Young entered the NFL as a third-round pick (66th overall) by New Orleans in 2007 and became a stalwart on special teams. Most notably, he was part of the “Ambush” unit that pulled off a successful onside kick to begin the second half of Super Bowl XLIV, helping the Saints beat the Colts. The ball was officially recovered by Jonathan Casillas, who went on to play his final three seasons with the Giants and is currently a broadcaster for the team.
Young played two more seasons apiece with the Browns and Raiders, finishing his career with a total of eight interceptions (including one against the Giants in 2012), 27 passes defensed, six sacks, and four fumble recoveries.
Young all the while made an impact away from the playing field.
The Washington, D.C. native started the Usama Young Youth foundation in 2009 and later changed the name in 2014 to Believe in U. Over the years, it has empowered countless students through mentorship and volunteering.
Young was the Saints’ representative for the Byron “Whizzer” White Award (later renamed Alan Page Community Award), the highest honor the NFL Players Association can bestow on a player for going above and beyond in community service in their team cities and hometowns. A few years later, he was the Raiders’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and served as the team’s NFLPA representative.
Young played collegiately at Kent State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies. He also attained a Professional Athlete Development Certification from The Wharton School, a Master of Science in Strategic Management from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, an Executive Education Certificate from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and Leadership and Advocacy Certification from Morehouse College.