Steve Young had a fitting role in Chris Berman’s latest career milestone. The San Francisco 49ers legend introduced the longtime ESPN broadcaster as he was honored as a Disney Legend at D23 in Anaheim on August 16. For Young, the moment brought together two parts of his life in football: the playing career that made him a 49ers icon and the broadcasting career that eventually put him alongside one of ESPN’s most recognizable voices.

Young opened his tribute with Berman’s unmistakable call and shared the moment on social media.

“He could . . . go . . . all . . . the . . . way!” before adding, “An honor to introduce the iconic Chris Berman as one of the new Disney Legends. Boomer, you’re 1 of 1 bro.” Young said on his social media.

For Young, that connection goes back to his playing days. Berman was one of the broadcasters who helped turn NFL games and highlights into television events while Young was building his career with San Francisco. After Young retired, their professional paths crossed from the other side of the camera as Young moved into football analysis and worked alongside Berman at ESPN.

The network paired Berman with Young for the Rams-49ers Monday Night Football game in September 2016, with Berman handling play-by-play and Young serving as the analyst alongside reporter Lindsay Czarniak.

There was history between them even before that. Berman and Young were part of ESPN’s coverage surrounding Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, and they were again together for Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. Young also appeared regularly on ESPN’s NFL programming, meaning their connection developed over years rather than coming from a single assignment.

For Berman, the Disney honor recognizes a career that has been tied to ESPN almost from the beginning. He joined the network in October 1979, only weeks after its launch, when he was 24. Over the decades, he became one of the central figures in ESPN’s growth, particularly through its NFL coverage.

Berman’s biggest NFL influence came through shows such as NFL Primetime and Sunday NFL Countdown. He and Tom Jackson formed the core of NFL Primetime from 1987 through 2005, while Berman’s “Fastest Three Minutes in Television” became a familiar part of ESPN’s NFL presentation. His energetic calls and player nicknames gave the highlights a personality that was distinctly his own.

Young brought his own remarkable NFL journey to the relationship. His defining championship performance came in Super Bowl XXIX. Young completed 24 of 36 passes for 325 yards and six touchdowns as San Francisco defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26. The six touchdown passes remain a Super Bowl record, and Young was named the game’s MVP.

Young later moved into broadcasting, allowing him to experience the NFL from the other side. Instead of being the quarterback whose performances were being discussed, he became the analyst breaking down the same game. That eventually brought him alongside Berman.

The show that turned Chris Berman into an NFL television icon

Berman’s biggest career-defining moment came in 1987, when ESPN acquired its first NFL cable television agreement. That same year, Berman and Tom Jackson launched NFL Primetime, giving fans a dedicated Sunday-night program built around highlights from the day’s games. The show quickly became one of ESPN’s signature NFL properties and eventually ran for 17 seasons.

Berman recalled that the original setup was much smaller than the polished production version that fans knew, with himself, Jackson, Pete Axthelm and John Saunders working with limited studio resources. “The two of us were like hockey goalies,” Berman said while describing how he and director Jeff Winn handled highlights that were still arriving. He remembered the first season as rough at times, but also as the beginning of something completely new for ESPN.

What made the show different was the way Berman presented the games. His rapid-fire narration, enthusiasm, and memorable player nicknames turned what could have been a simple collection of highlights into something fans looked forward to every Sunday night. ESPN says NFL Primetime became the highest-rated studio show in cable television history, a distinction that shows just how much the program connected with viewers.