Rod Wave might have actually saved Bryce Young’s NFL career

Merely two games into the 2024 NFL season, it appeared that Bryce Young’s NFL career was already in serious jeopardy.

The quarterback that was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had been benched just two games into the season for 37-year-old backup Andy Dalton, after a 26-3 thrashing at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Young’s play in the game was uninspiring to put it nicely. He finished the game with just 86 passing yards and an interception on 26 pass attempts. The Panthers QB was just 2-16 as a starter, and many believed this was the beginning of the end of his time in Carolina.

It was fair to believe that Young may have needed a change of scenery. He wasn’t playing well but the Panthers aren’t exactly the gold standard of NFL franchises at the moment. Any franchise that would bench a QB two games into their second NFL season probably isn’t one you’re going to be successful with long-term.

However, there was one man that did not lose faith Bryce Young. There was one man who still believed in his potential be a good, and maybe even great, NFL quarterback. There was one man willing to let everyone know that he still saw a star in Bryce Young.

That man’s name is Rodarius Marcell Green, but you probably know him as the rapper, singer, and songwriter Rod Wave.

Wave reached out to Young on Instagram immediately after news of his benching became public. It was fascinating because ... what did he have to say to Young?

Were they friends and he simply wanted to offer his support in what was surely one of the most difficult times of his life? You never know how people develop friendships, but it seemed so out of the blue that Rod Wave of all people would be reaching out to Bryce Young. On a public platform for everyone to see at that.

It’s still unknown what exactly Rod Wave said to Bryce Young during their call, but whatever he said it clearly worked better than anyone could have possibly anticipated.

In his last five games Bryce Young is completing 60.6 percent of his passes (102/169) for 1,082 passing yards with 6 touchdown passes against just 3 interceptions.

Those numbers may not jump off the screen and scream “FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK!” but it’s important to remember that in Young’s two starts at the beginning of the season he completed 55 percent of his passes for 245 passing yards, 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

The improvement in play from Bryce Young is obvious, and Rod Wave is clearly the catalyst. Carolina Panthers beat writer Sheena Quick took the opportunity to ask the question that’s been on everyone’s mind: What did Rod Wave say that inspired this turn around?

The fact that Bryce Young and Rod Wave had no relationship prior to Wave reaching out to him is astonishing. He just saw someone else going through hard times and, out of the kindness of his heart that he wears on his sleeve, decided to be there for him.

If Rod Wave ever decides that he wants to step away from making (great) music, it looks like he may have a successful career as a quarterback coach ahead of him.