NFL Draft Vault: QB Vince Young, Tennessee Titans

The 2006 NFL Draft will forever be known for three things: Mario Williams going first overall to Houston, the New Orleans Saints pairing an electric running back in Reggie Bush with Drew Brees, and the unforeseen whiffs of quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Vince Young.

In Vince Young’s case, the layout of his NFL career was filled with more potholes than smooth roads. Yet on the collegiate level at Texas, the dual-threat quarterback embarked on a historic 2005 senior season. That season was topped off with legendary performance against Leinart, Bush, and the USC Trojans in the 2006 National Championship game. It seemed Young was headed for a professional career filled with triumph, victories, and bright days. Little did we know, Vince Young was headed down a foggy path.

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Then Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese saw the upside. The ability Young possessed to be the next Randall Cunningham. That upside led to the Titans taking him to be their new leader. The Titans gave Young a five year, $58 million dollar contract, with $25.7 million in guaranteed money. Tennessee made sure Young was well compensated. The 2006 season for Young was filled with game-winning comebacks against the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and the Indianapolis Colts. Young passed for 2,199 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, 552 rushing yards with seven touchdowns to go along with an 8-5 record as a starter.

“It seemed Young was headed for a professional career filled with triumph, victories, and bright days”

The 2007 season masked the deficiencies of Young that in reality were clear even during his college achievements: poor accuracy and questionable game-management. However, the Titans earned a playoff berth, which was a one-and-done defeat to the San Diego Chargers.

The 2008 season was where Young took a strange turn in his career. Young injured his knee in the season opener against Jacksonville and became the back-up for the remainder of the season as then-head coach Jeff Fisher handed the QB reigns over to Kerry Collins. However, the aftermath of the injury was what grabbed headlines. During the game, Young was booed heavily by the home crowd. For a QB like Young at that point, getting booed tremendously was brand new.

The rarity caused Young to disappear. Teammates, coaches, and family members frantically searched for the troubled QB with the aid of local Tennessee police. Eventually found safe after several hours, the AWOL moment for Young fueled more and more questions. Questions wondering if Young was the guy. The guy to lead a franchise. It wasn’t until November 2009 that Young earned his starting job back as he led Tennessee however some damage was already completed.

The 2010 season would be his last as a Titan as Young got injured in Week 11 against Washington. Young got into a heated altercation with coach Fisher and got released the following offseason in July 2011.

Young bounced around the league, signing with four teams in less than three seasons. Young officially retired in June 2014.

What was it with Young? A college QB who had the nation in his hands with his ability to make the game of football look so easy. Captivating the hearts of Longhorns fans and grasping the attention of millions of viewers. Looking at the entire landscape of his career, that moment in 2008 against Jacksonville told a lot. It told that as gifted as he was in college and the high ceiling he possessed in the NFL, Young started at a mountain that was deemed impossible to climb, facing adversity.

At that age, not getting used to losing and/or being ridiculed heavily, was enough to eat at Young. Instead of biting back, Young accepted it. What if he handled it differently? Could it have affected his career in a favorable way? Who knows.

All we know now is that despite his natural talents, Vince Young was unable to grab the horns in life and enjoy the ride.

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