All About Bryce Young’s Parents, Craig and Julie Young

NFL quarterback Bryce Young has always had the support of his mom and dad

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young faces high expectations, but his parents have always kept him levelheaded.

The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was raised by his father, Craig Young, a mental health therapist, and his mother, Julie Young, a former special education teacher. Craig and Julie wed in July 1995 before welcoming their only child six years later.

Bryce was born in Philadelphia but spent most of his childhood in Pasadena, California. The 2021 Heisman Trophy recipient nearly played college football close to home at the University of Southern California after committing to the school, but his parents supported his decision to go to the University of Alabama instead.

Although the rookie's stature was commented on, being perceived as an undersized quarterback standing at 6 feet and 194 lbs., he had his parents' unconditional love.

“My parents have always made it so that I know that they’ll love me regardless," Bryce told CBS Sports in a November 2022 interview. "I don’t have to be someone; I don’t have to achieve something to get their love or to get their compassion. I trust them, and I know that I can come to them with anything.”

So, who are Bryce Young’s parents? Here’s everything to know about Craig and Julie Young.

Craig and Julie got married in 1995

Craig and Julie tied the knot on July 29, 1995.

He often posts affectionately about his wife on social media, writing about their anniversary in 2022. According to his message, the couple dated for three years before becoming husband and wife.

“So, it’s been 27 years of marriage and 30 years together. What a ride!!" Craig wrote on Instagram. "Like any ride there have been ups, downs, twist, turns, suspense, fear [and] joy but above all there has been LOVE."

“You have been the homie, confidant, prayer partner, cheering section, emotional support, ally, business partner and cutie pie.” he continued.

They welcomed their son Bryce on July 25, 2001.

Craig's football passion led him to name Bryce after a player

While watching Monday Night Football one evening, Craig had the idea to name Bryce after Green Bay Packers linebacker Bryce Paup. He would even drop a cloth football around Bryce when he was a baby to see what would happen. Craig was stunned when he caught the ball at only 4 months old.

Part of the reason Craig loved football so much was because he had his own football career in high school that never quite took off, but it motivated him to ensure Bryce’s success.

“I didn’t reach my own potential athletically. I didn’t get the best coaching,” Craig told Sports Illustrated in April 2023. “There’s a chance I stopped playing because I quit and I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen to him.”

Craig's mental health background influenced how he raised Bryce

Craig is accomplished in his own right, having worked as a licensed therapist in the mental health field for over 25 years, according to his website. He graduated with his B.A. in sociology from UCLA and his M.A. in marriage and family therapy from Pacific Oaks College.

He offers counseling, consulting and coaching services while also speaking at events, often about leadership. Craig’s mental health advocacy has influenced how he raised Bryce, having always encouraged Bryce to prioritize his mental health.

“Mental health has always been important to our family," Craig explained to CBS Sports. "It’s just something that we’ve always paid a lot of attention to, and we always wanted to provide an environment for Bryce where he felt safe and he felt loved and he felt encouraged irrespective of his outcomes."

He added: “We provided a safe place for him to express his feelings or sometimes not to express his feelings … that whatever he’s feeling was okay and that we were there to help him problem solve and that through that problem-solving journey he was always loved and we were there for him.”

Julie was a special education teacher

Julie worked for 25 years as a special education teacher, per the Associated Press.

According to Sports Illustrated, when a child with special needs was brought into Julie’s class halfway through the school year, she was informed that the child “doesn’t do a whole lot” by their occupational therapist.

By the end of the year, Julie taught the child the alphabet, how to type their name on a computer and sound out some small words. She used this same dedication and compassion while raising her son.

“We would do everything together,” Julie told the Carolina Panthers in April 2023. “Even when we go to practices, I would go. I remember I had a friend ask me, like, ‘Why don’t you just drop him off and leave?’ And I was like, ‘No, I’ll stay. We all have to be together.’ ”

Julie was a former athlete, but Bryce didn't know

Julie was a star soccer player in high school, traveling to Australia with an under-16 national team and playing in college at Cal Poly Pomona, per the AP. She later taught Bryce humility, having never even shared these accomplishments with him.

“I didn’t know this about her for almost my entire childhood,” Bryce shared in September 2023. “It took for someone else to tell me just how good she was … Then when I asked her, she was like, ‘Oh, I tried my best. I had fun.’ But in reality, she was one of the best players in the country.”

“They are some of the most humble and empathetic people I have ever been around,” he said of his parents. “That’s something that was always in my upbringing and was always a point of emphasis. I think my parents did a great job leading by example.”

Julie helped Craig and Bryce have a better relationship

Craig developed into Bryce’s greatest mentor, but it wasn’t always this way. Despite the overall loving and supportive environment he grew up in, Bryce went to Julie about Craig's coaching style.

Upon hearing this, she talked with him about balancing his responsibilities of being a dad and coach to a middle schooler.

"I had to kind of step in and say, ‘Okay, now think about this. You’re his father, too. How do you want to deal with this?' ” Julie told CBS Sports. “He decided, ‘Okay, you’re right. I need to change this and be more collaborative' in their discussions about sports. ”

Today, Bryce calls Craig his "best friend."

"He's always been there for me and not just as a father but as a friend, as a supporter, as a fan, someone who pushes me to be better," the NFL star shared. "I'm just blessed and lucky to have a father like that in my life."

Craig and Julie bought a house in Alabama to be close to Bryce

Bryce initially committed to play college football at USC, which would have kept him stateside and close to home. However, when the opportunity to play for Nick Saban, recognized as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, at the University of Alabama came up, it was too good to pass up.

He had a stellar career at Alabama, breaking several school records, but being away from home wasn’t easy in the beginning. As a result, his parents moved to a home roughly an hour away from the school so they could have dinner together and help give him a break from the all-consuming nature of college football.

Bryce also sought support for his mental health from the University of Alabama when he first struggled with the transition.

“I was so proud of Bryce for being so transparent and being so honest and so vulnerable,” Craig told CBS Sports.

He continued: “Sometimes when we struggle with mental health we want to keep that [to ourselves] because admitting that would signal some sort of weaknesses, especially for athletes who sometimes, their whole identity is based on being strong and ‘I can overcome.’ ”

Craig and Julie keep all of Bryce’s accolades at their home

After Bryce was drafted in April 2023, he gave an exclusive interview to PEOPLE, revealing that he kept a piece of the draft stage.

"The draft was a very surreal moment for me. It's an experience that I'll never forget," he said. “Being able to have not just the thought and the memory, but the physical part of the stage is surreal."

When PEOPLE asked Bryce where he would keep the valuable memorabilia, he shared that it would go to his parents’ house.

“They keep all of the awards and stuff that’s really memorable to us,” he added. “They have a place ready for it, so I think it’ll be there."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.