BYU Cougars: Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Ty Detmer, LaVell Edwards
The BYU football program began back in 1922. Since then, the Cougars have won 23 conference championships and produced one national title back in 1984. Within that time, there have been some legendary players to put on the Cougars uniform, including a couple of quarterbacks who are some of the best the game has ever seen.
Jim McMahon
Before leading the 1985 Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory, Jim McMahon played his college ball at BYU, where he was a two-time All-American at quarterback for the Cougars. The winner of the 1981 Sammy Baugh Award, as well as the Davey O’Brien Award, McMahon had his No. 9 retired back in 2014. He is widely regarded as one of the better quarterbacks the BYU program has ever seen.
Steve Young
Steve Young would go on to become a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback during his time in the NFL, but before that, he was a standout quarterback at BYU. Just as he did in replacing a legend in the NFL, Young replaced McMahon at BYU. He broke many of McMahon’s records while leading the team to an 11-1 record in 1983, where he was a unanimous All-American. His No. 8 was retired by the school.
LaVell Edwards
When you think of BYU football, you think of LaVell Edwards, and not only because the stadium the Cougars play in is named after him. Edwards was an extremely successful coach for the Cougars, leading them from 1972 to 2000, winning a national title in 1984, and putting together a stunning 257-101-3 record. Edwards led the Cougars to 18 WAC titles and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Ty Detmer
Ty Detmer was one of the more prolific quarterbacks in college football history, breaking several NCAA records during his time as the starter for the BYU Cougars. A two-time All-American, Detmer held 59 NCAA records by the time he was done at BYU, including passing yards (15,031), and passing touchdowns (121), while taking home the 1990 Heisman Trophy.