His NFL career was aborted after just six nondescript seasons, but Vince Young found work where he had the most success on the football field: Texas.
The Longhorns announced that the former quarterback has been hired to work in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, with the responsibility of raising funds for the university. His job title is development officer for program alumni relations, raising money for programs that help first-generation and low-income college students.
“Vince Young brought a national championship to Texas, returned to the Forty Acres to earn his degree and will now help other students reach their goals and change the world,” University of Texas at Austin president Bill Powers said in a statement.
Young notoriously squandered most of his millions earned in the NFL through outlandish spending, bad investments and mismanagement. Now, his job is to raise money.
“The position with DDCE is a great way to stay connected to the university and help make a difference in the lives of underserved kids across the state,” Young said in a statement.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Young’s position will pay him at least $100,000 a year. He begins work Sept. 1.
“Vince’s passion for the educational success of young people and his experiences as a first-generation college graduate make him a perfect fit for this role,” Gregory J. Vincent, UT’s vice president for diversity and community engagement, said in a statement. “We are excited about the enthusiasm and skill set he is bringing to our team and look forward to working with Vince.”
Young finished his bachelor’s degree at UT in applied learning and development last year while waiting for another chance to play in the NFL. Since his last pro start, with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, Young had failed to catch on with another team. He was cut by the Green Bay Packers at the end of preseason last year and briefly signed on with the Cleveland Browns this spring after a minicamp tryout.
Young led Texas to a BCS national championship in 2005. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was 31-19 as a starter and threw for 8,964 yards and 46 touchdowns in his six years as a pro.
