Bryant was a physical force in the middle of the 49ers’ defensive line for years. He played in an era with Warren Sapp and John Randle who were also really good interior defensive tackles. Bryant held his own and made sure he remained consistent. Against the run, he plugged up the lanes and made tackles that pushed the offense back regularly. When it came to pass-rushing, he was electric. Bryant would use a variety of moves to get to the quarterback. We normally associate the term “ballhawk” with linebackers and defensive backs. I feel that term can be used to describe Bryant because he always found a way to the football. It didn’t matter how many people blocked him, he was powerful enough to shed blockers.
Despite the impact he had as a player, I always admired the leader he was. The energy he displayed was contagious and it made the guys around him better. He was the heart and soul of the 49ers for many years and became that savvy veteran as the years went on. Bryant spent his entire career with the 49ers. Now, he’ll join some of his old teammates in Canton for life.
