FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-78 1/8/98

GEORGE YOUNG NAMED NFL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

GEORGE YOUNG, who built the New York Giants into two-time Super Bowl champions and earned NFL executive of the year honors an unprecedented five times, has been appointed the NFL’s senior vice president of football operations, Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE announced today.

Young, who will report directly to Commissioner Tagliabue, will have broad responsibilities for the game at all levels, including the NFL’s relations with college football, the World League in Europe, and youth football. He will serve as league office liaison with the NFL Competition Committee and be responsible for proposing an annual agenda of priorities for the committee.

Young and Green Bay Packers head coach MIKE HOLMGREN have served as co-chairmen of the Competition Committee. Commissioner Tagliabue will name a new co-chairman to serve with Holmgren.

Young will oversee the league’s officiating function, working closely with Senior Director of Officiating JERRY SEEMAN, who will continue to deal with both Commissioner Tagliabue and the Competition Committee on officiating matters.

Young, who will begin working at the NFL office in New York on February 2, also will supervise NFL staff involved in football competition matters and game operations.

"The addition of George Young to our office is particularly timely," said Commissioner Tagliabue. "As important a role as the Competition Committee has played and will continue to play, we cannot rely solely on those Committee members to volunteer their time in this age of year-round football. George will expand the work that he handled for us as Competition Committee co-chair and will help set the football priorities for the league. We look forward to having George bring his unique background to our office in a full-time role soon after the Super Bowl."

George Young has 45 years of experience in professional and amateur football.

After being named a Little All-America as a defensive tackle for Bucknell University in 1951, Young was drafted by the Dallas Texans (soon to become the Baltimore Colts) in 1952.

He then began a 15-year tenure as a high school football coach and teacher at Calvert Hall and City College High School in the Baltimore school system. Young won six Maryland state championships and had a 60-11-2 record during one stretch. He also taught history and political science.

Beginning in 1968, Young spent 11 years with the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins in various administrative and coaching capacities, primarily under DON SHULA. In 1970 as the Colts’ offensive line coach, Young helped guide the team to its Super Bowl V victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Young served as offensive coordinator as well as offensive line coach for the Colts in 1973-74. In 1975, he joined the Dolphins as director of personnel and pro scouting.

In 1979, Young was appointed by the Giants as the team’s general manager. Prior to his stewardship, the Giants had not been in the NFL playoffs since 1963. Under his direction, the team won two Super Bowls (XXI and XXV) and went to the playoffs eight times, including this past season.

Young was named to the NFL Competition Committee in 1989 and was appointed co-chair with Shula in 1994.

During his Giants tenure, Young was named NFL executive of the year by The Sporting News in a vote of NFL general managers in 1984, 1986, 1990 and 1993. This season, he was named NFL executive of the year by the Professional Football Writers of America.

George and wife MARY LOVE reside in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.