Originally from Chicago Heights, IL, Bryant discovered his passion for football at a young age playing two hand touch with his two older brothers and neighborhood friends. Following a successful high school career, he went on to play four years at the University of Notre Dame from ‘90 to ‘94. There he met his college sweetheart, Kristin. He completed his college career and graduated with his B.A. in Business. He would then go on to be drafted in the 1994 NFL Draft as the seventh pick in the first round to the San Francisco 49ers.

He played a key role in the 49ers defense to help win Super Bowl XXIX as a rookie, earning him the honor of 1994 NFL Rookie of the Year. Despite sustaining a nearly career-ending leg injury in the 1998 season, Bryant returned to the field and picked up where he left off, finishing the season with the 1999 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Early in his career, he stepped into a leadership position on the team. His leadership and work ethic on and off the field was proven time and time again as he collected eight Len Eshmont Awards as a 49er. This award was presented to the player who best exemplified the characteristics of its namesake and is considered the highest honor within the organization. Throughout his fourteen year career, Bryant would become a four-time All-Pro, four-time Pro-Bowl player, as well as, securing himself a spot on the 1990’s NFL All-Decade Team.

Bryant hung up his cleats following the 2007 season. However, he was not out of the football world for long. In 2009, Young accepted a graduate assistant position at his alma mater, Notre Dame. There he spent one season learning the ropes of the football world from a different perspective. Following the season, Young returned to the state that had been home for the past several decades having accepted a position as a Defensive Line Coach at San Jose State University for the 2010 season. In 2011, he became the Defensive Line Coach at the University of Florida where he would spend the next two seasons. After years of being submerged in the world of football, Bryant decided to take a step back from coaching to spend more time with his family. After careful thought, he and Kristin decided to make the move to Charlotte, NC with their now six children.

In 2014, they learned the devastating news that their second child, Colby, had a rare brain cancer. For the next two years, they exhausted every treatment option in hopes of a cure. On October 11, 2016, Colby passed away at the age of fifteen after a long and awe-inspiring fight, having touched the lives of people far and wide in his short time in this world. Bryant and Kristin continue to advocate for the children and families affected by pediatric cancer wanting to walk alongside others in the valley. Bryant is now a special ambassador for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation where Kristin serves on the national board of directors.

Following extended time with his family, Young decided to accept an assistant Defensive Line coaching position with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. He remained with the Falcons for the next two seasons. 

In 2021, Bryant was inducted into the Forty Niners Hall of Fame and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame. In August of 2022, Bryant achieved the highest honor in the football world; being forever enshrined with the greats in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bryant resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife and their children.

    • San Francisco Forty-Niners, Defensive Tackle (1994-2008)

    • Co-Founder, Young Dreams Foundation (1999-2010)

    • University of Notre Dame, Defensive Graduate Assistant (2009)

    • San Jose State University, Defensive Line Coach (2010)

    • University of Florida, Defensive Line Coach (2011-2013)

    • Atlanta Falcons, Defensive Line Coach (*2016, 2017-2019)

    *Served as an intern during OTA’s

    • 1994 NFL Rookie of the Year

    • 1999 NFL Comeback Player of the Year

    • NFL All-Decade Team of 1990s

    • George S. Halas Courage Award

    • 8x Len Eshmont Award Winner

    • 4x All-Pro

    • 4x Pro Bowl

    • Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame ‘19

    • Bay Area Hall of Fame ‘21

    • San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame ‘20

    • Pro Football Hall of Fame ‘22