Former 49ers quarterback and ESPN analyst Steve Young will return to the football field this fall, but this time for a different reason.
Young will join another former 49ers quarterback, John Paye, at Menlo School in Atherton, Calif., to work as an assistant coach for the school’s girls flag football team. This will be the first official season for fall girls flag football, as the state of California approved the sport for high schools in February. Both of Young’s daughters are poised to play for the team.
“Flag football will be a wonderful opportunity for young women to show their talent,” Young said in a statement. “Football is a great team game that teaches tremendous life lessons. I want to help build women’s flag football.”
More attention has been paid to women’s flag football this year, especially after Mexico’s national team star Diana Flores was featured in a Super Bowl commercial in February. ESPN reported in May that approximately 20 states have “pilot programs” of girls flag football at the high school level.
The career change for Young comes after he was among the layoffs at ESPN last month. He had worked there since 2000 as an NFL analyst.
Young won two NFL MVP awards and was named to seven Pro Bowls with the 49ers. He’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
