Steve Young to coach girls high school flag football after ESPN ouster

Steve Young couldn’t stay away from football for long.

After recently being let go by ESPN this summer, the longtime San Francisco 49ers quarterback and former ESPN analyst will work as an assistant coach for Menlo School’s girls’ flag football team this upcoming fall, the California school announced on Monday.

Young was one of many on-air ESPN personalities to be cut from the network in its extensive layoffs, which also included Suzy Kolber, Jalen Rose and Jeff Van Gundy.

Young will likely coach his two daughters — a senior and a freshman — who are expected to play for the team, the school said.

“Flag football will be a wonderful opportunity for young women to show their talent,” Young said in a statement. “Football is a great team game that teaches tremendous life lessons.

“I want to help build women’s flag football.”

California approved girls’ flag football as a sanctioned sport in February, and the season is set to start in mid-August and will run through November.

The arrival of the sport to the school, along with Young, has garnered the interest of nearly 40 student-athletes — and the Menlo staff is equally excited about the inaugural season.

“We are excited to add girls flag football to our sport offerings and provide an opportunity for our female students to play a popular, fast-growing sport,” Menlo Director of Athletics Earl Koberlein said.

“There is so much support among the girls and their classmates, the Menlo community, our fellow schools, and at the state and national levels for this exciting athletic endeavor.” 

Young will be joining fellow former 49ers quarterback John Paye, who was named head coach of the team.

“There’s certainly a good amount of excitement in the Menlo community,” Paye, an alumnus of the school, said.

“I’ve been getting photos and videos of some of the basketball players out with their friends practicing and training on their own for the season.”