Panthers QB Bryce Young makes NFL Top 100 debut at No. 98: His reaction

NFL Network's annual Top 100 Players countdown is underway, and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young makes his debut, landing at No. 98.

Voted upon by players, the recognition carries more weight than media-driven rankings and comes three years into a career that took a little longer to find its footing than expected.

Here's how the former No. 1 pick reacted to hearing the news, and what he did to earn his spot.

Jared C. Tilton / Staff

How Young, his teammates, and others reacted

True to form, Young isn't letting the recognition go to his head.

"I mean, I'm grateful for it, but I can't let that be a motivating factor for me," he said. "I just focus on the work here. You know, that's all that matters.

"I think in sports, just in life, there's going to be ups, there's going to be downs. I can't control stuff like that, so I think for me, even if it is positive at the time, I can't flip-flop."

Chris Graythen / Staff

His teammate, standout cornerback Jaycee Horn, was less reserved: "I call him Ice Young, because when you get in those moments, there's no quarterback I'd rather have."

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough praised Young for his poise under pressure, saying, "He really does a good job of stepping up and making some of those clutch throws."

What Young did to earn his spot

Young threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and completed 63.6% of his attempts, helping him to a career-high passer rating of 87.8.

His six game-winning drives tied for second-most in the NFL in 2025, and improved his mark to 12 since entering the league, more than any other quarterback over that period.

While those fourth-quarter moments don't always show up in the box score, they tend to leave an impression in the locker room, and that point as much as any likely led to his nomination.

Young's late-game heroics helped the Panthers to an 8-9 record, their best since 2017, and their first NFC South title since 2015, ending an eight-year playoff drought.

The Panthers' playoff run was short, but they pushed the Rams into the final minute of their Wild Card game before Matthew Stafford found Colby Parkinson for the winner with 38 seconds remaining.

Getting there at all, given where things stood two years prior, was a reminder of how quickly things can turn in this league, and much of the credit goes to Young.

Who else joined Young in the rankings?

• No. 100 -Cam Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints
• No. 99 - Quenton Nelson, G, Indianapolis Colts
• No. 98 - Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
• No. 97 - Ernest Jones IV, LB, Seattle Seahawks

The NFL Top 100 countdown continues with Nos. 96 and 95 from 3pm BST / 10am EST on Wednesday, 24 June.

NFL Game Pass subscribers with DAZN can watch the reveals on NFL Network.