Young making another pass?
Quarterback hires agent Steinberg to pursue ‘dream’
Another NFL comeback attempt for Vince Young?
The former University of Texas and Tennessee Titans quarterback has hired veteran agent Leigh Steinberg in hopes of rekindling his football career.
Steinberg made the announcement on his official Twitter account, noting that Young “has dream of playing more football, being role model.”
Young, 33, is considered a major long shot to play in the NFL again because of his age and inactivity. He was unavailable for comment.
A former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and twotime Pro Bowl selection with Tennessee, Young last played in the NFL in 2011, when he threw four touchdown passes and had nine interceptions for the Philadelphia Eagles.
He went to camp with the Bills in 2012 but was cut before the season started. Young then had a tryout with the Packers in 2013 and was invited to the
Browns’ minicamp in 2014.
After that, he said he was done as a player, although he registered for the NFL’s veteran combine in 2015 but eventually decided not to participate.
Young was hired in August 2014 by the University of Texas in the school’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. He works in alumni relations to raise money for the university, and for the Longhorn Network. The job pays about $100,000 per year.
He kept both positions despite an arrest in January 2016 for drunken driving. He pleaded no contest earlier this year and was fined $300 and ordered to complete 60 hours of community service.
It was the latest off-thefield situation for Young, whose financial problems drew national attention when he filed for bankruptcy in 2014.
After leading Texas to a 41-38 win over USC in January 2006, winning Texas’ first national championship since 1970, Young was selected with the third pick of the NFL draft by the Titans, the former Houston Oilers.
He was 8-5 as a rookie starter, including a 26-20 win over the Texans at Reliant Stadium that was decided by his 39-yard touchdown run in overtime, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Two years later, he was replaced as the Titans’ starter after suffering a knee injury. It was then Young was involved in a highly publicized incident when the Titans called police for help in locating Young because he didn’t answer his phone and his therapist had said he mentioned suicide in conversations. Young was at a friend’s house without his cellphone, and both he and the Titans said the incident was overblown.
In six NFL seasons, Young passed for 8,964 yards, 46 touchdowns and 51 interceptions for a 74.4 career passer rating. Young attended Steinberg’s annual Super Bowl party in Houston along with former Oilers running back Earl Campbell and Texans general manager Rick Smith.
A new, independent spring football league has expressed interest in Young. The Spring League is scheduled to debut in April with four teams composed of free agents. They teams will start training April 5 at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia and will play a total of six games there in a three-week span. The league isn’t affiliated with the NFL, but NFL teams plan to send scouts to games and workouts.