.jpg) Young in 2010 | |
| No. 34, 30[1] | |
|---|---|
| Positions | Wide receiver •running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1943-06-06)June 6, 1943 (age 82) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Westdale (Hamilton) |
| University | Queen's |
| NFL draft | 1965: undrafted |
| CFL draft | 1965: 1st round, 1st overall pick |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1965–1966 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1967–1979 | BC Lions |
Coaching | |
| 1990 | BC Lions (HC) |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
Stats atPro Football Reference  | |
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1991) | |
James Norman Young (born June 6, 1943)[2] is a Canadian former professionalfootball player. Young playedrunning back andwide receiver for theNFL'sMinnesota Vikings for two seasons (1965–66), and theCFL'sBC Lions for thirteen seasons (1967–79). Young is a member ofCanada's Sports Hall of Fame, theCanadian Football Hall of Fame, theBC Sports Hall of Fame, and theQueen's University Football Hall of Fame. Young's #30 jersey is one of ten numbersretired by the BC Lions.[3] In 2003, Young was voted a member of theBC Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebration.[4] In 2006, Young was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports networkTSN.[5]
Young was nicknamed "Dirty Thirty", for his aggressive style and jersey number.Sports journalistJim Taylor wrote a football biography of Young featuring the same name.
James Norman Young was born on June 6, 1943, inHamilton, Ontario.[1] He attendedWestdale Secondary School in Hamilton.[1] He playedCIAU football atQueen's University.[1]
In 1965, Young signed with theMinnesota Vikings of theNational Football League. He playedRunning back/halfback for theMinnesota Vikings in the1965 and1966 seasons (playing 6 games, rushing 3 times for 4 yards, and returning 6 punts and 9 kickoffs).
Young wanted to return to Canada, and theBC Lions were very interested in acquiring him, however theToronto Argonauts had his CFL rights.
The Minnesota Vikings were very interested in signing BC LionsquarterbackJoe Kapp.
The Minnesota Vikingsgeneral manager at the time wasJim Finks, who had brought Kapp to Canada back in the1959 CFL season, and their head coach wasBud Grant who had faced Kapp while coaching theWinnipeg Blue Bombers. Both Finks and Grant, wanted to sign Joe Kapp to replaceFran Tarkenton who had been traded to theNew York Giants.
To make this possible, the BC Lions traded all-star defensive linemanDick Fouts, and future Canadian Football Hall of Fame running backBill Symons to the Argonauts for the CFL rights to Young. They then managed getting Kapp waived out of the Canadian Football League.
The Minnesota Vikings managed getting Young waived out of the NFL. The expansionNew Orleans Saints wanted Young and it took some work from Finks to keep them from claiming Young.
Young, now waived from the NFL, signed with the BC Lions and Joe Kapp, who was waived from the CFL, was free to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, who had previously claimed his NFL playing rights from theWashington Redskins.
Young played from the1967 to1979 season with the BC Lions for 197 games, primarily as a wide receiver. Young was named a CFL All-Star at wide receiver for the1972 season, and was a two-timeWestern Conference All Star at two positions (running back in 1969, wide receiver in 1972). Young was awarded theCFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in the1970 and1972 seasons.
He gained a reputation for his hard nosed play, hence the nickname "Dirty 30". His style of play forced defensive backs to watch out for him.
Young previously held several BC Lions team records, including most receptions, 552, most receiving yards, 9248, and most receivingtouchdowns, with 65. These are now all held byGeroy Simon. He is one of only two Lions to surpass the 10,000 yard mark overall and he dominated the Lions offence for many years despite playing with 23 different quarterbacks. He saw action in five playoff seasons for B.C. and still ranks as the fifth all-time leading scorer in club history at 410 points.
Young's #30 jersey is one of ten numbersretired by the Lions.[3]
Young joined the BC Lions team management after his retirement, and coached the Lions on an interim basis during the1990 CFL season for one game, a 32–13 loss to theEdmonton Eskimos.
In 1991, Young was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was inducted into theBC Sports Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was inducted intoCanada's Sports Hall of Fame. In November, 2006, Young was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports networkTSN.[5]In 2011, he was an inaugural inductee in the BC Football Hall of Fame.
