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Lonnie Young, a 12-year NFL veteran defensive back with three teams, including six as a Cardinals safety (1985-90), enters his fourth year with the Cardinals scouting department. His primary area of responsibility is the western region of the country.
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the 12th round (325th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft, Young played in 150 NFL games (97 starts) with the Cardinals (1985-90), N.Y. Jets (1991-93, ’95’96), and San Diego Chargers (1994). Young’s professional statistics included 720 total tackles (540 solos), 11 pass interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, 9 forced fumbles, 44 pass deflections, and 2 quarterback sacks. During the 1993 season with the Jets, Young returned from a career threatening right knee injury and received the Ed Block Courage Award and Dennis Byrd award for the most inspirational player on the team.
Young attended Beecher High School in his native Flint, MI and was a two-year starting cornerback at Michigan State where his roommate was former N.Y. Giant linebacker Carl Banks.
After an outstanding college career for the Spartans where he also earned a degree in communications, Young earned all-rookie notice in 1985 when he led all Cardinal defensive backs with three interceptions and added 92 tackles and six pass deflections as a 10-game starter. He was the team’s starting free safety for 72 of his 82 games in a Cardinal uniform, logging 470 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 8 fumble recoveries.
He was an honorable mention all-pro for the Cardinals in 1988.
Prior to the start of the 1991 season, Young was traded to the N.Y. Jets for a ninth-round draft pick. He was the Jets’ starting free safety for the next two seasons. After spending 1994 with San Diego as a member of the Chargers’ AFC championship squad but inactive for the postseason and Super Bowl XXIX, Young returned for two final seasons with the Jets from 1995-96.
Following his retirement as a player after the 1996 season, Young worked in private business and served as a personnel scout for the N.Y. Jets prior to joining the Cardinals.
In recognition of his high school and college playing career, he was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame in December of 2004.
Young resides in Glendale, AZ. | 