Steve Bono is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He was born on May 11, 1962, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college football.
Bono began his professional career in 1985 when he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. He spent two seasons with the Vikings as a backup quarterback before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987. Bono played for the Steelers for two seasons, but he saw limited playing time and was eventually released.
In 1991, Bono signed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent the next four seasons as a backup to Joe Montana and later Steve Young. During his time with the 49ers, Bono won two Super Bowl rings and played in the Pro Bowl in 1995.
In 1995, Bono signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he finally got his chance to be a starting quarterback. He had a breakout season in 1995, throwing for 3,121 yards and 21 touchdowns, leading the Chiefs to a 13-3 record and a playoff berth. Bono was named to the Pro Bowl that year and was also named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year.
Bono continued to play for the Chiefs for the next three seasons, but his performance declined, and he was eventually replaced as the starting quarterback by Elvis Grbac. Bono finished his career with brief stints with the Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Rams before retiring in 1999.
Overall, Bono had a solid career in the NFL, playing for five different teams and earning a reputation as a reliable backup quarterback and occasional starter. He finished his career with 10,439 passing yards, 62 touchdowns, and 43 interceptions. While he may not have been a superstar, Bono was a respected player who made significant contributions to the teams he played for.
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