By Ginika Igboke
Derrick Brown believes quarterback Bryce Young is steadily silencing critics after enduring a difficult start to his NFL career.
Speaking on former NFL defensive end Chris Long’s podcast Green Light with Chris Long, Brown praised Young for tuning out criticism and continuing to work through adversity.
“He’s our guy,” Brown said. “We ride with 9 all the way through, and that’s one of those things that people don’t want to admit—how good he’s becoming—because they’d have to admit how wrong they were.”
Young entered the league as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft after a standout college career at University of Alabama. Despite concerns about his size at 5-foot-10, evaluators pointed to his composure, mobility, and football instincts as strengths.
His rookie season, however, proved difficult. Young finished with a 2–14 record in 16 games, completing 315 of 527 passes for 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 253 yards and endured heavy pressure behind an offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 62 times.
His second season also began poorly. Following lopsided losses to the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers, Young was benched in favor of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton.
But after Dalton suffered a thumb injury in a car accident, Young returned to the starting role and showed signs of growth.
His return sparked a turnaround for the Panthers. The team earned key wins against the Saints and New York Giants while competing closely against contenders such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Brown said Young never changed his approach despite criticism and setbacks.
“He just came in to work every single day and killed it,” Brown said. “He didn’t care. He went right back to doing what he does. To him, it was about playing football.”
Brown also acknowledged the pressure quarterbacks face in the NFL, saying the position carries intense scrutiny despite its rewards.
Young delivered the strongest statistical season of his career last year, finishing with an 8–8 record in 16 games. He completed 304 of 478 passes for 3,011 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while adding rushing contributions on the ground.
The Carolina Panthers finished 8–9, captured the NFC South title for the first time since 2015, and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
In a tightly contested Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, the Panthers nearly pulled off an upset. Young helped guide Carolina to a fourth-quarter lead and threw a late touchdown pass to wide receiver Jalen Coker before the Rams rallied for a 34–31 victory.
Brown also described Young as a low-key personality who prefers staying out of the spotlight but remains a valued teammate and friend.
“He’s cool,” Brown said. “We all hang out and chill. He doesn’t try to put on a show for the world. He’s a cool dude.”
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