BREAKING: Heisman Winner & BYU Legend Steve Young Donates $28.7 Million to Transform BYU Football Training Facilities — “This Is for the Next Generation of Cougars”
PROVO, UT — In a move that has stunned and inspired the college football world, BYU icon and Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young has made a historic $28.7 million donation to revolutionize the school’s athletic training infrastructure. The donation — the largest single gift ever made by a former athlete to the university — is set to fund a full-scale transformation of BYU’s football training facilities, creating a state-of-the-art complex bearing Young’s name.
A Vision Rooted in Legacy
Steve Young, a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and one of BYU’s most celebrated alumni, made the announcement at a packed press conference held inside the Cougars’ athletic center. Standing beside BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and university president C. Shane Reese, Young was emotional as he reflected on what the university had given him.
> “This place changed my life,” Young said. “From Lavell Edwards to the teammates who became brothers, BYU gave me every opportunity to succeed. This gift isn’t about me — it’s about giving that same opportunity to every Cougar who comes after me.”
Young’s donation will fully fund the Steve Young Performance Center, a cutting-edge 88,000-square-foot training facility set to include:
A 24-hour-access strength and conditioning suite
Climate-controlled indoor turf field
Advanced sports science and recovery labs
Athlete mental health and wellness center
Multimedia film and analytics room
Leadership and life-prep lounge for player development
More Than Just Bricks and Turf
Kalani Sitake, who has frequently spoken about creating a “championship culture with character,” called the donation a game-changer.
> “This is a transformational moment for BYU Football,” Sitake said. “But more than that, it’s a message: We’re building not just elite athletes, but elite men. Steve’s example continues to show our players what true greatness looks like — on and off the field.”
Young, who remains deeply involved in humanitarian work and youth mentorship, emphasized that part of the center will focus on life after football, offering workshops, internships, and alumni mentorship for student-athletes preparing for careers beyond the gridiron.
National Reaction
News of the donation quickly made waves across the college football world. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit tweeted, “Steve Young just set the gold standard for what alumni support can look like. BYU’s future just got brighter.”
Guinness World Records has confirmed it is evaluating the donation as potentially the largest athletic-specific personal contribution made to an NCAA football program by a former player.
Looking Forward
Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony targeted for Fall 2027. BYU officials say it will not only elevate the program’s recruiting edge in the Big 12 but also stand as a permanent tribute to the man who helped put BYU football on the national map.
> “This is for the next Steve Young,” he said, smiling. “He’s out there — he just needs a place to grow.”
With one gift, Steve Young didn’t just invest in bricks or facilities — he invested in futures, in faith, and in the enduring spirit of Cougar football.
