San Francisco 49ers: 10 best single-season performances in franchise history
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Quarterback Steve Young ‘Gets the Monkey Off His Back’ in 1994
While NFL fans look at the seasons Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes put together in 2018 and 2019, it’s important to remember Steve Young enjoyed that kind of stretch run for much of the 1990s.
Particularly between 1992 and 1998, making the Pro Bowl each of those years and earning three consecutive first-team All-Pro nods between 1992 and 1994.
But that 1994 campaign stands out above all the rest.
Just to note what Young did, as all of these numbers were regular-season league highs that year:
- 70.3 completion percentage
- 35 touchdowns thrown
- 8.6 yards per attempt
- 112.8 passer rating
In addition, Young’s 3,969 passing yards thrown that year rank fifth best on the franchise’s all-time list for that category, although it’s fair to point out Young appears on that same list two more times above that rank.
But what capped it all off was Young being named league MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same year after the 49ers toppled the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX, thereby getting the “monkey” off Young’s back.
Take that, Mahomes.