NFL CAREER – Originally selected by Washington with the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, this talented edge rusher is entering his sixth season in the league and second with New Orleans. In four campaigns for Washington (2020-23), San Francisco (2023) and New Orleans (2024), Young has appeared in 60 regular season games with 32 starts, recording 131 tackles (88 solo), 22.0 sacks, 28 stops for loss, 12 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. In six postseason games, Young has started each contest and recorded 11 tackles (seven solo) with one sack. Young will look to lead the Saints defensive line in 2025 under new Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Re-signed to three-year contract extension by New Orleans, 3/10/25; Signed by New Orleans Saints to a one-year contract (UFA-SF), 3/18/24; Traded by Washington Commanders to San Francisco 49ers for 2024 third-round draft pick, 10/31/23; Activated by Washington from Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform, 11/21/22; Placed by Washington on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform, 8/23/22; Placed by Washington on Injured Reserve, 11/16/21; Signed by Washington to a four-year contract, 7/23/20; Selected as the second overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft by Washington.
HONORS – 2020: Associated Press and PFWA NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, PFWA All-Rookie Team, Pro Bowl.
2024 – Appeared in all 17 contests for New Orleans, playing in every game for the first time, and was a key contributor on the edge, posting 31 tackles (21 solo), 5.5 sacks for a loss of 29.5 yards, career-highs with both 34 quarterback pressures and 21 quarterback hits, eight stops for loss, one forced fumble and three pass breakups…Had four tackles (two solo) and a half-sack in victory at Dallas, Sept. 15…Made four stops and three QB hurries vs Philadelphia, Sept. 22…At Atlanta, Sept. 29, added three solo stops, including a tackle for loss…In Monday night contest at Kansas City, Oct. 7, posted three tackles (two solo) and a sack for a six-yard loss…Added two solo tackles and one stop for loss vs. Denver, Oct. 17…Posted two stops and a half-sack of Justin Herbert at L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27…Recorded one solo tackle/sack for loss of nine yards/forced fumble of Kirk Cousins in win vs. Atlanta, Nov. 10…Added two tackles and a half-sack/stop for loss of Jameis Winston vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17…In win at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 8, posted one stop, three QB hurries and one pass breakup…Recorded three solo tackles and two sacks to tie a career-high, vs. Washington, Dec. 15…Added a solo stop and one pass breakup at Tampa Bay, 1/5/25. 2023 – In 16 regular season games between Washington (seven) and San Francisco (nine), totaled 25 stops (17 solo), tied a career-high of 7.5 sacks for a loss of 49 yards and seven tackles for loss. Started all three postseason contests for the 49ers on their way to a Super Bowl LVII appearance and totaled eight tackles (six solo), one sack for a four-yard loss and two stops for loss…Inactive for opener due to neck injury, Sept. 10…Made his season debut for Washington in Week Two, recording three tackles (two solo) and 1.5 sacks at Denver, Sept. 17…At Philadelphia, Oct. 1, finished with three stops (two solo) and a sack for a five-yard loss…Notched season-high two sacks for a 22-yard loss and added three solo tackles at N.Y. Giants, Oct. 22…Made debut for San Francisco at Jacksonville, Nov. 12, posting one assisted tackle/half-sack of Trevor Lawrence…Added two solo stops and one sack of Baker Mayfield for a nine-yard loss vs Tampa Bay, Nov. 19…Recorded a pass breakup vs Seattle, Dec. 10…Posted two tackles (one solo) and a half sack of Kyler Murray at Arizona, Dec. 17…In regular season finale vs L.A. Rams, 1/7/24, posted two stops (one solo)…Moved to starting lineup for playoffs and added three tackles (two solo) in NFC Divisional Playoff victory over Green Bay, 1/20/24…Recorded two stops, a sack of Patrick Mahomes and tackle for loss in Super Bowl against Kansas City, 2/11/24. 2022 – Missed the first 14 games recovering from a knee injury the prior season. In three games with two starts, Young totaled five tackles (three solo) and one pass breakup…In season debut at San Francisco, Dec. 24, added two stops (one solo) and a pass breakup. 