With the outbreak of World War II, Albert, as with most young American men of his generation, went before the Army for military draft classification.

[2] Wishing to aid the military effort and undeterred by his suboptimal categorization, amidst rumors that the Stanford University campus was to be converted into a training school for aviators,[3] Albert applied to join US Navy Reserve as part of its announced physical training program for navy aviators.

[4] The physical training program in which they served was under the direction of lieutenant commander Gene Tunney, a former heavyweight boxing champion.

[6] Albert, a 5-foot-9-inch (1.75 m), 166-pound, left-handed passer, was credited for inventing the bootleg play, in which the quarterback fakes a handoff then runs wide with the ball hidden on his hip.

[7] In 1948, he had the record for most passing touchdowns in a season in the league's history, and was named AAFC co-Most Valuable Player with Otto Graham.

Facing backup Tobin Rote (subbing in for Bobby Layne, hurt two weeks earlier), the 49ers led 24–7 at halftime on the strength of three touchdown passes from Y.

They led by twenty after a field goal in the third quarter, but Detroit roared back in a monumental comeback, scoring 24 unanswered points to win 31–27.

[10] Albert led the team to a 6–6 record the following year before he was replaced by Red Hickey; the 49ers would not threaten for a playoff spot until 1970.

The Professional Football Researchers Association named Albert to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2007.

[12] Jane would become a well-known tennis player whose accomplishments led her to become the first woman inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame.