Chase Young Bio
Chase Young is an American professional football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he was a unanimous All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist in 2019 after breaking the school’s single-season sack record with 16.5. Young was selected second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2020 NFL draft and was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Early Life and Background
Chase Young was born on April 14, 1999, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He began playing American football as a child, attending St. Columba School in Oxon Hill, Maryland, before transferring to DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, in 2015. As a freshman at St. Vincent Pallotti High School, he played as a quarterback, tight end, and outside linebacker before switching primarily to defensive end.
At DeMatha Catholic, Young had 19 quarterback sacks and 27 tackles for loss in his first season, helping the team win the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. As a senior in 2016, he recorded 19 sacks, 118 tackles, five forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns while helping his team go undefeated and win another WCAC championship. He was recognized as one of the nation’s top high school football players, earning spots on the 2016 USA Today All-USA team and being named all-metropolitan defensive football player of the year by The Washington Post.
Path to American Football
Young received scholarship offers from over 40 universities before committing to Ohio State in July 2016. He chose the Buckeyes over schools such as Alabama and Maryland due to their family-oriented approach and his desire to play under defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Young’s football journey took an interesting turn during high school when he also played basketball alongside Markelle Fultz, who was later selected first overall in the 2017 NBA draft. At the time, both had set goals to become the first overall selections in their respective sports.
Chase Young Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
As a freshman at Ohio State in 2017, Young recorded 3.5 sacks, 18 tackles, and a forced fumble. He became a starter during his sophomore season in 2018, recording 10.5 sacks despite spraining both ankles halfway through the year. Three of those sacks came against Northwestern in the 2018 Big Ten Football Championship Game, earning him second-team All-Big Ten honors. By his junior season in 2019, Young had emerged as one of the most dominant defensive players in college football.
In 2019, Young was named one of the team captains. That season, he tied Ohio State school records for single-game sacks (4) and tackles for loss (5) in a win against Wisconsin. Despite a two-game NCAA suspension for receiving an unauthorized loan, Young finished the season with 16.5 sacks, 46 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 7 forced fumbles, 3 pass deflections, and a blocked field goal. His 16.5 sacks led the NCAA and broke the single-season school record previously held by Vernon Gholston.
College Breakthrough (2019)
The 2019 season established Young as one of the premier defensive players in college football history. In addition to being unanimously named to the 2019 College Football All-America Team, he won several prestigious awards including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Ted Hendricks Award, Chicago Tribune Silver Football, and Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year.
Young was also named a finalist for the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, and Heisman Trophy, becoming only the ninth defensive player since 1982 to be nominated for the latter, where he finished fourth in voting behind quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Fields. He was voted the Big Ten Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year, annually honoring the conference’s top male athlete of any sport. Young finished his Ohio State career with 30.5 sacks in three seasons, ranking second all-time behind Mike Vrabel.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–Present)
On March 18, 2024, Young signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. The following day, it was announced that he would undergo neck surgery that would likely cause him to miss part of training camp. On July 18, Young was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. In Week 15, he recorded a season-high 2.0 sacks in a narrow 20-19 loss to his former Washington Commanders.
On March 10, 2025, New Orleans re-signed Young to a three-year contract worth $51 million. After being injured in practice for Week 1 of the 2025 season, he continued to be sidelined with a calf injury for the first three games. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December. In the 2025 season, Young had ten sacks, 38 total tackles (22 solo), four passes defended, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Playing Style and Strengths
Chase Young possesses exceptional athleticism and explosiveness off the edge, making him a constant threat to opposing quarterbacks. His combination of speed, power, and technical prowess allows him to win one-on-one matchups consistently. Young has shown remarkable ability to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage, contributing to his impressive pass deflection numbers throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Young made immediate impact in his NFL debut with 1.5 sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 14 of his rookie season, he recorded a sack, two passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery returned 47 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first rookie in NFL history to achieve all of that in a single game. He has continued to perform at a high level across multiple teams, including recording a sack in Super Bowl LVIII with the San Francisco 49ers.
Chase Young Career Wins
Chase Young has established himself as one of the most productive defensive players of his generation, combining impressive statistics with numerous accolades across both college and professional levels. His ability to affect games in multiple ways—through sacks, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries—has made him a valuable asset for every team he has played for.
NFL Highlights
In his NFL career, Young has recorded 32 sacks, 169 total tackles, 9 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 16 pass deflections, and 2 defensive touchdowns as of 2025. His rookie season in 2020 was particularly outstanding, where he led all rookies with 7.5 sacks along with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Young also made history with a multi-sack performance in Super Bowl LVIII with the San Francisco 49ers.
College Highlights
During his collegiate career at Ohio State, Young set numerous records and milestones. His 16.5 sacks in 2019 led the NCAA and broke the school’s single-season record. In three seasons with the Buckeyes, he accumulated 30.5 sacks, ranking second all-time in program history. His college achievements included unanimous All-American honors in 2019 and being named a Heisman Trophy finalist, a rare distinction for defensive players.
| League | Seasons | Team | Role | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA | 2017-2019 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Defensive End | Multiple All-American, Heisman Finalist |
| NFL | 2020-2025 | Washington/San Francisco/New Orleans | Defensive End | NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl |
Chase Young Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Chase Young comes from a family with athletic and law enforcement backgrounds. His father Greg played college basketball at Bowie State University before working as a deputy sheriff with the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, while his mother Carla works for the Office of Investigations for the United States Department of Transportation. Young has a sister, Weslie, who played college basketball at North Carolina Wesleyan. He pursued a major in criminology at Ohio State, inspired by his father and several uncles and cousins who have worked in law enforcement.
Personal Life
During his time with the Buckeyes, Young was nicknamed “the Predator” for his on-field performance and because his dreadlocks resembled Predators from the Predator franchise. He is represented by Klutch Sports Group and serves as their football ambassador for Klutch Athletics, a sportswear brand formed in partnership with New Balance in 2023. Young has appeared in advertisements for Chipotle, Under Armour, and eBay, as well as on episodes of The Shop and Celebrity Family Feud. He also performed guest vocals on “Fire & Ice”, a track from the American rapper Wale’s 2021 album Folarin II.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant comeback year for Chase Young after overcoming multiple injuries. Signed to a three-year contract worth $51 million, Young initially missed the first three games with a calf injury but quickly returned to form. His performance peaked in December when he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month. By the end of the season, Young had accumulated impressive statistics including ten sacks, 38 total tackles, and multiple forced fumbles, demonstrating his continued impact as one of the premier defensive ends in the NFL despite the challenges he faced during the year.