Why did the YF-23 never enter service?
The YF-23 lost the Advanced Tactical Fighter program to the YF-22, however it has not been made public why. The ATF evaluation is still classified and details about the YF-23's performance are not easy to come by. They are both excellent aircraft, performed similarly, and there is much speculation why the YF-22 won.

Global Security states that...


  According to the Air Force, factors in the selection for production of the F-22 were a better designed for maintainability, greater potential for future development, and slightly lower cost. Secretary of the Air Force Donald B. Rice stated that the choice was based on confidence in the ability of the Lockheed team and Pratt &amp; Whitney to produce the aircraft and its engine at projected costs. Emphasizing the importance of the Lockheed team's management and production plans, he denied that either prototype was significantly more maneuverable or stealthy. A popular view is that the decision reflected a preference for maneuverability over stealth 


A derivative of the YF-23 was proposed for the 2018 Bomber, but that idea died when the program was cancelled in 2006.