2021 – Started all nine contests he appeared in for Washington, recording 26 tackles (15 solo), 1.5 sacks for a 3.5 yard loss, three stops for loss, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups…In opener vs L.A. Chargers, Sept. 12, added three stops (one solo) and one pass breakup…At Buffalo, Sept. 26, recorded three tackles (two solo)…Tied a season-high with four tackles (three solo) in win at Atlanta, Oct. 3…Vs. New Orleans, Oct. 10, added three stops and first sack of season, when he dropped Winston…Totaled three tackles and half a sack of Mahomes vs Kansas City, Oct. 17…Posted a solo tackle vs Tampa Bay before suffering a season-ending knee injury, Nov. 14. 2020 – After being selected with the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Young burst onto the scene and was a force for Washington's defensive line unit, starting all 15 games he appeared in and recorded 44 tackles (32 solo), 7.5 sacks for a loss of 34.5 yards, ten stops for loss, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and four passes defensed on his way to Pro Bowl Selection and consensus NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year…Made NFL debut in win vs Philadelphia, Sept. 13, racking up four tackles (two solo), 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble…Made four solo tackles and one sack of Murray at Arizona, Sept. 20…Inactive Week Four with a groin injury…Finished with two solo stops at L.A. Rams, Oct. 11…Vs Dallas, Oct. 25, tied career-high with six stops (career-best five solo)…Added solo tackle/sack in win vs N.Y. Giants, Nov. 8…Vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 22, made three stops (two solo) to go with a forced fumble and a pass breakup…In win at Dallas, Nov. 26, posted two solo stops and a sack of Andy Dalton for a nine-yard loss…In victory at San Francisco, Dec. 13, tied career/season-high of six tackles (two solo), a sack for a loss of eight yards, a forced fumble/fumble recovery returned for 47 yards and two passes defensed…Vs Carolina, Dec. 27, racked up three solo tackles, a sack/forced fumble/fumble recovery of Teddy Bridgewater and a pass defense…In regular season finale win at Philadelphia, 1/3/21, added two solo stops, a sack, and a fumble recovery…Added three tackles (one solo) in playoff debut vs Tampa Bay in NFC Wild Card Playoff, 1/9/21.
COLLEGE CAREER – In three seasons at Ohio State from 2017-2019, Young appeared in 34 games, racking up 98 tackles (68 solo), 30.5 sacks, 40.5 stops for loss, nine forced fumbles and eight pass breakups. His 30.5 sacks in three seasons rank second all-time in OSU history behind Mike Vrabel, who had 36 in four campaigns…In his final season as a Buckeye, Young was the nucleus of Ohio State's defense, leading the country and setting school records in sacks (16.5) and sack yards (117) on his way to a being selected a unanimous All-American, Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, one of just ten defensive players to be a finalist for the award since 1982. Young also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Ted Hendricks Award, Chicago Tribune Silver Football, Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year. Later named to the Big Ten Network's 2010s All-Decade Team as the only unanimous selection…In 2018, appeared in 14 games with 34 tackles (25 solo), 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 15.5 stops for loss on his way to a second-team All-Big Ten selection…Appeared in 12 contests as a freshman for the Buckeyes, adding 19 tackles (12 solo), 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and six stops for loss…Inspired by his father, Greg, and many relatives in law enforcement, Young pursued a major in Criminology at Ohio State.
PERSONAL – Prepped at DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) HS. Won a state title as a senior, recording 118 tackles with 19 sacks and was a consensus 5-star prospect, No. 1 player in Maryland and one of the top ten players regardless of position in the nation. Since coming into the NFL, Young has collaborated with the American Civil Liberties Union, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and CUDDLY for the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative. CUDDLY is a fundraising and wish list platform founded by NFL referee John Hussey that sends much needed aid and supplies to verified nonprofit animal rescues with the intention of helping as many animals as possible…Hosted free camps for local youth during his time in Washington…Young has partnered with Good Sports, a non-profit with a goal of providing equal access to sports and athletics to children in under-privileged communities…Was the honorary pace car driver for the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway on August 15, 2022, where he engaged in a Q&A with fans and was able to visit his friend and NASCAR driver Chase Elliott…His sister, Weslie, played college basketball at North Carolina Wesleyan…Born on April 14, 1999.
