CHARLOTTE — When Jalen Milroe arrived at the University of Alabama in January 2022, he was a newcomer to the Crimson Tide football program. On his second day as a mid-year enrollee, he met Bryce Young, who had just come off a National Championship. Milroe recalled how Young approached him in the player cafeteria and became his mentor.
“That’s the thing, they’re coming off the national championship, right?” Milroe said last Monday night during Super Bowl opening night. He described feeling nervous meeting Young for the first time but soon found support and camaraderie.
Milroe explained that their relationship was not marked by rivalry, despite competing for playing time. “Everywhere, they have different cultures in the room. (But) when I was in the room with Bryce, that was my brother,” Milroe said. “Some people hate, when they’re not playing to get their way, but not with my guy…So when he was on the field, I’m screaming for him. If you look at every touchdown he had, we had a celebration every time he scored. We did a Euro step and followed through.”
A well-known video shows Young celebrating after a touchdown before quickly turning to discuss strategy with coach Nick Saban. “That was me and him,” Milroe said. “I mean, we did that every single game.”
Milroe emphasized Young’s focus and leadership qualities: “Your quarterback has to be the most locked-in guy on the team, and it’s key with the success rate at quarterback, you’ve got to have that loose focus mentality,” he said. “He has that.”
He also addressed perceptions about quarterbacks needing to be outspoken or emotional leaders: “Not every quarterback is the same; we’re all different, and so that happens to be Bryce,” Milroe said. “He’s special and unique.
“That’s my guy to this day…He’s a great dude. He loves football. He loves everything about it. This is a guy who loves being around his teammates. He’s going to do everything he can to be successful.”
Both quarterbacks chose patience over transferring schools while waiting for their opportunity on the field—an uncommon decision amid frequent transfers in college football today.
“No, it’s unique. It’s unique because the landscape of college football is soft, and they don’t know what the mindset of grit and determination was that was there before…And so to be able to stay grounded, for guys that do that, I tip my cap off to them,” Milroe said.
Reflecting on Young’s NFL journey with Carolina after his own rookie season backing up Sam Darnold and Drew Lock in Seattle—where he won a Super Bowl ring—Milroe expressed confidence in Young’s resilience: “That’s something that deserves so much credit…It’s so easy to give up…but the more grounded you are, it shows a respect factor in so many people’s eyes.
“So, for him, see where his team went, and they won their division. They’re steadily climbing, and so I’m so happy for him.”
Bryce Young led the Carolina Panthers to their first NFC South title since 2015 by completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,011 yards with 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and an 87.8 quarterback rating; he also rushed 54 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns.
The Carolina Panthers have achieved multiple division titles and playoff appearances since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1995 according to their official website. The franchise operates out of Charlotte and plays home games downtown in North Carolina. The organization focuses on building a championship culture while engaging in community outreach throughout North and South Carolina as stated by team sources.
Although now playing for different teams professionally—Milroe as a Seahawks backup quarterback—he remains supportive of Young: “It was so good to see him earlier in the season…Although I’m not with him every day like I was…I’m still rooting for him…I’m always going to be passionate about Bryce.
“I love that guy to this day…because our relationship we built in college…no matter what team he’s on…I’m going to have his back.”
