Bryce Young Once "Tortured" on the Bench for 5 Consecutive Games – From "Draft Disaster" to "Reborn Superstar" or Just an Illusion?

Charlotte, North Carolina – September 27, 2025 – Can you believe it? Exactly one year ago, at this point in the 2024 season, Bryce Young – the guy once hailed as the "future of the NFL" with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft – was straight-up "kicked" to the bench by the Carolina Panthers for five games in a row! A decision that sent shockwaves, plunging Young into an abyss of despair, with fans booing, experts mocking, and his future hanging by a thread. Is this the end for Alabama's "golden boy," or just a dark turning point leading to a spectacular transformation? Let's flip through this drama file, where pressure, tears, and trade rumors are shaking up the American football world!

Flash back to September 2024: The Panthers started disastrously at 0-2, with Young playing like a "lost soul" – a mere 245 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and a whopping 3 interceptions in the first two games. Head coach Dave Canales, under pressure from management and enraged fans, made the "ruthless" call: Bench Young and promote Andy Dalton – the 36-year-old veteran – to starting QB. Not just 1 or 2 games, but a full five in a row! Young, the 23-year-old with a modest height of 5'10", sat on the sidelines watching his teammates struggle, while social media exploded with the hashtag #BustYoung (Young as a "bust"). "I felt betrayed, like all my dreams were shattered," a source close to Young revealed at the time. The reason? Not just poor performance – Young was criticized for crumbling under pressure from opposing defenses, frequently making mistakes under duress, and lacking support from the Panthers' weak offensive line. An ESPN expert called it a "system failure": "The Panthers drafted Young without building a team around him. This is a recipe for disaster!"

The drama escalated as rumors spread: The Panthers were considering trading Young to "salvage" the season. Panthers fans were divided – one side defended "he needs time," the other screamed "trade him, don't waste the salary!" Young, once the Heisman Trophy MVP at Alabama with laser-like throws, now faced a mental crisis. "He cried in the locker room, questioning himself every night," an anonymous teammate recounted. The pressure from high expectations (as the No. 1 Draft QB) nearly "broke" him. But then, like a Hollywood movie, Young returned to the field late in the 2024 season with explosive form: Completing 62% of passes, 521 yards, 4 TDs in just a few games post-benching. "The benching was a harsh lesson, but it saved my career," Young admitted in an early 2025 press conference.

Now, in 2025, Young is "transforming" into the Panthers' pillar: Averaging over 235 passing yards per game, fewer interceptions, and leading the team to key victories. Coach Canales praised: "Young is now a true leader; he's playing with a smile and confidence." But the drama hasn't stopped! With the Panthers considering a rebuild, rumors of trading Young to the Pittsburgh Steelers – a team desperate for a young talented QB to replace Justin Fields and Russell Wilson – are heating up. The Steelers, with their ironclad top-NFL defense, could be "heaven" for Young: "They'll protect him better, helping Young shine like in college," a PFF expert analyzed. If the trade happens, Young could become the "new king" of the Steelers, leading them to the 2026 playoffs. But if he stays with the Panthers? Will he maintain this momentum, or "freefall" like last year?

Bryce Young's story is a vivid testament to the brutality of the NFL: From a rejected genius to a reborn hero, but the future remains a big question mark. Will the "golden boy" conquer the Lombardi Trophy, or be "banished" to the bench again? Panthers fans are holding their breath, the Steelers are "lurking" – this drama is far from over! Follow now to find out the outcome!